AARoads Forum

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/movies/robert-redford-dead.html

Who?

A long life, well-lived. Sneakers is still one of my favorite movies.

"And never let him know that... that you know what he thinks you don't know, but you know. You know?"

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 16, 2025, 11:52:01 AMWho?

Robert Redford.

New question, please?

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 16, 2025, 11:52:01 AMWho?

Yeah that response is in a bit poor taste...

I just don't get the point of posting that random people have died, 80% (him included) of whom I have never heard of.

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 16, 2025, 12:32:00 PMI just don't get the point of posting that random people have died, 80% (him included) of whom I have never heard of.

I think he was more relevant in the past before we were born. Still, best to just ignore said posts.

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 16, 2025, 12:32:00 PMI just don't get the point of posting that random people have died, 80% (him included) of whom I have never heard of.

I hate to break this to you, but this place isn't just about you. There are many here who know who he is. Your ignorance doesn't preclude others from discussing.

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 16, 2025, 12:32:00 PMI just don't get the point of posting that random people have died, 80% (him included) of whom I have never heard of.

Yeah, it would be nice if people could explain who they are so that those of us not familiar with who they are can find out.

Quote from: vdeane on September 16, 2025, 12:48:56 PM

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 16, 2025, 12:32:00 PMI just don't get the point of posting that random people have died, 80% (him included) of whom I have never heard of.

Yeah, it would be nice if people could explain who they are so that those of us not familiar with who they are can find out.

OP provided a link.

Quote from: vdeane on September 16, 2025, 12:48:56 PMYeah, it would be nice if people could explain who they are so that those of us not familiar with who they are can find out.

I knew who Robert Redford was but, yes, I do wish people would give more context for links that they post on here.

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 01:00:02 PMOP provided a link.

With no context as to why anybody would want to click on it.  I don't click on links unless someone tells me why I should.  And, if I hadn't heard of Robert Redford, then I'd have had no context as to why his death is important enough to warrant reading an article.

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 16, 2025, 11:52:01 AMWho?

Roy Hobbs.

Quote from: kphoger on September 16, 2025, 01:02:39 PM

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 01:00:02 PMOP provided a link.

With no context as to why anybody would want to click on it.  I don't click on links unless someone tells me why I should.  And, if I hadn't heard of Robert Redford, then I'd have had no context as to why his death is important enough to warrant reading an article.

Why would OP provide additional information when the link provided the explanation? I don't care if you're too lazy to click on it or not.

Quote from: kphoger on September 16, 2025, 01:01:25 PMI do wish people would give more context for links that they post on here.

Given that the link specifically says Robert Redford Dead, I think most of us figured out what the context is.

I find it harder to fathom a "who's he?" response for Robert Redford than for Charlie Kirk last week. I was aware that Kirk was some sort of celebrity, but I knew nothing about him, whereas Redford has been in so many major movies that are so well-known (The Natural being an obvious one that seems to transcend generations, whereas All the President's Men is long-enough ago that I could see younger people not knowing of it) that I would assume people at least knew of him.

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 16, 2025, 11:52:01 AMWho?

Now you know how I feel when some of you post more modern famous folk.

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 16, 2025, 02:01:19 PMI find it harder to fathom a "who's he?" response for Robert Redford than for Charlie Kirk last week. I was aware that Kirk was some sort of celebrity, but I knew nothing about him, whereas Redford has been in so many major movies that are so well-known (The Natural being an obvious one that seems to transcend generations, whereas All the President's Men is long-enough ago that I could see younger people not knowing of it) that I would assume people at least knew of him.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing.  Robert Redford is pretty high up on the list the greatest male movie actors of all time.  He was even some of the Marvel movies, so it isn't like he wasn't in anything semi-modern.

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 16, 2025, 02:01:19 PMI find it harder to fathom a "who's he?" response for Robert Redford than for Charlie Kirk last week. I was aware that Kirk was some sort of celebrity, but I knew nothing about him, whereas Redford has been in so many major movies that are so well-known (The Natural being an obvious one that seems to transcend generations, whereas All the President's Men is long-enough ago that I could see younger people not knowing of it) that I would assume people at least knew of him.

Must be a generational thing. I had never even heard the name Robert Redford before 3 minutes ago, but Charlie Kirk was someone I was seeing everywhere on my social media even before he died.

Quote from: CoreySamson on September 16, 2025, 02:07:24 PM

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 16, 2025, 02:01:19 PMI find it harder to fathom a "who's he?" response for Robert Redford than for Charlie Kirk last week. I was aware that Kirk was some sort of celebrity, but I knew nothing about him, whereas Redford has been in so many major movies that are so well-known (The Natural being an obvious one that seems to transcend generations, whereas All the President's Men is long-enough ago that I could see younger people not knowing of it) that I would assume people at least knew of him.

Must be a generational thing. I had never even heard the name Robert Redford before 3 minutes ago, but Charlie Kirk was someone I was seeing everywhere on my social media even before he died.

I'm 43 and haven't seen a lot of Redford's most famous roles, but he was always a name I heard when talking about the great actors of yesteryear. I liked him the The Last Castle with James Gandolfini.

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 16, 2025, 12:32:00 PMI just don't get the point of posting that random people have died, 80% (him included) of whom I have never heard of.

He had five Oscar nominations and a win. You might want to look up someone before deciding they aren't significant enough to warrant an RIP post.

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 16, 2025, 02:24:19 PM

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 16, 2025, 12:32:00 PMI just don't get the point of posting that random people have died, 80% (him included) of whom I have never heard of.

He had five Oscar nominations and a win. You might want to look up someone before deciding they aren't significant enough to warrant an RIP post.

I did suggest unifying this sort of thing in one thread named "Deaths of famous people (2025)," which is how it's done on another forum to which I belong (with occasional exceptions for exceptionally famous people, such as when the Queen died, and for major baseball figures because it's a baseball forum). The idea didn't seem to appeal to people, so I dropped it. That other forum doesn't have separate threads for either Kirk or Redford, for what it's worth (or, for that matter, Giorgio Armani, Hulk Hogan, Ozzy Osbourne, or Theo Huxtable).

Plus it's not like he did *zero* things Gen Z has heard of. He had a supporting role in several Marvel movies.

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 16, 2025, 02:39:49 PMPlus it's not like he did *zero* things Gen Z has heard of. He had a supporting role in several Marvel movies.

He was the main villain in Winter Soldier.  I'd argue that was one of the better Marvel movies because he was in it.

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 01:29:22 PMWhy would OP provide additional information when the link provided the explanation? I don't care if you're too lazy to click on it or not.

No, the link did not provide an explanation.  The OP of the thread says "RIP", so it's obvious from the get-to that someone named Robert Redford died.  But the link doesn't say anything else beyond that other than "movies".  So who is this dead person named Robert Redford? some b-movie actor? a famous producer? a character in a movie series that gets killed off in an upcoming release? the head of an animation studio?  Unless you already know who Robert Redford was, the single word "movies" does not tell you why his death is noteworthy.

A few examples of a better way to start one of these threads are such as these, all of which were about people I'd never heard of before the RIP thread:

|OCGuy81| — Paul Reubens — told us in both the thread title and OP who he was and how he died

|Henry| — David Sanborn — gave us plenty of info about who he was

|Hot Rod Hootenanny| — Steve Sobol — gave us details about who he was and how he died

|LilianaUwU| — Jonathan Joss — told us why someone might have heard of him, plus something about his death

RIP Roy Hobbs (I'm going to watch The Natural on DVD in his honor)

Quote from: kphoger on September 16, 2025, 02:48:13 PM

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 01:29:22 PMWhy would OP provide additional information when the link provided the explanation? I don't care if you're too lazy to click on it or not.

No, the link did not provide an explanation.  The OP of the thread says "RIP", so it's obvious from the get-to that someone named Robert Redford died.  But the link doesn't say anything else beyond that other than "movies".  So who is this dead person named Robert Redford? some b-movie actor? a famous producer? a character in a movie series that gets killed off in an upcoming release? the head of an animation studio?  Unless you already know who Robert Redford was, the single word "movies" does not tell you why his death is noteworthy.

