This article was originally published on WHerMoments
It’s fair to say that Hollywood’s Golden Age boasted some of the finest leading men to ever grace the silver screen. But were these cinematic titans actually giants in real life? Well, let’s find out. Yes, we’re about to take a closer look at the heights of 40 of those actors. And there are plenty of surprises in store!
40. Clint Walker: 6 feet 6 inches
Best known for his starring role in the hit television show Cheyenne, Clint Walker had a towering presence on both the small and big screens. And his real-life height more than matched up to it.
You see, Walker stood at 6 feet 6 inches, making him one of the tallest actors in Hollywood during the 1950s and 1960s.
39. Rock Hudson: 6 feet 5 inches
After making his big-screen debut in 1948’s Fighter Squadron, Rock Hudson went on to become a hugely popular star over the coming years. But did you know just how tall this guy was?
Incredibly, he measured 6 feet 5 inches. Yep, Hudson was massive! We’d have never guessed he was that big to be honest.
38. Christopher Lee: 6 feet 4.5 inches
Christopher Lee had been terrifying audiences everywhere going into the 1970s. By that point, he’d already established himself as one of the horror genre’s greatest leading men, not least for his iconic portrayals of Dracula.
Lee was an imposing figure, and his height certainly helped in that respect — he stood at a whopping 6 feet 4.5 inches. Surprised?
37. Vincent Price: 6 feet 4 inches
From the legendary voice to his unique appearance, Vincent Price was well on his way to becoming a Hollywood great throughout the 1950s and 1960s. His horror movies in particular were real gems, such as The Fly and The Pit and the Pendulum.
But this might catch you off guard — Price was actually a very tall man. He measured in at 6 feet 4 inches.
36. John Wayne: 6 feet 4 inches
Rio Bravo. The Searchers. True Grit. Most actors would’ve given anything to star in just one of those iconic westerns during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Yet John Wayne was the lead in all three, plus a heap more.
He was a real titan in that period... figuratively and literally! Wayne measured 6 feet 4 inches. That’s taller than we expected, anyway.
35. Clint Eastwood: 6 feet 4 inches
With his steely intensity and magnetic presence, it’s no wonder that Clint Eastwood became a Hollywood star in the 1960s. There were few others like him during that time. And at 6 feet 4 inches, he towered over most.
Now, we knew Eastwood was tall in his heyday, but those measurements still surprise us. Talk about a giant.
34. George Kennedy: 6 feet 4 inches
From The Dirty Dozen to Cool Hand Luke, George Kennedy racked up some impressive credits prior to the 1970s.
In addition to his acting talents, he was also a very hard guy to miss — Kennedy measured 6 feet 4 inches. The mere sight of him on-screen immediately grabs your attention before any lines are said.
33. Jack Palance: 6 feet 3.25 inches
Did anyone play a bad guy during the Golden Age better than Jack Palance? Personally, we don’t think so. He oozed menace in iconic movies such as Shane. And his height no doubt helped in that regard.
Palance came in at 6 feet 3.25 inches, using every inch to his advantage. How could our cinematic heroes overcome a villain that big?
32. Max von Sydow: 6 feet 3.25 inches
While he might be best known for his legendary turn in The Exorcist, Max von Sydow was already a star ahead of the 1970s. After all, he took on the lead roles in both The Seventh Seal and The Greatest Story Ever Told.
The actor was an absolute giant, too — he measured 6 feet 3.25 inches. We always thought von Sydow was a little shorter than that!
31. James Stewart: 6 feet 3 inches
James Stewart arguably boasts the greatest list of credits of any actor from Hollywood’s Golden Age. It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr Smith Goes to Washington, Vertigo, Rear Window — he starred in all of them.
But we never had Stewart down as a particularly tall man. We were wrong, though. The actor stood at an imposing 6 feet 3 inches.
30. Gary Cooper: 6 feet 3 inches
As was pointed out in The Sopranos, Gary Cooper was seen as “the strong, silent type” during his Golden Age run. How about tall, though? Well, the two-time Academy Award winner measured 6 feet 3 inches.
It certainly added to his big-screen presence in movies such as High Noon, Sergeant York, and For Whom the Bell Tolls.
29. Fred MacMurray: 6 feet 2.75 inches
It’s easy to forget the number of classics that Fred MacMurray appeared in during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Yes, from Double Indemnity to The Absent Minded Professor, those films wouldn’t be the same without him.
Still, though, we had no idea just how tall MacMurray really was. He came in at 6 feet 2.75 inches.
28. Sidney Poitier: 6 feet 2.5 inches
Sidney Poitier was an absolute legend in Hollywood. Not many actors can say they starred in movies as iconic as In the Heat of the Night and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. Let alone in the same year!
But how about this for a surprise? Poitier was deceptively big, too, measuring 6 feet 2.5 inches.
