The 70’s were such a different and magical time – bringing us questionable fashion choices, large hair styles, and the entire disco scene. On top of all that magic, we also had striking Hollywood stars emerge, take a look at the list we complied of the greatest stars to come out of the 70’s and what they’re up to now.
Kim Basinger
Following a highly successful modeling career during the 70’s, Basinger then moved to LA where she began her acting career. Still to this day she inspires fashion designers alike with her impeccable fashion sense. The 63 year old has earned many accolades and isn’t slowing down any time soon. Recently having starred in The Nice Guys and Fifty Shades Darker.
Kim Basinger
Cher
The Goddess of Pop is often times seen as embodying female autonomy in a male-dominated industry (girl power for real). She became a television personality in the 70’s with The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, which was watched by over 30 million viewers weekly. She is an extraordinary artist who is the only one to have a number-one single on a Billboard chart in each decade from the 60s to the 2000s! Apart from singing and acting, she is also known for her political views, philanthropic endeavors and social activism. She’s also a model, a fashion designer, and comedian.
Cher
Cybill Shepherd
Cybill Shepherd started off as a beauty queen in high school to becoming a model on the cover of Glamour Magazine. She was then discovered by film director Peter Bogdanovich and catapulted into fame with works in The Last Picture Show and The Heartbreak Kid. Her most recent role was in She’s Funny That Way.
Cybill Shepherd
Jacqueline Bisse
Since the late 1960s Jacqueline Bisset, an international actress from London, is most known for her stunning beauty on and off the big screen. Throughout time Jacqueline has become a talented fine actress by audiences worldwide. Some of her most notable acting is seen in films such as Airport and The Deep. Jacqueline currently is working on a new film with Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette.
Jacqueline Bisset
Kate Jackson
Jackson is perhaps best remembered for her role as Sabrina Duncan in the series Charlie’s Angels. The success of her role as Sabrina Duncan landed her on the front cover of Time magazine, alongside Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith. She’s currently working on a memoir.
Kate Jackson
Stockard Channing
Most remembered for her portrayal of Betty Rizzo in Grease and of course the mesmerizing First Lady Abbey Bartlet on The West Wing. She’s also a 13-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee and 7-time Tony Award nominee, racking up a few wins to go along with the nominations. Recently she had a reoccurring role on The Good Wife.
Stockard Channing
Ellen Burstyn
The 70’s were a good year for Ellen Burtstyn! With a couple Academy Awards and Tonys to her name, she cemented herself in the books as a legend. The American Theatre Hall of Famer is also one of few actors to have won the Triple Crown of Acting. To this day, she is still acting in film and television and the accolades just keep on coming.
Ellen Burstyn
Loretta Swit
Forever will Loretta be Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan from M*A*S*H to many of us. A role which she earned two Emmy awards for. Her last role was in 2010, in the play Amorous Crossings.
Loretta Swit
Suzanne Somers
Who can forget about Chrissy Snow aka the face of the Thigh Master? Somers role as Chrissy Snow on the 1976 TV series Three’s Company positively catapulted her career, landing her numerous acting roles. In fact, she did so well on-screen that in 1990 she became known as the “Thigh Master.” Between her wonderful acting skills and active lifestyle, Suzanne’s acting career is far from over.
Suzanne Somers
Jaclyn Smith
72 year old Jaclyn has left her Charlie’s Angels days behind, but to this day, she is still an actress and model. Her most recent roles were on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and The District. Lastly, Smith has been developing and marketing her own line of clothing and perfume since the 80’s.
Jaclyn Smith
Cheryl Ladd
Up next is another star from the 70’s Charlie’s Angels show, Cheryl Ladd. Once Charlie’s went off air, the 66 year old remained quite the familiar face on TV, starring in 30(!) made-for-television films. Her most recent works have been on the shows Chuck and NCIS.
Cheryl Ladd
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda’s name is synonymous with the 60’s and the 70’s. Her works as an actress, political activist, writer, former fashion model and fitness guru have long cemented her as standing as a legend. She recently starred as co-lead in the Netflix series Grace and Frankie alongside Lily Tomlin.