When you click on the link, the headline tells you exactly who he is. Stop being lazy.

If someone takes the time to type "who?" but doesn't want to take a similar amount of time to type the name into the Google box, it comes across to me as wannabe-edgy.

That said, the OP should provide more context, and absolutely a link to an article.

It works both ways - people here who have recently said they hadn't heard of Taylor Swift or Charlie Kirk kinda give the same energy.

I agree that all the RIPs should go into one thread per year - the forum equivalent of the "In Memoriam" segment.

Quote from: DTComposer on September 16, 2025, 03:21:48 PMIf someone takes the time to type "who?" but doesn't want to take a similar amount of time to type the name into the Google box, it comes across to me as wannabe-edgy.

And/or someone who wants to draw attention to themselves.

Quote from: kphoger on September 16, 2025, 02:48:13 PM

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 01:29:22 PMWhy would OP provide additional information when the link provided the explanation? I don't care if you're too lazy to click on it or not.

No, the link did not provide an explanation.  The OP of the thread says "RIP", so it's obvious from the get-to that someone named Robert Redford died.  But the link doesn't say anything else beyond that other than "movies".  So who is this dead person named Robert Redford? some b-movie actor? a famous producer? a character in a movie series that gets killed off in an upcoming release? the head of an animation studio?  Unless you already know who Robert Redford was, the single word "movies" does not tell you why his death is noteworthy.

I say this with seriousness: who's to say what the demarcation point is for giving additional context to the name? We've seen here recently that people one might think are universally known (even vaguely) are not.

Should there be a mandate or at least a strong suggestion that these threads contain an obituary-style headline?

Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor and director, founder of Sundance film festival, dead at 89

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-serving monarch, dead at 96

Ozzy Osbourne, singer, reality TV star, and bat-eater, dead at 76

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 03:24:17 PM

QuoteIf someone takes the time to type "who?" but doesn't want to take a similar amount of time to type the name into the Google box, it comes across to me as wannabe-edgy.

And/or someone who wants to draw attention to themselves.

Normally, this would be where I'd insert the "Stop, he's already dead!" meme, but considering the subject matter that seems a little too on the nose.

Quote from: DTComposer on September 16, 2025, 03:30:10 PM

Quote from: kphoger on September 16, 2025, 02:48:13 PM

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 01:29:22 PMWhy would OP provide additional information when the link provided the explanation? I don't care if you're too lazy to click on it or not.

No, the link did not provide an explanation.  The OP of the thread says "RIP", so it's obvious from the get-to that someone named Robert Redford died.  But the link doesn't say anything else beyond that other than "movies".  So who is this dead person named Robert Redford? some b-movie actor? a famous producer? a character in a movie series that gets killed off in an upcoming release? the head of an animation studio?  Unless you already know who Robert Redford was, the single word "movies" does not tell you why his death is noteworthy.

I say this with seriousness: who's to say what the demarcation point is for giving additional context to the name? We've seen here recently that people one might think are universally known (even vaguely) are not.

Should there be a mandate or at least a strong suggestion that these threads contain an obituary-style headline?

Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor and director, founder of Sundance film festival, dead at 89

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-serving monarch, dead at 96

Ozzy Osbourne, singer, reality TV star, and bat-eater, dead at 76

Not to mention there are all sorts of inside jokes posted here, that unless someone has a deep and vast knowledge of AARoads, will leave a user with no idea what they are talking about.

To complain about something that can't be easily Googled or by clicking a link is silly.

Quote from: vdeane on September 16, 2025, 12:48:56 PMYeah, it would be nice if people could explain who they are

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 01:00:02 PMOP provided a link.

Quote from: kphoger on September 16, 2025, 01:02:39 PMWith no context as to why anybody would want to click on it.

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 01:29:22 PMWhy would OP provide additional information when the link provided the explanation?

Quote from: kphoger on September 16, 2025, 02:48:13 PMNo, the link did not provide an explanation.

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 03:18:37 PMWhen you click on the link, the headline tells you exactly who he is.

Well, at least now you agree that the link doesn't explain who he is.  The headline of the article that the link goes to does.  Here's your argument so far:

— If you look at the article, then it will explain to you why you should look at the article.

Quote from: DTComposer on September 16, 2025, 03:30:10 PMI say this with seriousness: who's to say what the demarcation point is for giving additional context to the name? We've seen here recently that people one might think are universally known (even vaguely) are not.

Should there be a mandate or at least a strong suggestion that these threads contain an obituary-style headline?

Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor and director, founder of Sundance film festival, dead at 89

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-serving monarch, dead at 96

Ozzy Osbourne, singer, reality TV star, and bat-eater, dead at 76

With the exception of someone like the Pope or the Queen of England (or obvious a US President if it ever came to that), I'd say people should assume that at least some forum members won't have heard of whomever it is that died.

And, for what it's worth, the OP in the "Queen Elizabeth II dies at age 96" thread gave some explanation of who she was.  And even the "RIP Pope Francis" thread included the word "Catholics" in the OP.

Quote from: kphoger on September 16, 2025, 04:12:05 PMWell, at least now you agree that the link doesn't explain who he is.  The headline of the article that the link goes to does.  Here's your argument so far:

— If you look at the article, then it will explain to you why you should look at the article.

Man, how pedantic can one get... Just because you're too damn lazy to click a link.

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 04:26:10 PMlazy

All because people are too lazy to type a sentence about why we should click a link in the first place.

I wonder what Robert Redford would think of us discussing his post-mortem status like this on a road forum?

I just don't understand what is so hard about opening up a new tab and googling a name you haven't heard of. It isn't difficult even in KaiOS, which is the operating system most feature phones use these days. Not sure what type of phone kphoger uses, so it could be different, but that's really the only "issue" I could see somebody having.

Still, I don't think there are many zoomers using dumb phones in 2025.

My voice is my passport. Verify me.

Quote from: kphoger on September 16, 2025, 04:12:05 PM

Quote from: DTComposer on September 16, 2025, 03:30:10 PMI say this with seriousness: who's to say what the demarcation point is for giving additional context to the name? We've seen here recently that people one might think are universally known (even vaguely) are not.

Should there be a mandate or at least a strong suggestion that these threads contain an obituary-style headline?

Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor and director, founder of Sundance film festival, dead at 89

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-serving monarch, dead at 96

Ozzy Osbourne, singer, reality TV star, and bat-eater, dead at 76

With the exception of someone like the Pope or the Queen of England (or obvious a US President if it ever came to that), I'd say people should assume that at least some forum members won't have heard of whomever it is that died.

And, for what it's worth, the OP in the "Queen Elizabeth II dies at age 96" thread gave some explanation of who she was.  And even the "RIP Pope Francis" thread included the word "Catholics" in the OP.

I'm being pedantic, but isn't "people should assume" the point of discussion here? While I agree that someone on the level of the Queen or the Pope would likely be universally known, can I say that with 100% confidence? (It should be noted that, since they have their title/honorific in their "name," there's already some context provided, so even if they didn't know it was Francis, they knew it was "The Pope")

Yes, as a U.S.-centric forum, a president shouldn't need context - for example, Jimmy Carter - but can I also say that with 100% confidence? What about other world leaders? It could be argued that Angela Merkel is one of the most influential world leaders of the last quarter-century, but she'd likely need context for some people. What if it was the PM of Canada? Would it make a difference if they died while in office? What about lower-level governmental figures - did Ruth Bader Ginsburg need context? Would Nancy Pelosi, or Mitch McConnell? Would Gavin Newsom or Greg Abbott be less likely to need context than the than JB Pritzker or Josh Shapiro?

It continues to get murkier when you go to celebrities. Would Oprah need context? Did Michael Jackson? Robert Redford needed context for younger people, so would Timotheé Chalamet need context for older people? What about Leo DiCaprio? Meryl Streep? Natalie Portman? Samuel L. Jackson? Would LeBron James need context for non-sports fans? Did Kobe Bryant? What about Patrick Mahomes? Caitlin Clark?