27. Charlton Heston: 6 feet 2.5 inches
Ben-Hur. The Ten Commandments. The Greatest Story Ever Told. Charlton Heston really dominated the market when it came to Golden Age epics! And that isn’t even mentioning his other iconic roles in films such as Touch of Evil and Planet of the Apes.
He was a true big screen titan — and had the real-life size to match. Yep, Heston was 6 feet 2.5 inches.
26. Gregory Peck: 6 feet 2.5 inches
Gregory Peck was rightly regarded as one of Hollywood’s finest leading men during the Golden Age of cinema. You see, he added real magnetism to his roles, and his size didn’t serve as a hindrance.
At 6 feet 2.5 inches, he had a presence that few other actors could match at that time.
25. Errol Flynn: 6 feet 2 inches
To be honest, we never really considered Errol Flynn to be that tall. We had him down at an average height. How about you? Well, we were off the mark!
As it turns out, the swashbuckling star of Captain Blood and The Adventures of Robin Hood was a pretty big guy. Flynn measured 6 feet 2 inches.
24. Orson Welles: 6 feet
It’s hard to put into words just how influential Orson Welles was as an actor and director in his time. He was responsible for some of the greatest movies Hollywood’s ever produced, after all.
But despite his huge impact on the screen, Welles wasn’t exactly a giant at 6 feet exactly. We could’ve sworn he was a few inches bigger!
23. Boris Karloff: 5 feet 11 inches
When you see Boris Karloff’s magnificent portrayal of The Monster in 1931’s Frankenstein, one thing immediately comes to mind — he looks huge. He dominates the screen whenever the cameras focus on him.
Yet Karloff himself really wasn’t that big of a guy. The actor was 5 feet 11 inches, which has completely surprised us.
22. Laurence Olivier: 5 feet 10 inches
Is Laurence Olivier the best actor in the craft’s history? You’d be hard-pressed to argue against those who believe it. Can you name anyone better? But one thing’s for sure. Olivier certainly wasn’t the tallest.
Coming in at 5 feet 10 inches, the legend’s height belied his incredible presence on the big screen.
21. Bob Hope: 5 feet 10 inches
There were few other actors in the Golden Age who could match Bob Hope’s comedic chops. The much-loved Road to... films certainly wouldn’t have been the same without him.
Anyway, for as great as Hope was, it was hard to envisage him as taller than average. Yet he did indeed surpass that mark, standing at 5 feet 10 inches.
20. Steve McQueen: 5 feet 9.5 inches
Though the term “icon” gets thrown around a lot these days, Steve McQueen deserved that status in Hollywood. This guy was a huge star in his time, starring in hits such as The Great Escape, Bullitt, and The Thomas Crown Affair across the 1960s.
Mind you, for as “big” as he was, McQueen wasn’t especially tall at 5 feet 9.5 inches. Trust us, that’s no typo!
19. Paul Newman: 5 feet 9.5 inches
Who doesn’t love Paul Newman? He’s often included in the discussion of great Hollywood actors for a reason. But again, his height didn’t really match up to the massive impact he made on the big screen.
Yep, Newman only measured 5 feet 9.5 inches. You’d never have guessed it watching his movies, though.
18. Kirk Douglas: 5 feet 9 inches
From The Vikings to Spartacus, Kirk Douglas proved that he could carry epic Golden Age pictures much like Charlton Heston. Yet despite their similarities, there was a significant difference between the pair — their respective heights.
Surprisingly, Douglas was 5 feet 9 inches, which made him 5.5 inches shorter than Heston. Quite a shock, right?
17. Fred Astaire: 5 feet 9 inches
Top Hat and Holiday Inn are just a couple of Fred Astaire’s more famous movies. He starred in plenty of others, too! The actor’s dance numbers in those films are a real sight to behold.
But how tall would you say Astaire was in his heyday? Well, he wasn’t exactly a giant at 5 feet 9 inches.
16. Marlon Brando: 5 feet 8 inches
If there was a Mount Rushmore for actors, Marlon Brando’s face would surely be carved into it. He’s a legendary figure in Hollywood for his work on films such as The Godfather, On The Waterfront, and The Wild One. Guess what, though?
Brando barely surpassed the average American height in 1960 at 5 feet 8.75 inches. Who could’ve predicted that?
15. Humphrey Bogart: 5 feet 8 inches
We never got the impression that Humphrey Bogart was on the shorter side while watching his movies. But there might be a reason for that.
Reportedly, Bogart often sported lifted shoes to improve on his height of 5 feet 8 inches. Future screenings of Casablanca and The African Queen won’t be quite the same knowing that!
14. James Dean: 5 feet 8 inches
It’s sometimes easy to forget that James Dean had significant roles in just three movies prior to his tragic passing in 1955. His legacy would suggest that he starred in more.
Yet despite Dean’s unmistakable presence in those films, he wasn’t a tall man at 5 feet 8 inches. It says something about his talent that you don’t really notice that, though.