Jane Fonda
Faye Dunaway
Dunway has racked up an Academy Award, three Golden Globes, a BAFTA, an Emmy, and was the first-ever recipient of a Leopard Club Award, honoring film professionals whose work left a mark on the collective imagination. She started acting in the 60’s but it was her work later that helped to evolve her into a more serious, capable, and respected actress. This year, two films she worked on will be released later on and she participated in the 89th Academy Awards.
Faye Dunaway
Bo Derek
1970’s and 1980’s put Bo Derek on the map not just for her on-screen talent, but also for her attractive demeanor. Bo Derek is an actress, model, superstar, and mother. After six years away from the spotlight, Bo returned to the big screen in 1990 and continued to flourish years after.
Bo Derek1
Maureen McCormick
Everyone knows Maureen McCormick as Marcia Brady from The Brady Bunch. And if you don’t know the show, boy have you missed out! After the show, she reprised her famous role in multiple spin-off movies and TV films. Additionally, McCormick starred on reality TV like I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Dancing with the Stars. While she had some personal issues after The Brady Bunch, she has tamed those demons now. Maureen McCormick is still acting to this day.
Maureen McCormick
Ali MacGraw
First Ali McGraw started off in commercials and in 1970, she landed the role of Jenny in Love Story. Even though she was insanely successful, in that decade, she only starred in three movies: Convoy, The Getaway and Players. Recently she appeared in Glam and that was in 1997! However, she reunited with former Love Story costar Ryan O’Nela for an on stage production of Love Letters.
Ali MacGraw
Loni Anderson
Sure Loni Anderson only had small roles on television shows during the 70’s but that would all change. 1978 is when she landed the role of Jennifer for WKRP in Cincinnati. Anderso’s stardom skyrocketed after this. From there, she appeared in Partners in Crime, Easy Street and the television film, White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd. Recently, she starred in the Amazon movie, Love You More alongside Bridget Everett.
Loni Anderson
Raquel Welch
Welch’s career was launched by her “sex” symbol status of the 1960’s and 1970’s. However, she went on to shatter conceptions in movie history by only then portraying strong female characters and breaking the idea of the submissive sex symbol. She now leads a successful career in beauty and business.
Raquel Welch
Charlene Tilton
Best remembered perhaps for playing Lucy Ewing, the cheeky niece of J.R. Ewing, in the television series Dallas. She most recently starred in Not Another Celebrity Movie in 2014.
Charlene Tilton
Clint Eastwood
A brilliant TV and film actor, talented director, and Academy Award winner. Clint Eastwood’s big break occurred (probably) before most of us were born – 1959. Commonly portraying tough, serious, and smart characters, Clint has earned an extensive amount of appreciation for directing Academy Award winning films such and Million Dollar Baby and Mystic River. Also, Eastwood is popular for being outspoken about his political views. To sum it up: he’s always around.
Clint Eastwood
Dolly Parton
Tennessee born and bred, Dolly Parton is ~the~ most honored female country performer of all time. To date, the Country Music Hall of Famer has received a whopping 46 Grammy nominations. Just last year, she kick started her Pure & Simple tour.
Dolly Parton
Jodie Foster
70’s star Jodie Foster has often times been cited as one of the best actresses of her generation. Her big breakthrough came in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and since then, the rest is history. Since the 2000s, she has focused her sights on directing, including episodes for Orange is the New Black and House of Cards.
Jodie Foster
Michael Douglas
American actor Michael Douglas is highly recognized for his roles in numerous TV series and films. However, this Hollywood classic gained fame back in 1972 – 1977 after featuring in the cop series Streets of San Francisco. And it wasn’t too long after that Douglas saw his film career sky-rocket, in a (very) positive direction. And even now, his later career days, he manages to both seek new acting roles and spend (quality) time with his wife (Catherina Zeta Jones) and their two kids.
Michael Douglas
Maggie Smith
Long before she was Professor McGonagall, Smith has racked up a career spanning 60 years on stage, film and television. Smith has gone on to win a staggering four BAFTA Awards for Best Actress, a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress, and three Golden Globe Awards. For five years, she starred on hit show Downton Abbey.