My point is, while there may be an upper echelon of universally-known people, the line demarcating those people is not well-defined, and I would argue that it's easier to provide context for everyone, even if it might seem silly. This is why the newspaper headline reads "Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States, dead at 100" as opposed to "RIP Jimmy Carter."

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 16, 2025, 04:39:14 PMNot sure what type of phone kphoger uses, so it could be different, but that's really the only "issue" I could see somebody having.

Still, I don't think there are many zoomers using dumb phones in 2025.

1.  I'm not a zoomer.
2.  I have a dumb phone.
3.  I browse this forum on a computer, not a phone.

It just annoys me when someone starts a topic about something, and all it is is a link to something else.  I don't just assume that what you have to share will interest me.  I'm not going to click on a link just to find out if it's something I'm interested in reading or not.  By that point, I'm already reading it.  In the case of someone's death, the bare minimum would be a little explanation of why anybody should care the person has died—which could be what they were famous for or the circumstances of their death.

Quote from: kphoger on September 16, 2025, 05:01:41 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 16, 2025, 04:39:14 PMNot sure what type of phone kphoger uses, so it could be different, but that's really the only "issue" I could see somebody having.

Still, I don't think there are many zoomers using dumb phones in 2025.

1.  I'm not a zoomer.
2.  I have a dumb phone.
3.  I browse this forum on a computer, not a phone.

Point 2 is the entire point of mentioning you in the comment. I wasn't aware of point 3. Point 1 is only in relation to the forum members who haven't heard of Redford before today.

Edit: for clarification, you were only mentioned as an example of a user who doesn't use a smartphone. I'm not aware of any other users who use feature phones, so that was the entire reason for your mention.

If you can browse the forum you can use google. And there is no need for having a celebrity death megathread. If you don't care about the person who died you can just not post in that thread.

Edit: or click on a link lol

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 16, 2025, 05:29:18 PMIf you don't care about the person who died you can just not post in that thread.

Edit: or click on a link lol

The thing is, though, there are people whose deaths I actually end up being interested to know about, even though I didn't know their name before the thread.  For example, if |TheHighwayMan3561| hadn't included the phrases "early roadgeek" and "photos have been such a huge trove of historical knowledge", then I wouldn't have recognized the name.  (Ironically, the RIP thread referred to a Facebook post, not a hyperlink to a news article.)  It was only because of the OP's information that I started learning about Michael.

I thought I would get grief from folks not getting past the NY Times paywall, at which point others would chime in.
I didn't realize I was going to start another AAroads culture skirmish instead.  :crazy:
Anyways, here is Robert Redford pretending to be a roadgeek, 33 years ago.

Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on September 16, 2025, 08:40:22 PMI thought I would get grief from folks not getting past the NY Times paywall, at which point others would chime in.
I didn't realize I was going to start another AAroads culture skirmish instead.

That would have just incited another skirmish, with me ranting about how the internet was better before it became over-commercialized and someone else quoting me to explain how that's actually a good thing. :coffee:

The romantic b#$tard...

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 01:29:22 PMWhy would OP provide additional information when the link provided the explanation? I don't care if you're too lazy to click on it or not.

Why should one have to open a link to see if they want to open the link and read the article?  Believe it or not, most of us don't click on every link we encounter on the forum.  Quite the opposite, in fact.  I'd never have time to read as much on this forum as I do if I did.

Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on September 16, 2025, 08:40:22 PMI thought I would get grief from folks not getting past the NY Times paywall, at which point others would chime in.

In this case, there's that too (although there are ways around it).

Quote from: kphoger on September 16, 2025, 08:28:39 PM

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 16, 2025, 05:29:18 PMIf you don't care about the person who died you can just not post in that thread.

Edit: or click on a link lol

The thing is, though, there are people whose deaths I actually end up being interested to know about, even though I didn't know their name before the thread.  For example, if |TheHighwayMan3561| hadn't included the phrases "early roadgeek" and "photos have been such a huge trove of historical knowledge", then I wouldn't have recognized the name.  (Ironically, the RIP thread referred to a Facebook post, not a hyperlink to a news article.)  It was only because of the OP's information that I started learning about Michael.

Indeed.  I click on the death threads at least once (at least outside of Sports), even if I have no idea who they are, just to find out.

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 01:29:22 PMI don't care if you're too lazy to click on it or not.

I hate to break this to you, but this place isn't just about you. There are many here who know don't know what the link is. Your apathy doesn't preclude others from discussing.

Still, why even post if you aren't going to do the bare minimum level of research? It's not like Redford only appeared in a couple obscure indie films 50 years ago and quickly stepped out of the public eye. And even if somebody posted a thread about somebody where that was the case, I certainly wouldn't post "who?" I would at least google the name, and if I wasn't interested, I would simply not post in the thread.

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 16, 2025, 09:58:53 PMIt's not like Redford only appeared in a couple obscure indie films 50 years ago and quickly stepped out of the public eye.

In this case, that's almost part of the problem.  I knew from a mention at work that he was a big deal (although without the context - I actually didn't do research then because I figured I'd be enlightened by the inevitable forum post, ironically), but a simple Google search was more likely to pull up a bunch of obituary articles rather than the overview that it would have before he died.  I think I found out when ABC News did 5-10 minutes on him (not just their usual story at the end) that I've probably actually seen a movie with him - specifically, the one about Watergate, which was probably one of the movies we watched in the month between the AP exams and the end of the school year (I mainly remember Deep Throat saying "follow the money").

Eh, I'd give a pass to Gen Alpha on not knowing Robert Redford, but you'd have to live under a rock to not know who he is otherwise, especially given his appearance in the Marvel movies.

And, if those who don't know who he is are genuinely interested by your terse "Who?" posts in here, but unwilling to Google on your own, I'll gladly assign you homework due to your interest in being educated:

Please watch the movies Sneakers (1992), Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid (1969), All the President's Men (1976) and, heck, why not Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).

Write a 1000-word report on your reactions.

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 16, 2025, 09:58:53 PMStill, why even post if you aren't going to do the bare minimum ...?

Ironically the entire discussion boils down to this same point on both sides. Either you think the OP failed to do the bare minimum by providing context with the post, or the audience failed to do the bare minimum by researching the deceased. If everyone just put a little more thought into their posts to begin with, we'd have saved a largely pointless 50-post discussion.

Quote from: vdeane on September 16, 2025, 10:15:33 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 16, 2025, 09:58:53 PMIt's not like Redford only appeared in a couple obscure indie films 50 years ago and quickly stepped out of the public eye.

In this case, that's almost part of the problem.  I knew from a mention at work that he was a big deal (although without the context - I actually didn't do research then because I figured I'd be enlightened by the inevitable forum post, ironically), but a simple Google search was more likely to pull up a bunch of obituary articles rather than the overview that it would have before he died.  I think I found out when ABC News did 5-10 minutes on him (not just their usual story at the end) that I've probably actually seen a movie with him - specifically, the one about Watergate, which was probably one of the movies we watched in the month between the AP exams and the end of the school year (I mainly remember Deep Throat saying "follow the money").

The first obituary article I see is free from the Associated Press. (https://apnews.com/article/robert-redford-dies-be240607d3f2f3374c00a3bdc79154e4) It details his life, significant roles/productions, and involvement in the Sundance Film Festival pretty extensively. There aren't a ton of poorly-written pieces to sift through to get to exactly how he impacted the film industry.

A bunch of this "I don't know who Robert Redford is" crap is bullshit.

I was a little kid when John Wayne died, but I knew who the hell he was. And we didn't have the Internet, personal computers, 24 hour cable news channels or any of the other digital shit we take for granted now. Back then the platforms that told the public someone famous died was the evening news, a printed newspaper or maybe a magazine.