13. Yul Brynner: 5 feet 8 inches
How about this for a fascinating tidbit? In a book titled Yul Brynner: The Inscrutable King, the following passage touches on the actor’s height.
It reads, “Throughout his life, Yul was sensitive about how tall the public thought he was. He refused to divulge exact measurements.” It’s believed that Brynner was around 5 feet 8 inches.
12. Frank Sinatra: 5 feet 7.5 inches
Frank Sinatra’s acting career was nothing to be sniffed at. The famed musician starred in numerous notable Hollywood movies, such as the original Ocean’s Eleven and The Manchurian Candidate.
But at just 5 feet 7.5 inches, he was shorter than you might’ve guessed. Personally, we thought he’d be up with the 6-footers!
11. Bing Crosby: 5 feet 7.5 inches
Known just as much for his acting as his singing, Bing Crosby was in plenty of memorable Golden Age pictures. White Christmas and High Society are just a couple of examples.
Mind you, his height of 5 feet 7.5 inches continued to bother him throughout his career. Crosby once said in an interview, “Sure [I’d love to be taller]! Particularly when I’m with a tall leading lady.”
10. Gene Kelly: 5 feet 7.5 inches
Yes, Singin’ in the Rain is probably Gene Kelly’s most famous movie. He was far from a one-hit wonder, though — the star also enjoyed huge success with films such as An American in Paris and On the Town.
Anyway, Kelly’s legendary status can sometimes distract from his below-average height of 5 feet 7.5 inches. Bet you thought he was taller than that, right?
9. Douglas Fairbanks: 5 feet 7 inches
Douglas Fairbanks was one of the great trailblazers in Hollywood. He lit up the early cinema of the 1910s and 1920s with his exciting action movies, paving the way for future swashbucklers.
As for his size, though, Fairbanks only measured 5 feet 7 inches. You’d never pick up on that when watching him in full-flight.
8. Claude Rains: 5 feet 6 inches
From The Invisible Man to Lawrence of Arabia, Claude Rains featured in his fair-share of classic Hollywood movies. Reaching that level of stardom didn’t prove to be easy, though, due to his size. Rains was just 5 feet 6 inches.
As acting great John Gielgud once said, “He lacked inches and wore lifts in his shoes to increase his height.”
7. Alan Ladd: 5 feet 6 inches
At 5 feet 6 inches, Alan Ladd wasn’t the biggest leading man in Hollywood’s Golden Age. Yet it didn’t prevent him from enjoying a notable career, starring in the likes of Shane and The Great Gatsby.
Mind you, as noted in an interesting interview, his co-star in the latter said some tricks were employed to make him look bigger. “He stood on a box and I wore tennis shoes,” Carole Matthews recalled.
6. Dustin Hoffman: 5 feet 6 inches
Towards the end of the 1960s, Dustin Hoffman was launched into the Hollywood stratosphere thanks to a pair of iconic hits. Yep, The Graduate and Midnight Cowboy made him a star. He also earned Oscar nods for both of them.
Such are his continued talents, that it’s easy to forget that Hoffman is just 5 feet 6 inches!
5. James Cagney: 5 feet 5 inches
To say that James Cagney was a versatile ball of energy would be a major understatement. This guy could go from making you laugh in Blonde Crazy to terrifying you in The Public Enemy. He was great.
But his “big” performances belied his short stature of 5 feet 5 inches. We thought for sure that Cagney was much larger than that.
4. Buster Keaton: 5 feet 5 inches
How tall would you say Buster Keaton was? We wouldn’t blame you for thinking he was a big dude, such were his larger-than-life comedic performances. That wasn’t actually the case, though.
In fact, Keaton was well-below average height at just 5 feet 5 inches. Yes, it’s a surprise to us as well!
3. Charlie Chaplin: 5 feet 4 inches
How can you sum up Charlie Chaplin in a few words? This man was a true pioneer for comedy in the Golden Age, sporting one of the most recognizable looks in Hollywood’s history.
Yet something continued to catch folks off guard when they saw Chaplin in person — his height. You see, he was only 5 feet 4 inches.
2. Peter Lorre: 5 feet 3 inches
With more than 100 credits to his name, you can’t say that Peter Lorre didn’t enjoy a successful film career. The likes of Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon are classics in part because of him. Lorre’s height really shocked us, though.
He stood at just 5 feet 3 inches. We knew the actor was on the shorter side, but still!
1. Mickey Rooney: 5 feet 2 inches
Unlike a lot of other actors who managed to conceal their heights throughout their performances, Mickey Rooney couldn’t really do that. After all, the four-time Academy Award nominee measured 5 feet 2 inches.
Most stars towered over him, yet it didn’t have a negative impact on his career. Along with the award nods, Rooney racked up more than 340 film credits across the years. That’s incredible!