Maggie Smith
Olivia Newton-John
Fashion designers certainly loved Olivia Newton-John back in the 70’s and they probably still do now, she’s a true fashion icon. The four-time Grammy award winner is also a long-time activist for environmental and animal rights issues. She was a guest judge in 2015 on Dancing with the Stars.
Olivia Newton John
John Travolta
Oops, how’d we forget to mention Olivia Newton-John’s big break as Danny Zuko’s crush Sandy from everyone’s favorite film Grease. And speaking of Danny Zuko… John Travolta, a Golden Globe-winning actor who’s claim-to-fame is for role in Saturday Night Fever and (of course) Grease. And as we all know/witnessed from these two films, Travolta is not too shabby on the dancefloor nor holding a microphone. This favorite 70’s actor continues to be a star, currently working on a variety of projects and films
John Trovolta
Candice Bergen
The actress and former fashion model paved the way for designer clothes as we know it. Bergen has starred in many films and television shows since the 70’s, including some work on Broadway. She’s currently working on the film Home Again.
Candice Bergen
Meryl Streep
Commonly referred to as the ~best~ actress of her generation, although she humbly denies this. We won’t list all of her accolades but we will say that she’s received 30 Golden Globe nominations! In 2017, she earned the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award. She’s currently working on a documentary titled Five Came Back.
Meryl Streep
Jack Nicholson
One of the most prominent and talented American actors of the 70’s. Jack Nicholson is distinguished for his natural acting talents and his versatility of peculiar characters. His career is nothing short of successful as he’s been in some of the Hollywood’s most influential/historical films. While we haven’t seen much of Nicholson since 2010, there’s no question that he’s a legend in Hollywood.
Jack Nicholson
Michelle Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer’s acting career started in 1978 with her first starring film role in Grease 2, not long after and she was receiving mainstream attention. She has earned many accolades in her career and is still acting to this day.
Michelle Pfeiffer
Barbra Streisand
In six decades, Barbra Streisand has become an icon in numerous fields of entertainment. Earning her the title of Mother of All Contemporary Pop Divas or Queen of The Divas. To date, she earned two Academy Awards, 10 Grammy Awards, five Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, four Peabody Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and nine Golden Globes. (Those aren’t even all the awards she’s won!) Just last year, she wrapped her sixth tour.
Barbra Streisand
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro aka “The Godfather”. Throughout his life De Niro has showcased his excellence in acting, starring in numerous Oscar-winning films such as Taxi Driver and The Godfather: Part II, as well as worked with some of the most celebrated/ prestigious film directors like Martin Scorsese. Year-by-year Robert continues to successfully enlighten and entertain audiences worldwide. In 2012 he proudly won his seventh Oscar.
Robert De Niro
Goldie Hawn
It’s hard to imagine that Goldie Hawn is now 71 years old! But she is. Her claim to fame was the 70’s show Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and she is still regarded as a legend. Hawn is actually set to star in her first film in over 15 years with a role in Snatched.
Goldie Hawn
Burt Reynolds
Deliverance, Evening Shade, Smokey and the Bandit, The Cannonball Run, and Boogie Nights, ad handful of this award-winning actors projects. Did you know that Burt Reynolds pursed an acting career because of a bad injury? Interesting, right? The actor continues to take on various TV and film roles, including a recurring part on Hitting the Breaks which debuted last year (2016).
Burt Reynolds
Brooke Shields
The actress, model and former child star started her career at just 12 years old but in 1983, she suspended her modeling career to attend Princeton University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Romance Languages. Shields still acts in film and television roles in this day.
Brooke Shields
Robert Redford
Robert Redford, where oh where do we even begin? Well I guess we can start with his (incredible) milestone back in 2014, being included in Time magazine’s annual Time 100 as one of the “Most Influential People in the World”, establishing him as the “Godfather of Indie Film.” Oh, don’t worry it gets better. Last year (2106) former President Barack Obama honored Mr. Redford with a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Truly a one-of-a-kind person both on and off-screen.
