Many male stars have captured the hearts of audiences with their good looks and charm, but over time, they have undergone massive transformations in both their personal and professional lives. From fresh-faced newcomers to seasoned veterans of the Entertainment industry, these men have evolved dramatically since their early days in show business.
So, we decided to take a closer look at 18 male stars who have undergone significant changes since the start of their careers. We explore how they have transformed physically, as well as their evolution as actors and public figures. From Brendan Fraser's transition from rom-com heartthrob to dramatic leading man to Robert Downey Jr.'s shift from teen idol to a versatile actor, we examine how these stars have matured and taken on new challenges throughout their careers.
Whether it's experimenting with different hairstyles, taking on challenging roles, or embracing a more mature style of acting, these male stars have changed significantly over the years. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and see just how far these talented men have come.
#1.
Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson started out in 1976 with a role on the Australian TV series The Sullivans. Throughout his decade-long career, the actor appeared in 43 films, including the Mad Maxx and Lethal Weapon film series.
#2.
Johnny Depp
In 1980, Johny Depp was a member of a band named The Kids and found modest success in Florida. The turning point was when the band moved to Los Angles for a record deal, pursuing a new chapter in their career by changing the band name to Six Gun Method. He found much trouble in his early career when doing multiple odd jobs, including telemarketer.
#3.
Pierce Brosnan
Mel Gibson left school at the age of 16. He started training in commercial illustration and later attend the Drama Center in London for 3 years. Following a stage acting career, he rose to stardom with the TV series Remington Steele (1982-1987).
#4.
Brendan Fraser
Fraser's debut movie with a small role as a Seaman in Dogfight (1991). He later had his leading role alongside Sean Astin and Pauly Shore in the 1992 comedy movie Encina Man, where he portrayed a frozen pre-historic caveman that is thawed out in the present day. Sadly, while his career was thriving with multiple successful movies, including the Mummny movies.
#5.
Ben Affleck
Like many other movie stars, Ben Affleck also started his career in commercial film. And in 1984 he appeared in the Public Broadcasting Service's miniseries The Voyage of the Mimi. The actor went on staring as a teenager in the TV film Hands of a Stranger (1987) and in The Second Voyage of the Mimi (1988).
#6.
Leonardo DiCaprio
DiCaprio started his acting career in a series of TV shows in 1990. And he was cast in a recurring role on Growing Pains in the next year. This year also witnessed his big-screen debut in Critters 3, a low-budget horror movie.
#7.
Mark Harmon
In his early career, Mark Harmon started out as a merchandising director but later shifted to acting. Harmon spent much of his career playing law enforcement and medical personnel.
#8.
Robert DeNiro
Robert De Nino is the son of two Greenwich Village artists. He left school at the age of 16 to attend the Stella Alder Conservatory of Acting. After appearing in some Off-Off-Broadway plays, he had his debut movie named Brian De Palma's The Wedding Party (produced in 1963, and premiered in 1969).
#9.
Harrison Ford
As Harrison Ford traveled to California in pursuing a voice-over job in 1964, he didn't know that was how he started his brilliant acting career. Although the actor didn't get that job, he was offered a contract with Columbia Pictures instead where he could gain $150 weekly to portray small fill-in roles in numerous films.
#10.
Vince Vaughn
Vince Vaughn first appeared in many TV series during the late 1980s. Later, he rose to prominence with an excellent performance in the 1996 comedy-drama movie, Swingers.
#11.
John Travolta
John Travolta also landed roles in commercials and minor TV roles before having his Off-Broadway debut in Rain (1972). He turned into a teen idol thanks to his role in the TV series Welcome Back, Kotter in 1975.
#12.
Chris Evans
Chris Evans secured a summer internship at a casting company in New York City just before his final year of high school. After graduating in 1999, he landed roles in a short-lived TV comedy, Opposite Sex (2000), and a lesser-known family movie, The Newcomers (2000).
#13.
Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer is an actor who rose to stardom with roles in multiple movies, including "Batman Forever," "The Doors," and "Top Gun."
#14.
Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry soon pursued an acting career when he was still in high school. After finishing high school, he took the role of Chazz Russell in the TV series Second Chance.
#15.
James Spader
James Spader began his career in supporting roles in movies like Pretty in Pink (1986), Mannequin, and Wall Street (both 1987). He made his breakthrough role in the Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) for which he won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor.
#16.
William Shatner
Shatner made his debut in an adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. After that, he came back to Broadway for a two-year run in The World of Suzie Wong (1958–60), gaining critical acclaim for his portrayal.
#17.
Russell Crowe
In the mid-1980s Crowe started performing on stage and from 1986 to 1988 he made his music tour with The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Two years later, he began acting, appearing in the war drama Prisoners of the Sung and The Crossing, a drama revolved around a romantic triangle.
#18.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. dropped out of high school in California and came back to New York City where he could follow an acting career. His early roles were in the cult hit Weird Science (1985), which led to a stint (1985–86) on the television comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live.