Robert Redford was, arguably, in a similar caliber of popularity in the movie industry as John Wayne. Out of leading man style actors in the 1970's he was the most popular, even though he never won a Best Actor statue. Redford was in a lot of great/popular movies from the late 1960's into the 1980's. Some of my favorites are "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Jeremiah Johnson," "The Sting," "Three Days of the Condor," "All the President's Men," and "The Natural." BTW, out of actors in movies today, none have the star level Robert Redford did in the 1970's.

He was also a great director, even though he didn't direct all that many films. He won the Best Director Oscar for his first directorial effort, "Ordinary People," in 1980. I really liked "A River Runs Through It" (1992).

I've watched nearly all the Marvel movies from "Iron Man" to "Avengers: Endgame" and then mostly lost interest after that. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" was one of the very best movies out of that entire saga. Robert Redford played the main bad guy in that movie.

I'm a pretty big movie fan and a hardcore nerd about the sound/projection hardware in commercial movie theaters. I admire what Robert Redford did founding the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival. With all the damned media company mergers going on there needs to be at least some place for small studios and independent movie makers. Hell, the ink isn't dry on Skydance's deal to buy Paramount and now they're looking to buy out Warner Bros.

Anyway, any adult in the United States claiming they didn't know who Robert Redford was, is either really badly sheltered or they're just lying for some weird reason. The guy's politics were pretty left of center. That might be a motive for someone to level an insulting "who?" remark.

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 16, 2025, 09:58:53 PMStill, why even post if you aren't going to do the bare minimum level of research?

Why even post if you aren't going to do the bare minimum level of providing context?

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 16, 2025, 09:58:53 PMI would at least google the name, and if I wasn't interested, I would simply not post in the thread.

I need context to see if they're even worth Googling or not. If there's some obscure name that seems vaguely familiar, I am not going to be interested enough to Google them if they're just some actor or singer, but if they're something like an author or a scientist I might actually find Googling them for more information worthwhile.

And if I may quote chapter and verse about how the forum is run:

QuotePosts that have no discernible meaning, only random text, or lack sufficient context to form the basis of or contribute to a discussion.

Obviously, a thread saying "RIP Bob Smingfingtinfordson" and nothing else meets this bar, but the idea of providing context to form the basis of a discussion is an explicitly stated goal of the forum rules, so the "maybe you should provide context here, pal" crowd is unambiguously right.

Quote from: Bobby5280 on September 16, 2025, 10:46:32 PMA bunch of this "I don't know who Robert Redford is" crap is bullshit.

I was a little kid when John Wayne died, but I knew who the hell he was. And we didn't have the Internet, personal computers, 24 hour cable news channels or any of the other digital shit we take for granted now. Back then the platforms that told the public someone famous died was the evening news, a printed newspaper or maybe a magazine.

Robert Redford was, arguably, in a similar caliber of popularity in the movie industry as John Wayne. Out of leading man style actors in the 1970's he was the most popular, even though he never won a Best Actor statue. Redford was in a lot of great/popular movies from the late 1960's into the 1980's. Some of my favorites are "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Jeremiah Johnson," "The Sting," "Three Days of the Condor," "All the President's Men," and "The Natural." BTW, out of actors in movies today, none have the star level Robert Redford did in the 1970's.

He was also a great director, even though he didn't direct all that many films. He won the Best Director Oscar for his first directorial effort, "Ordinary People," in 1980. I really liked "A River Runs Through It" (1992).

I've watched nearly all the Marvel movies from "Iron Man" to "Avengers: Endgame" and then mostly lost interest after that. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" was one of the very best movies out of that entire saga. Robert Redford played the main bad guy in that movie.

I'm a pretty big movie fan and a hardcore nerd about the sound/projection hardware in commercial movie theaters. I admire what Robert Redford did founding the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival. With all the damned media company mergers going on there needs to be at least some place for small studios and independent movie makers. Hell, the ink isn't dry on Skydance's deal to buy Paramount and now they're looking to buy out Warner Bros.

Anyway, any adult in the United States claiming they didn't know who Robert Redford was, is either really badly sheltered or they're just lying for some weird reason. The guy's politics were pretty left of center. That might be a motive for someone to level an insulting "who?" remark.

The user who said "who" is also decidedly left of center. I had barely heard of him when I heard the news- the name only sound familiar. I'm only 22 and I don't watch any movies. Some people just don't care about celebrities.

Is not Kirk a media celebrity? 

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 10:56:16 PMIs not Kirk a media celebrity? 

He is in the political sphere, which I have a high level of interest in so I was very familiar with him.

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 16, 2025, 10:57:44 PM

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 10:56:16 PMIs not Kirk a media celebrity? 

He is in the political sphere, which I have a high level of interest in so I was very familiar with him.

I was aware of the name, but to me he was one of an interchangeable class of pundits—before his death, I might have gotten him confused with Ben Shapiro, Steven Crowder, or even Nick Fuentes because to me they all kind of provide the same function. (On the other hand, I can identify pretty much every US senator, governor, and Cabinet official by name, so it's not like I'm not politically aware.)

Quote from: Bobby5280 on September 16, 2025, 10:46:32 PMI was a little kid when John Wayne died, but I knew who the hell he was. And we didn't have the Internet, personal computers, 24 hour cable news channels or any of the other digital shit we take for granted now.

You knew who he was because you didn't have the Internet, personal computers, or 24 hour cable news. You had NBC, ABC, and CBS shoving John Wayne down your throat.

Nowadays you have the freedom to not give a shit about celebrities because you can just choose to click on something else.

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 16, 2025, 10:57:44 PM

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 10:56:16 PMIs not Kirk a media celebrity? 

He is in the political sphere, which I have a high level of interest in so I was very familiar with him.

Charlie Kirk wasn't part of any elected office.  He was a media celebrity apparently very famous among younger folks. 

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 11:07:16 PM

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 16, 2025, 10:57:44 PM

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 10:56:16 PMIs not Kirk a media celebrity? 

He is in the political sphere, which I have a high level of interest in so I was very familiar with him.

Charlie Kirk wasn't part of any elected office.  He was a media celebrity apparently very famous among younger folks.

I will say, he's very famous with young people but not as much with older people. Also if you don't use social media you wouldn't have known him as well.

Quote from: Scott5114 on September 16, 2025, 10:52:40 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 16, 2025, 09:58:53 PMI would at least google the name, and if I wasn't interested, I would simply not post in the thread.

I need context to see if they're even worth Googling or not. If there's some obscure name that seems vaguely familiar, I am not going to be interested enough to Google them if they're just some actor or singer, but if they're something like an author or a scientist I might actually find Googling them for more information worthwhile.

And if I may quote chapter and verse about how the forum is run:

QuotePosts that have no discernible meaning, only random text, or lack sufficient context to form the basis of or contribute to a discussion.

Obviously, a thread saying "RIP Bob Smingfingtinfordson" and nothing else meets this bar, but the idea of providing context to form the basis of a discussion is an explicitly stated goal of the forum rules, so the "maybe you should provide context here, pal" crowd is unambiguously right.

I don't mind a bit of digging to get to the heart of new topics that previously didn't interest me. Variety is the spice of life.

But I see your point.

Quote from: Scott5114You knew who he was because you didn't have the Internet, personal computers, or 24 hour cable news. You had NBC, ABC, and CBS shoving John Wayne down your throat.

We weren't stuck indoors back then unless we did something to get grounded by our parents.

Quote from: Scott5114Nowadays you have the freedom to not give a shit about celebrities because you can just choose to click on something else.

There are many celebrities I don't give two shits about, but I'm repeatedly made aware they exist by the entertainment industry, news/entertainment media and outlets online.

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 16, 2025, 11:09:33 PM

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 11:07:16 PM

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 16, 2025, 10:57:44 PM

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 10:56:16 PMIs not Kirk a media celebrity? 

He is in the political sphere, which I have a high level of interest in so I was very familiar with him.

Charlie Kirk wasn't part of any elected office.  He was a media celebrity apparently very famous among younger folks.

I will say, he's very famous with young people but not as much with older people. Also if you don't use social media you wouldn't have known him as well.

I had to show this reply to my wife.  I've been telling we are old for years and she doesn't agree.  Amusingly she also knew who Robert Redford was but had no idea about Charlie Kirk until last week. 

