Related
Summary
The 1980s was a great time for over - the - top high - octane action motion-picture show that were categorized by some of that X ’s biggest stars . From tough - guy renegade cop to traumatized Vietnam War veterans , the eighties was a decade fuel by eminent - epinephrin adventures , outstanding set slice , and act as the inception point for many dear ongoing franchises . The success of action movies in the 1980s was intrinsically linked to their stars , as having a major name at top billing was a critical factor in whether audience would turn out at the dramatic art .
From martial humanistic discipline experts like Chuck Norris and Jean - Claude Van Damme , to major picture show rivals likeArnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone , the grown action stars of the eighties were always magnanimous - than - sprightliness figures shove into extraordinary lot . With major iconic catchy one - liner and an unbelievable mixture of genres like comedy , phantasy , and science - fiction , eighties action sensation relied on their specialty and armed combat skills to subdue every type of baddie conceivable . There were so manymajor activity stars in the 1980sthat it ’s interesting to consider which one came out on top .
10Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris led major action movies like Missing in Action, The Delta Force, and Firewalker
While today , immature audience may conceive ofChuck Norris as a hilarious meme , old viewers would call back him as one of the biggest action stars of the eighties . A redoubtable martial artist , Norris got his head start in Hollywood grooming celebrity before break into movieshimself with a role opposite Bruce Lee inThe room of the Dragonin 1972 . By the time the eighties rolled around , Norris was firmly plant as an action star with star roles in military action flick likeMissing in Action , The Delta Force , andFirewalker .
9Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson was known for the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon series
Controversial Hollywood star Mel Gibsonfound major success as a theatre director in 1990s for movies likeBraveheart , The Passion of the Christ , andHacksaw Ridge , but before this was know as one of the biggest action star of the 1980s . Gibson first come to gibbousness through his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the Australian Emily Price Post - apocalypticMad Maxand solidify his repute as a virtuoso with theLethal Weaponseries . A major bod that decade , Gibson was even named the first - ever Sexiest Man Alive ( viaToday ) byPeople Magazinein 1985 .
8Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme had his breakout role in Bloodsport
The Belgian actor Jean - Claude Van Damme studied martial arts from a youthful age and advance a black belt in karate when he was still a stripling before move to the United States to act on acting , Van Damme stimulate his start as a stuntman in the Chuck Norris movieMissing in Actionin 1984 before gaining hisbreakout character as the lead in the martial arts action filmBloodsport . This role established Van Damme as a major activity star and he went on to in genius the action moviesBlack Eagle , Cyborg , andKickboxer , before go along this success into the 1990s .
7Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell was known for his work with director John Carpenter
While Kurt Russell get his start in the sixties as anunlikely co - lead of Elvis Presley , it was not until the 1980s that he truly break out and became known as a major action star . Through a strong collaboration with director John Carpenter , Russell starred in the horror movieThe Thingbefore taking upthe iconic action mechanism role of Snake Pilssken in Carpenter’sEscape from New York , which he would reprise inEscape from L.A.in 1996 . Another major action role for Russell in the eighties was as Jack Burton inBig Trouble in Little China , again with Carpenter .
6Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver became an action star after Alien
While activeness motion picture during the 1980s was a highly male - dominated manufacture , one woman , Sigourney Weaver , managed to break this mold and became a major activeness principal . AsEllen Ripley in Ridley Scott ’s 1979 movieAlien , Weaver go into the 1980s with major hotshot voltage and soon found herself with major roles in one of the biggest strike of the decennium , GhostbustersandGhostbusters II . Weaver would once again showcase her action skills when she reprised the character of Ripley forAliensin 1986 and solidified the character as one of the best military action wedge of all scientific discipline fable .
5Steven Segal
Steven Segal made a name for himself in 1980s with Above the Law
action mechanism star and martial creative person Steven Segal found success in the late eighties and would utilise this newfound popularity to uphold an acclaimed action movie career through the 1990s . With his star use inAbove the Lawin 1988,Segal proved he had what it took to resist against the good military action star of the 1980sas he portrayed Sergeant Nico Toscani , a particular force mathematical process Vietnam ex-serviceman who uncovered a C.I.A. confederacy . This standout role would lead Segal to asterisk in major natural action films , such asUnder Siege , in the 1990s .
4Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford starred in Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Blade Runner
In terms of franchise winner and iconic characters in does not get any self-aggrandizing than Harrison Ford during the 1980s . After Ford ’s breakout success as Han Solo inStar Wars : A New Hopein 1977 , he would return as the character for theEmpire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi , as well as portraying the iconic venturer Indiana Jones inRaiders of the Lost Arkand two sequels throughout the decade . To make things even more impressive , Ford also star Rick Deckard inBlade Runner , meaning he absolutely dominated smash hit movies as an action hotshot in the 1980s .
3Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis became a major star following Die Hard
With just one part , Bruce Willis defined himself as one of the big action stars of the 1980s . As police detective John McClane inDie Hard , Willis starred in a surprise summertime blockbuster hitting that go on to be viewed as one ofthe greatest action movies ever . The origination of an entire franchise , Die Hardmade a major adept out of Willis , andMcClane ’s initial presentation of a vulnerable and imperfect fighter was in stark contrast to the overloaded muscle - stick to heroes of the time . Willis would carry on this success and play McClane in many sequels in the coming decennary .
2Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone dominated the 1980s as Rocky and John Rambo
After already rule the sports action genre in the 1980s asRocky Balboa in theRockyseries , Sylvester Stallone starred as one of the most compelling action heroes of that decade , traumatized Vietnam War veteran , John Rambo in theRambofranchise . An inviolable juggernaut of the action writing style throughout the entire eighties , outside these serial publication , Stallone also act the jumper lead inCobra , Over the Top , Lock Up , andTango & Cash , pretend as one of the most consistent names in action moving-picture show for that entire decade and beyond .
1Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger was the definitive action movie star of the 1980s
WhileArnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone had an ongoing rivalrythat means looker still argue about which one was the biggest action star of the 1980s , the winner must be the Austrian bodybuilder and former Mr. Universe , Schwarzenegger . While Schwarzenegger ’s iconic title of respect role inThe Terminatorwas enough to cement Schwarzenegger’sstatus as an action fable , his filmography throughout the 1980s was so impressive that he was undeniably the wiz of that era . With roles inCommando , The Running Man , andPredator , Schwarzenegger ’s placeable voice , plethora of memorable catchphrase , and brooding physique made him an unmatchable star .
Source : Today
Custom image by Yalin Chacon.
