Why do mustaches go in and out of fashion yet remain with us as a facial hair style? Because a minority of men will attempt to grow a mustache a couple of times in their lives and it just won’t work out. A smaller minority will actually really like their mustaches, and thus it will remain. Because although you may not be able to see someone’s face, when you do see a mustache, there is no ambiguity as to who is the owner of that magnificent growth.
Mustaches can be just as iconic as a famous voice or catchphrase. Here are some celebrities that have proven that a mustache is more than just some hair on your face. These range from old school movie stache’s to the more modern playful variations. Many of these faces might be unrecognizable without their mustaches.
These 12 stars have done more than just sport a top lip tuck and call it a day. They have become truly Mustachioed icons in our eyes.
1. Tom Selleck
When you hear the phrase “famous mustache,” most people are likely to think of Tom Selleck. And it’s hard to remember a time when he’s looked without his Magnum, P.I. mustache — the one he’s worn since the late 1970s and early 1980s.
2. Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury didn’t have a mustache before he grew one in the 80s. When he decided to grow one in as part of his stage image it quickly became iconic and a defining part of his image. You can easily recreate Mercury’s iconic stage image for a fun costume and the mustache is a key part of it as it really does make you look more rock and roll and more confident.
3. Burt Reynolds
We will miss Burt Reynolds, the 1970s embodiment of cool. Mustachioed charismatic guy with a legendary laugh. He embodied the spirit of the many rugged roles he played from The Dukes of Hazzard to Smokey and the Bandit. Reynolds’ iconic stache, which he popularized in the late 1970s and early 1980s, might have been one of the most memorable mustaches in Hollywood history.
4. Sam Elliott
Sam Elliott’s mustache is quite the legend. It is fluffy, dramatic and always exquisitely tamed. The iconic cowboy actor’s flowing mustache always seems to be the perfect match to his low, soothing drawl and rugged rugged roles. Sadly he has finally caved to the 21st century and trimmed it all off in recent photos in Vanity Fair. Mustaches like this though are more than just hair on your face. They become more like a part of you. Elliott has had this one for most of his acting career, so quite an adjustment for the 69 year old.
5. Charlie Chaplin
Chaplin’s minuscule toothbrush mustache was small but perfectly formed. It defined The Tramp, the beloved character that would make Chaplin a global name in silent movies. As film developed as an art form, the mustache became anachronistic.
6. Clark Gable
Clark Gable had his mustache trimmed and waxed to keep its classic 30s and 40s curves, a blend of charm and rebellion that made the Hollywood heartthrob one of the most popular actors of his time. The famous actor explained that it not only “looked more mature,” but “also gave me more confidence.” We can believe that; it complemented him perfectly for his romantic hero parts.
7. Hulk Hogan
People generally give credit to Hulk Hogan for bringing the horseshoe mustache into the mainstream. Combine the style with a bandana and a whole lotta personality and you’ve got yourself a wrestling icon unlike most others. The whole image is iconic in such a way that it’s hard to think of it in relation to professional wrestling without imagining the mannerisms and persona that came with it. Non-fan to the sport, too, may have known of Hogan and the distinctive mustache that adorned his upper lip.
8. Groucho Marx
He kept it fake – along with a pair of glasses, a fake mustache and a pair of fake eyebrows – as part of his clown makeup and an homage to his comedic roots. And even though it isn’t real it has become almost a standard element of classic American comedy. You can still buy such costume kits.
9. Lionel Richie
We typically think of mustaches as being a bit rugged. But the ’80s mustache of Lionel Richie is an exception. Richie’s smooth side mustache helped to change this perception and added to his flair for the dramatic. Richie was part of a generation of pop acts aiming to produce more softer, accessible music and he embodied this trend with his glamorous on stage image and number one hit singles like “Endless Love”. To many fans Richie and his ‘stache defined that romantic era of his music.
10. Eddie Murphy
Every comedian under the sun had to get a mustache. There is just something inherently funny about mustaches on every man, even though they all looked so funny at the time, we can’t imagine them being any other way today. One of the funniest men around for the past few decades has been the ever-versatile star of film and comedy, Eddie Murphy. Eddie had his trademark mustache for as long as any of us can remember. It went along with almost every stand-up comedy sketch he made for Saturday Night Live, as well as with films like Coming to America. The facial hair made Eddie look young, almost comical, and added a playfulness to the comedian that no fan could shake.
So, do you think a mustache makes a man a more unique individual? Do they really make us look different and act differently? Try it out and see or take notice of all the mustaches that you encounter daily.
11. Henry Cavill
Who would have thought that Henry Cavill’s mustache would be at the center of one of Hollywood’s biggest controversies? Apparently the unshaven lip had to be CGI’d out of the new Justice League trailer and movie, sparking up a whole conversation about whether or not it counts as spoilers. Either way, it’s made Henry’s mustache arguably the star of the show.
Cavill has opted to keep the mustache for other movies and public appearances, and we can’t say we blame him – it actually makes him look pretty dashing as an action hero.
12. Brad Pitt
Celebroot has compiled some of Brad Pitt’s most memorable mustaches. Over the years, the A-list actor has tried many different looks, but some of his mustaches stand out as particularly remarkable. From period dramas to movie premieres, Brad Pitt’s mustaches have really made him stand out from the crowd.
Even his mustache moments prove that the stache is still very much relevant in modern Hollywood.
Why Mustaches Keep Coming Back in Style
Fashion trends in clothing tend to come and go, but some trends repeat themselves over time and none is more pronounced or iconic than the humble mustache.The mustache is interpreted in many ways — as a symbol of masculinity and power, as a retro artifact from a bygone age, as an emblem of revolutionary change, and today as a playful and surreal way to express yourself.
Celebrity sightings and social media have brought the mustache back in the limelight. The mustache has been on a never-ending roller coaster ride of trends in pop culture, and when done right it can be a truly dramatic and fashionable option for men.
Most of our motivations are based on pragmatism. A walrus mustache makes your face look stronger, but at the same time traditional. A thin mustache on the other hand looks very dandy and modern. You can get away with an extremely thin and modern mustache without looking unproportionate.
Final Thoughts
So, mustaches on celebrities are apparently more complex than just the hair on their lip. Mustaches completely change the image and identity of the celebrities to which they belong.
In Hollywood silent comedies a popular fashion of actors were mustaches. The same is true with modern day movie stars, particularly actors who are involved in films of action and adventure. While some celebrities grow a mustache for a part in a film, it is common for them to continue to wear it even after a role has finished.
Did it matter that they were ridiculous? In the end, yes, but in the meantime, no. These ‘staches clung to the faces of fans and even to the world of fashion. Thick or thin, broad or precise, these mustaches demonstrated that even the smallest things can have a giant effect.