Quote from: Bobby5280 on September 16, 2025, 11:20:28 PMThere are many celebrities I don't give two shits about, but I'm repeatedly made aware they exist by the entertainment industry, news/entertainment media and outlets online.

But see, I don't consume anything created by the entertainment industry, nor news/entertainment media, because I don't have to anymore; I don't have to wait for Entertainment Tonight to be over before I can watch the local news like I used to. I have no idea who the currently-active crop of actors with stature comparable to Robert Redford is, for instance.

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 11:24:32 PM

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 16, 2025, 11:09:33 PM

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 11:07:16 PM

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 16, 2025, 10:57:44 PM

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 10:56:16 PMIs not Kirk a media celebrity? 

He is in the political sphere, which I have a high level of interest in so I was very familiar with him.

Charlie Kirk wasn't part of any elected office.  He was a media celebrity apparently very famous among younger folks.

I will say, he's very famous with young people but not as much with older people. Also if you don't use social media you wouldn't have known him as well.

I had to show this reply to my wife.  I've been telling we are old for years and she doesn't agree.  Amusingly she also knew who Robert Redford was but had no idea about Charlie Kirk until last week. 

So where does that put me, someone who knew both Charlie Kirk and Robert Redford without additional context?

The dreaded middle-aged? :ded:

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 16, 2025, 11:31:23 PM

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 11:24:32 PM

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 16, 2025, 11:09:33 PM

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 11:07:16 PM

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 16, 2025, 10:57:44 PM

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 10:56:16 PMIs not Kirk a media celebrity? 

He is in the political sphere, which I have a high level of interest in so I was very familiar with him.

Charlie Kirk wasn't part of any elected office.  He was a media celebrity apparently very famous among younger folks.

I will say, he's very famous with young people but not as much with older people. Also if you don't use social media you wouldn't have known him as well.

I had to show this reply to my wife.  I've been telling we are old for years and she doesn't agree.  Amusingly she also knew who Robert Redford was but had no idea about Charlie Kirk until last week. 

So where does that put me, someone who knew both Charlie Kirk and Robert Redford without additional context?

The dreaded middle-aged? :ded:

Hey when I was growing up 30 was middle aged.  My parents certainly looked the part.

Quote from: Scott5114 on September 16, 2025, 11:06:18 PM

Quote from: Bobby5280 on September 16, 2025, 10:46:32 PMI was a little kid when John Wayne died, but I knew who the hell he was. And we didn't have the Internet, personal computers, 24 hour cable news channels or any of the other digital shit we take for granted now.

You knew who he was because you didn't have the Internet, personal computers, or 24 hour cable news. You had NBC, ABC, and CBS shoving John Wayne down your throat.

Pfft.  I was a young kid when John Wayne died.  News was for adults.  I was busy playing with toys.

And I came to know John Wayne because of the zeitgeist.  Parents pass down their cultural stuff to their kids.  Never saw one of his movies in full until I was much older, though.

An unrelated obit I'm specifically drawing Rothman's attention to  :bigass:  - Marilyn Haggerty, who was a columnist at the Grand Forks Herald in Grand Forks, ND, and wrote this review of their then-new Olive Garden in 2012: https://www.grandforksherald.com/lifestyle/the-eatbeat-long-awaited-olive-garden-receives-warm-welcome

Quote from: TheHighwayMan3561 on September 17, 2025, 01:40:35 AMAn unrelated obit I'm specifically drawing Rothman's attention to  :bigass:  - Marilyn Haggerty, who was a columnist at the Grand Forks Herald in Grand Forks, ND, and wrote this review of their then-new Olive Garden in 2012: https://www.grandforksherald.com/lifestyle/the-eatbeat-long-awaited-olive-garden-receives-warm-welcome

That one of the saddest things I've ever read.

Quote from: Scott5114 on September 16, 2025, 10:52:40 PM....

And if I may quote chapter and verse about how the forum is run:

QuotePosts that have no discernible meaning, only random text, or lack sufficient context to form the basis of or contribute to a discussion.

Obviously, a thread saying "RIP Bob Smingfingtinfordson" and nothing else meets this bar, but the idea of providing context to form the basis of a discussion is an explicitly stated goal of the forum rules, so the "maybe you should provide context here, pal" crowd is unambiguously right.

The Kirby Delauter thread from 2015 might be a fine example of one where the subject line made you say, "Who?," and then the first post told you why this obscure politician from Maryland merited mention and ridicule. (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=14415.msg2032585#msg2032585)

On the other hand, it's also fair to say Robert Redford was nowhere close to as obscure as Kirby Delauter.

Quote from: Scott5114 on September 16, 2025, 09:46:34 PM

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 01:29:22 PMI don't care if you're too lazy to click on it or not.

I hate to break this to you, but this place isn't just about you. There are many here who know don't know what the link is. Your apathy doesn't preclude others from discussing.

Cute...but ultimately a failure. I clearly stated that I don't care if he reads it or not.

Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on September 16, 2025, 08:40:22 PMI thought I would get grief from folks not getting past the NY Times paywall, at which point others would chime in.
I didn't realize I was going to start another AAroads culture skirmish instead.  :crazy:
Anyways, here is Robert Redford pretending to be a roadgeek, 33 years ago.

Loved that movie, and that was always my favorite scene!

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 16, 2025, 09:58:53 PMIt's not like Redford only appeared in a couple obscure indie films 50 years ago and quickly stepped out of the public eye.

Looking at Redford's filmography, the only one he starred in that I've actually watched was Sneakers, from 1992.  That was 33 years ago, and I was in sixth grade when it came out.  No, technically not fifty years ago, but it might as well have been.  If I ignore the comic book movies, which my wife and I have zero interest in seeing, and the animated remakes in which he's nothing but a voice-over, then here are the only movies of his I've actually heard of before:

1969 — Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (haven't seen)
1972 — The Candidate (haven't seen, only vaguely remember hearing its name before)
1975 — Three Days of the Condor (only recently learned about it, now on my list for guys' night)
1976 — All the President's Men (haven't seen, only vaguely remember hearing its name before)
1992 — Sneakers (seen it and liked it)
1992 — Directed:  A River Runs through It (seen it, meh)
1993 — Indecent Proposal (haven't seen)
1998 — The Horse Whisperer (haven't seen)

Nothing within the last 25 years.  So, while you may think that he was still a behemoth in the film world rather than someone who hasn't been in the public eye for a long time, the fact for me is that I haven't seen a movie he starred in since the early-to-mid-1990s.

Quote from: Rothman on September 16, 2025, 10:21:04 PMEh, I'd give a pass to Gen Alpha on not knowing Robert Redford, but you'd have to live under a rock to not know who he is otherwise, especially given his appearance in the Marvel movies.

I knew who Robert Redford was, and I don't live under a rock.  But I've never seen a Marvel movie and have no interest in seeing one.  Neither does my wife.  Not everyone is into comic books.

Quote from: Bobby5280 on September 16, 2025, 10:46:32 PMI admire what Robert Redford did founding the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival.

Meanwhile, I didn't know until reading your post that he's the one who started the Sundance Film Festival.  I had a general idea of what the film festival was, but not who started it.

Quote from: kphoger on September 17, 2025, 10:07:55 AM

Quote from: Rothman on September 16, 2025, 10:21:04 PMEh, I'd give a pass to Gen Alpha on not knowing Robert Redford, but you'd have to live under a rock to not know who he is otherwise, especially given his appearance in the Marvel movies.

I knew who Robert Redford was, and I don't live under a rock.  But I've never seen a Marvel movie and have no interest in seeing one.  Neither does my wife.  Not everyone is into comic books.

I'm not into comic books either, but I still was familiar with most of the Marvel movies and who starred in them (I haven't watched all of them, but I've seen quite a few up until Endgame). As a ubiquitous part of 2010s culture, I would think most people who grew up then would at least have some familiarity with the plotlines, major characters, and actors in these films even if they haven't seen them.