Robert Redford
Jamie Lee Curtis
After starring as Laurie Strode in John Carpenter’s Halloween, Jamie Lee Curtis was on the map. Aside from acting, she is also an author and blogger for The Huffington Post. Her philanthropic efforts are also a mile long and we love her for it.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Rene Russo
Russo started out as a popular fashion model in the 70’s, appearing many times on the covers of fashion designers magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan. In the late 80s, she transitioned to acting and became known for starring in popular, big budget thrillers and action movies. To this day she is still acting, with her latest action comedy film Villa Capri, coming out later this year.
Rene Russo
Linda Blair
Perhaps best known for her role as the possessed child, Regan, in the horror film The Exorcist, earning her a nomination for an Academy Award and winning a Golden Globe. Aside from her many acting roles over the years, she is also an animal rights activist and humanitarian.
Linda Blair
Diane Keaton
This queen right here started her career up on stage and made her screen debut in the 70’s of course. Her first major role was in The Godfather and the rest is history. Her career since then has earned her many, many accolades and apart from acting, she is also as a photographer, real estate developer, author, and occasional singer. A woman of many talents!
Diane Keaton
Al Pacino
Since the 1970’s Oscar-winning actor Alfredo James Pacino, professionally known as Al Pacino, has kept moviegoers captivated with critically acclaimed films such as The Godfather and Scarface. His versatility and unmatched talent has granted him countless acting roles, many stage productions, and numerous directing gigs. In 2007 Pacino received a Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2016 his acclaimed performances were celebrated at the 39th Kennedy Center Honors.
Al Pacino
Susan Sarandon
The ever popular and adored Academy Award and BAFTA Award winner who is also a kick a** social and political activist for numerous causes is next on the list. Currently she stars in Feud as Bette Davis in FX’s anthology series.
Susan Sarandon
Sissy Spacek
Sissy started her career in the early 70’s and first gained attention for her role in the Badlands. However her career-defining role came in 1976 when she played Carrie White in Brian De Palma’s horror film Carrie. A six-time Oscar nominee and three time Golden Globe winner to date, whose career is still going strong.
Sissy Spacek
Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour’s big break was in the James Bond film Live and Let Die and to date has racked up an Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has also published four self-help and inspirational books, including several children’s book. She’s also a talented fashion designers.
Jane Seymour
Sally Field
Forest Gump’s beloved mother, Miranda Hillard from Mrs. Doubtfire, Sally Field is one of the most renowned actress’s of the 70’s. Nowadays Sally continues to star in major Hollywood films, such as her role as Aunt May for the iconic The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 2015.
Sally Field
Carol Kane
Kane’s career took off in the 70’s with her roles in Hester Street (earning her an Academy Award nomination) and Annie Hall. Since 2015, Kane has been a main cast member on the Netflix original series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Carol Kane
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford’s acting career has spanned nearly an (incredible) 40 years. During this time, he’s played some of Hollywood’s most favorite, epic, and well-known roles like Indiana Jones and Han Solo in the first three Star Wars films, or should we say the four films. April 2014 was a day to remember for both Star Wars and Harrison Ford fans, as Star Wars: Episode VII came to the big screen. Let’s just say that this film did ridiculously good in box-office sales.
Harrison Ford
Jeff Bridges
Currently still very active on the big-screen, recently starring in the critically acclaimed film, The Giver. It’s no secret why Jeff Bridges is not camera shy — both his father (Lloyd Bridges) and brother (Beau Bridges) were very renowned actors. Bridges next project is in the post-production stage, but make sure to keep an eye out for the one-and-only “Big Lebowski”.
Jeff Bridges
Lynda Carter
Lynda Carter is more than a brilliant singer and actress, she’s an inspiration and role model. Her iconic role as ‘Wonder Woman’ from the 1970’s TV series, seemingly foreshadowed the strong woman she is today. Just last year (2016) Wonder Woman was officially honored as a United Nations ambassador, for the empowerment of girls and women.
Lynda Carter