Just for a comparable cultural impact: I wasn't into any Transformers media when the Michael Bay movies were produced, but I still knew the premise, characters, and actors who starred in them, and eventually watched them to be able to participate in discussions about them/understand the references my classmates were making. Yeah, I wouldn't fault a person significantly younger than me for not knowing who Shia LaBeouf or Megan Fox are, but it would be strange to hear someone my age who doesn't at least have some understanding about the Michael Bay Transformers franchise. That doesn't make them top-tier cinematic masterpieces, it just reflects the culture of the time.

Sure, Robert Redford may not be the biggest name attached the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but you'd seriously have to be living under a rock if you were a teenager in the mid-to-late 2010s and don't know who Robert Downey, Jr. or Chris Evans are.

Quote from: kphoger on September 17, 2025, 10:07:55 AM1969 — Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (haven't seen)
1972 — The Candidate (haven't seen, only vaguely remember hearing its name before)
1975 — Three Days of the Condor (only recently learned about it, now on my list for guys' night)
1976 — All the President's Men (haven't seen, only vaguely remember hearing its name before)
1992 — Sneakers (seen it and liked it)
1992 — Directed:  A River Runs through It (seen it, meh)
1993 — Indecent Proposal (haven't seen)
1998 — The Horse Whisperer (haven't seen)

This will probably shock some of you, but the only one of these I've heard of is All the President's Men. I haven't heard of The Natural or Captain America: The Winter Soldier either.

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 11:00:53 AMMichael Bay
Shia LaBeouf
Megan Fox
Robert Downey, Jr.
Chris Evans

Of those names, there's only one that I wouldn't have to look up to find out who they are.  That's Robert Downey Jr, and I think the only movie of his that I've seen is Dolittle.  We do own Weird Science as part of a classic 1980s DVD set, but we haven't watched that one yet.

Quote from: kphoger on September 17, 2025, 11:12:32 AM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 11:00:53 AMMichael Bay
Shia LaBeouf
Megan Fox
Robert Downey, Jr.
Chris Evans

Of those names, there's only one that I wouldn't have to look up to find out who they are.  That's Robert Downey Jr, and I think the only movie of his that I've seen is Dolittle.

You're missing out on some quality content with Downey's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes.

Quote from: kphoger on September 17, 2025, 11:12:32 AM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 11:00:53 AMMichael Bay
Shia LaBeouf
Megan Fox
Robert Downey, Jr.
Chris Evans

Of those names, there's only one that I wouldn't have to look up to find out who they are.  That's Robert Downey Jr, and I think the only movie of his that I've seen is Dolittle.  We do own Weird Science as part of a classic 1980s DVD set, but we haven't watched that one yet.

You're missing out with prime Megan Fox. Not just a clever name.

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 11:14:35 AMYou're missing out on some quality content with Downey's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes.

We've considered watching one of the newer Sherlock Holmes movies, but I've read reviews saying they're not that great.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 11:16:19 AMYou're missing out with prime Megan Fox. Not just a clever name.

Just looked.  Other than Transformers, I haven't heard of a single one.

Quote from: kphoger on September 17, 2025, 11:42:58 AM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 11:14:35 AMYou're missing out on some quality content with Downey's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes.

We've considered watching one of the newer Sherlock Holmes movies, but I've read reviews saying they're not that great.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 11:16:19 AMYou're missing out with prime Megan Fox. Not just a clever name.

Just looked.  Other than Transformers, I haven't heard of a single one.

Oh, I don't care about her movies.

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 17, 2025, 11:09:17 AM

Quote from: kphoger on September 17, 2025, 10:07:55 AM1969 — Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (haven't seen)
1972 — The Candidate (haven't seen, only vaguely remember hearing its name before)
1975 — Three Days of the Condor (only recently learned about it, now on my list for guys' night)
1976 — All the President's Men (haven't seen, only vaguely remember hearing its name before)
1992 — Sneakers (seen it and liked it)
1992 — Directed:  A River Runs through It (seen it, meh)
1993 — Indecent Proposal (haven't seen)
1998 — The Horse Whisperer (haven't seen)

This will probably shock some of you, but the only one of these I've heard of is All the President's Men. I haven't heard of The Natural or Captain America: The Winter Soldier either.

I find the boldfaced astonishing simply because that movie is so widely considered so iconic.

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 17, 2025, 11:48:08 AM

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 17, 2025, 11:09:17 AM

Quote from: kphoger on September 17, 2025, 10:07:55 AM1969 — Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (haven't seen)
1972 — The Candidate (haven't seen, only vaguely remember hearing its name before)
1975 — Three Days of the Condor (only recently learned about it, now on my list for guys' night)
1976 — All the President's Men (haven't seen, only vaguely remember hearing its name before)
1992 — Sneakers (seen it and liked it)
1992 — Directed:  A River Runs through It (seen it, meh)
1993 — Indecent Proposal (haven't seen)
1998 — The Horse Whisperer (haven't seen)

This will probably shock some of you, but the only one of these I've heard of is All the President's Men. I haven't heard of The Natural or Captain America: The Winter Soldier either.

I find the boldfaced astonishing simply because that movie is so widely considered so iconic.

I'm 43 and have heard of it. I don't think I've ever seen it other than the scene at the end with the lights breaking. But I don't think it's that iconic for at least my age and younger.

I think I was born in the same year as |JayhawkCO|, I've never heard of it.

Last year, I spent a few days combing through the internet to compile a list of classic films that I could watch with a bunch of guys from church every so often at our house.  Reddit threads, IMDB, etc.  I ruled out a lot of them but still ended up with a list of a few dozen movies.  And, during that whole process, I don't think The Natural ever crossed my radar.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 11:44:23 AM

Quote from: kphoger on September 17, 2025, 11:42:58 AM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 11:14:35 AMYou're missing out on some quality content with Downey's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes.

We've considered watching one of the newer Sherlock Holmes movies, but I've read reviews saying they're not that great.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 11:16:19 AMYou're missing out with prime Megan Fox. Not just a clever name.

Just looked.  Other than Transformers, I haven't heard of a single one.

Oh, I don't care about her movies.

It is strange watching Jennifer's Body.  At the time it was new Meagan Fox is someone I found way more attractive than Amanda Seyfried.  Seyfried got way more attractive as she aged and Fox went for the Crypt Keeper look.

I vaguely knew about Charlie Kirk only because him being the first guest on Gavin Newsome's podcast (and many of the comments that Gavin Newsome made) was a big topic a few weeks ago on a subreddit I follow.  Oddly enough, I'm also more familiar with John Wayne than Robert Redford (in that I knew off the top of my head who he was), despite being in my 30s.  Following celebrities isn't really my thing (I mainly find out about them if they release a song I really like, or make a big impression in a movie or TV show, or become major characters in Star Trek or Doctor Who, both of which I follow closely enough to know the actors).

FWIW, this web site (https://www.ultimatemovierankings.com) has a "top movie stars of the xxxxs" - it's a little subjective but uses an aggregate of box office, awards, and reviews.

I'm not a movie buff by any stretch (nowadays I see maybe two a year in theaters and maybe three more on TV), but I could tell you at least a couple of movies and/or factoids about nearly everyone on this list (not Greer Garson, Teresa Wright, Norma Shearer).

Some of this is my age (middle Gen X), so I saw most of the "big" movies these stars were in from the 1970s onward; and the fact that, since we only had a handful of TV channels growing up, our choices for weekend viewing were small - so I saw a lot of older movies that way.

Half of the 2010s list is on there because of Marvel - I wonder what the list would be without those movies.

It's also disheartening how few women are on this list, including none for the 1990s and 2000s.

_	_	_	_	_
2010s	|	2000s	|	1990s
Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Tom Hanks
Robert Downey, Jr.	|	Tom Cruise	|	Tom Cruise
Vin Diesel	|	Russell Crowe	|	Jim Carrey
Chadwick Boseman	|	Tom Hanks	|	Matt Damon
Gwyneth Paltrow	|	Orlando Bloom	|	Mel Gibson
Scarlett Johansson	|	Brad Pitt	|	Harrison Ford
Tom Hardy	|	Will Smith	|	Al Pacino
Jeremy Renner	|	Seth Rogen	|	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Michael Keaton	|	Viggo Mortensen	|	Tommy Lee Jones
Chris Evans	|	Mel Gibson	|	Kevin Spacey
Mark Ruffalo	|	Denzel Washington	|	Pierce Brosnan
Jonah Hill	|	George Clooney	|	Gene Hackman
Benedict Cumberbatch	|	Jim Carrey	|	Morgan Freeman
Jennifer Lawrence	|	Johnny Depp	|	Kevin Costner
Bryce Dallas Howard	|	Steve Carell	|	Robin Williams
_	_	_	_	_
1980s	|	1970s	|	1960s
Harrison Ford	|	Al Pacino	|	Peter O'Toole
Bill Murray	|	Robert Redford	|	Audrey Hepburn
Eddie Murphy	|	Diane Keaton	|	Jack Lemmon
Michael Douglas	|	Woody Allen	|	John Wayne
Sigourney Weaver	|	Dustin Hoffman	|	Lee Marvin
William Hurt	|	Barbra Streisand	|	Natalie Wood
Tom Cruise	|	Faye Dunaway	|	Sean Connery
Glenn Close	|	Richard Dreyfuss	|	Omar Sharif
Tom Berenger	|	Clint Eastwood	|	Steve McQueen
Christopher Lloyd	|	Ellen Burstyn	|	Gregory Peck
Kathleen Turner	|	Roy Scheider	|	Richard Harris
Jack Nicholson	|	Julie Christie	|	Paul Newman
Meryl Streep	|	Jane Fonda	|	Hayley Mills
Danny DeVito	|	Jack Nicholson	|	Burt Lancaster
Dan Aykroyd	|	Harrison Ford	|	Sidney Poitier
_	_	_	_	_
1950s	|	1940s	|	1930s
Marlon Brando	|	Katharine Hepburn	|	Fred Astaire
Grace Kelly	|	Teresa Wright	|	The Marx Brothers
James Stewart	|	Gregory Peck	|	Tyrone Power
Yul Brynner	|	Gary Cooper	|	Norma Shearer
Danny Kaye	|	Ingrid Bergman	|	Judy Garland
Elizabeth Taylor	|	Judy Garland	|	Greta Garbo
Frank Sinatra	|	Bing Crosby	|	James Stewart
Dean Martin	|	Bob Hope	|	David Niven
William Holden	|	Greer Garson	|	Charles Laughton
Montgomery Clift	|	Cary Grant	|	Errol Flynn
Jerry Lewis	|	Clark Gable	|	Shirley Temple
Burt Lancaster	|	Bette Davis	|	Clark Gable
Humphrey Bogart	|	Olivia de Havilland	|	Jean Arthur
John Wayne	|	Spencer Tracy	|	Marlene Dietrich
Cary Grant	|	Celeste Holm	|	Ginger Rogers
_	_	_	_	_

Bolding those I haven't heard of off the top of my head. Born in 1982.

_	_	_	_	_
2010s	|	2000s	|	1990s
Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Tom Hanks
Robert Downey, Jr.	|	Tom Cruise	|	Tom Cruise
Vin Diesel	|	Russell Crowe	|	Jim Carrey
Chadwick Boseman	|	Tom Hanks	|	Matt Damon
Gwyneth Paltrow	|	Orlando Bloom	|	Mel Gibson
Scarlett Johansson	|	Brad Pitt	|	Harrison Ford
Tom Hardy	|	Will Smith	|	Al Pacino
Jeremy Renner	|	Seth Rogen	|	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Michael Keaton	|	Viggo Mortensen	|	Tommy Lee Jones
Chris Evans	|	Mel Gibson	|	Kevin Spacey
Mark Ruffalo	|	Denzel Washington	|	Pierce Brosnan
Jonah Hill	|	George Clooney	|	Gene Hackman
Benedict Cumberbatch	|	Jim Carrey	|	Morgan Freeman
Jennifer Lawrence	|	Johnny Depp	|	Kevin Costner
Bryce Dallas Howard	|	Steve Carell	|	Robin Williams
_	_	_	_	_
1980s	|	1970s	|	1960s
Harrison Ford	|	Al Pacino	|	Peter O'Toole
Bill Murray	|	Robert Redford	|	Audrey Hepburn
Eddie Murphy	|	Diane Keaton	|	Jack Lemmon
Michael Douglas	|	Woody Allen	|	John Wayne
Sigourney Weaver	|	Dustin Hoffman	|	Lee Marvin
William Hurt	|	Barbra Streisand	|	Natalie Wood
Tom Cruise	|	Faye Dunaway	|	Sean Connery
Glenn Close	|	Richard Dreyfuss	|	Omar Sharif
Tom Berenger	|	Clint Eastwood	|	Steve McQueen
Christopher Lloyd	|	Ellen Burstyn	|	Gregory Peck
Kathleen Turner	|	Roy Scheider	|	Richard Harris
Jack Nicholson	|	Julie Christie	|	Paul Newman
Meryl Streep	|	Jane Fonda	|	Hayley Mills
Danny DeVito	|	Jack Nicholson	|	Burt Lancaster
Dan Aykroyd	|	Harrison Ford	|	Sidney Poitier
_	_	_	_	_
1950s	|	1940s	|	1930s
Marlon Brando	|	Katharine Hepburn	|	Fred Astaire
Grace Kelly	|	Teresa Wright	|	The Marx Brothers
James Stewart	|	Gregory Peck	|	Tyrone Power
Yul Brynner	|	Gary Cooper	|	Norma Shearer
Danny Kaye	|	Ingrid Bergman	|	Judy Garland
Elizabeth Taylor	|	Judy Garland	|	Greta Garbo
Frank Sinatra	|	Bing Crosby	|	James Stewart
Dean Martin	|	Bob Hope	|	David Niven
William Holden	|	Greer Garson	|	Charles Laughton
Montgomery Clift	|	Cary Grant	|	Errol Flynn
Jerry Lewis	|	Clark Gable	|	Shirley Temple
Burt Lancaster	|	Bette Davis	|	Clark Gable
Humphrey Bogart	|	Olivia de Havilland	|	Jean Arthur
John Wayne	|	Spencer Tracy	|	Marlene Dietrich
Cary Grant	|	Celeste Holm	|	Ginger Rogers
_	_	_	_	_

I also see that Robert Redford hasn't made the list since the 1970s.

Born in 1981.

I was born in 1982.  In my case the 1970s is probably my favorite film decade.

OK, I'll play. Boldfaced names are ones I don't recognize off the top of my head. I was born in 1973. I note that just because I may recognize a name doesn't mean I've seen any movies starring that actor or actress, and likewise my not recognizing a name doesn't mean I haven't necessarily seen any of that person's movies (e.g., I just looked up Tom Berenger on Wikipedia and saw he was in Platoon, which I definitely saw, but I didn't recognize him from the picture they have on his article).

_	_	_	_	_
2010s	|	2000s	|	1990s
Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Tom Hanks
Robert Downey, Jr.	|	Tom Cruise	|	Tom Cruise
Vin Diesel	|	Russell Crowe	|	Jim Carrey
Chadwick Boseman	|	Tom Hanks	|	Matt Damon
Gwyneth Paltrow	|	Orlando Bloom	|	Mel Gibson
Scarlett Johansson	|	Brad Pitt	|	Harrison Ford
Tom Hardy	|	Will Smith	|	Al Pacino
Jeremy Renner	|	Seth Rogen	|	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Michael Keaton	|	Viggo Mortensen	|	Tommy Lee Jones
Chris Evans	|	Mel Gibson	|	Kevin Spacey
Mark Ruffalo	|	Denzel Washington	|	Pierce Brosnan
Jonah Hill	|	George Clooney	|	Gene Hackman
Benedict Cumberbatch	|	Jim Carrey	|	Morgan Freeman
Jennifer Lawrence	|	Johnny Depp	|	Kevin Costner
Bryce Dallas Howard	|	Steve Carell	|	Robin Williams
_	_	_	_	_
1980s	|	1970s	|	1960s
Harrison Ford	|	Al Pacino	|	Peter O'Toole
Bill Murray	|	Robert Redford	|	Audrey Hepburn
Eddie Murphy	|	Diane Keaton	|	Jack Lemmon
Michael Douglas	|	Woody Allen	|	John Wayne
Sigourney Weaver	|	Dustin Hoffman	|	Lee Marvin
William Hurt	|	Barbra Streisand	|	Natalie Wood
Tom Cruise	|	Faye Dunaway	|	Sean Connery
Glenn Close	|	Richard Dreyfuss	|	Omar Sharif
Tom Berenger	|	Clint Eastwood	|	Steve McQueen
Christopher Lloyd	|	Ellen Burstyn	|	Gregory Peck
Kathleen Turner	|	Roy Scheider	|	Richard Harris
Jack Nicholson	|	Julie Christie	|	Paul Newman
Meryl Streep	|	Jane Fonda	|	Hayley Mills
Danny DeVito	|	Jack Nicholson	|	Burt Lancaster
Dan Aykroyd	|	Harrison Ford	|	Sidney Poitier
_	_	_	_	_
1950s	|	1940s	|	1930s
Marlon Brando	|	Katharine Hepburn	|	Fred Astaire
Grace Kelly	|	Teresa Wright	|	The Marx Brothers
James Stewart	|	Gregory Peck	|	Tyrone Power
Yul Brynner	|	Gary Cooper	|	Norma Shearer
Danny Kaye	|	Ingrid Bergman	|	Judy Garland
Elizabeth Taylor	|	Judy Garland	|	Greta Garbo
Frank Sinatra	|	Bing Crosby	|	James Stewart
Dean Martin	|	Bob Hope	|	David Niven
William Holden	|	Greer Garson	|	Charles Laughton
Montgomery Clift	|	Cary Grant	|	Errol Flynn
Jerry Lewis	|	Clark Gable	|	Shirley Temple
Burt Lancaster	|	Bette Davis	|	Clark Gable
Humphrey Bogart	|	Olivia de Havilland	|	Jean Arthur
John Wayne	|	Spencer Tracy	|	Marlene Dietrich
Cary Grant	|	Celeste Holm	|	Ginger Rogers
_	_	_	_	_

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 17, 2025, 02:13:27 PMI just looked up Tom Berenger on Wikipedia and saw he was in Platoon, which I definitely saw, but I didn't recognize him from the picture they have on his article.

Most memorable for me for being Jake Taylor in Major League.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 02:17:59 PM

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 17, 2025, 02:13:27 PMI just looked up Tom Berenger on Wikipedia and saw he was in Platoon, which I definitely saw, but I didn't recognize him from the picture they have on his article.

Most memorable for me for being Jake Taylor in Major League.

I saw that movie, but I don't really remember most of it. The main thing I remember is Charlie Sheen's character and the use of the song "Wild Thing." That song was written by the father of someone I knew in law school.

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 17, 2025, 02:20:14 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 02:17:59 PM

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 17, 2025, 02:13:27 PMI just looked up Tom Berenger on Wikipedia and saw he was in Platoon, which I definitely saw, but I didn't recognize him from the picture they have on his article.

Most memorable for me for being Jake Taylor in Major League.

I saw that movie, but I don't really remember most of it. The main thing I remember is Charlie Sheen's character and the use of the song "Wild Thing." That song was written by the father of someone I knew in law school.

Probably the R-rated movie I saw the most in my life until I turned 17.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 02:23:30 PM

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 17, 2025, 02:20:14 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 02:17:59 PM

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 17, 2025, 02:13:27 PMI just looked up Tom Berenger on Wikipedia and saw he was in Platoon, which I definitely saw, but I didn't recognize him from the picture they have on his article.

Most memorable for me for being Jake Taylor in Major League.

I saw that movie, but I don't really remember most of it. The main thing I remember is Charlie Sheen's character and the use of the song "Wild Thing." That song was written by the father of someone I knew in law school.

Probably the R-rated movie I saw the most in my life until I turned 17.

For me that would be Animal House.

My dad used to take me to R rated movies all the time when I was a little kid.  I recall my mom being furious over RoboCop in particular.  The reasons for her anger went over my head at the time.

Quote from: Scott5114But see, I don't consume anything created by the entertainment industry, nor news/entertainment media, because I don't have to anymore; I don't have to wait for Entertainment Tonight to be over before I can watch the local news like I used to. I have no idea who the currently-active crop of actors with stature comparable to Robert Redford is, for instance.

That might be you, but most Americans do watch movies, even if the majority of those people only watch movies on their TV screens at home. America's movie industry is not only a key driver of our popular culture, it drives a great deal of world popular culture. American movies have been a global thing for long time.

I can understand someone not yet adult age truly not knowing who Robert Redford was. Just about any American any older will have at least heard of the guy unless they've been completely disconnected from the Internet, television and any output or news about the entertainment industry.

Regarding stature, star power, etc. none of the actors in movies or TV currently in their youthful prime have any star power like Robert Redford did in the 1970's. That's not to imply current actors suck. Movies just aren't nearly as star-driven as they were in the past. They're more effects-driven spectacles, all designed to sell to a global audience. That's one reason why we're not seeing nearly as many great comedies being made now compared to movie output in the past.

Quote from: RothmanPfft. I was a young kid when John Wayne died. News was for adults. I was busy playing with toys.

When it came to movies in 1979 I was more obsessed with movies like "Star Wars," "Superman" and "Alien." Despite it being R-rated my parents took my brother and I to see "Alien" a few months after it debuted in the US. We were on a Marine Corps base in Japan and had to wait awhile for it to play at the base theater. Still, I knew who John Wayne was before he died and remember it being big news when he died. Back then the only John Wayne movie I had sat thru was "The Cowboys" (1972). It was a afternoon matinee at that same base theater in Japan. Later in adulthood I grew to appreciate some of John Wayne's earlier movies, particularly "The Searchers."

Quote from: Max RockatanskyI was born in 1982.  In my case the 1970s is probably my favorite film decade.

I think the 1970's was a peak era of the American movie industry. That was the last decade where Hollywood's movie studios took a lot of serious chances. Even "Star Wars" was one hell of a gamble back then. Since then it has been a long slide into increasingly predictable territory (we can blame that on "Star Wars" too). Today, a lot of series TV is objectively better than what Hollywood studios are putting into 2 hour movies.

Quote from: Bobby5280 on September 17, 2025, 02:47:13 PMThat might be you, but most Americans do watch movies, even if the majority of those people only watch movies on their TV screens at home. America's movie industry is not only a key driver of our popular culture, it drives a great deal of world popular culture.

Multiple people in this thread have commented that they don't know much about movies or even watch them.  Our point is that people should take into consideration the fact that multiple people on the forum will not have heard of a person or know why he or she is famous, unless you post the subject line or OP of the RIP thread something about them.

Quote from: Bobby5280 on September 17, 2025, 02:47:13 PMRegarding stature, star power, etc. none of the actors in movies or TV currently in their youthful prime have any star power like Robert Redford did in the 1970's.

The 1970s were fifty years ago.  That's over a decade more than our country's median age.  More people were born after the 1980s than were alive during the 1980s.  Redord's star power in the 1970s is almost irrelevant, and growing more so with every passing year.

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 17, 2025, 02:26:33 PMMy dad used to take me to R rated movies all the time when I was a little kid.  I recall my mom being furious over RoboCop in particular.  The reasons for her anger went over my head at the time.

Saw RoboCop in the theatre when I was 13 with my brother and father. There was also a party of younger kids with some parents a couple rows ahead of us who were kind of noisy for the first few minutes of the movie...until the ED-209 appeared on the screen.

They were completely silent 30 seconds later.

Four of Robert Redford's best moments as Roy Hobbs stand out to me.

Striking out the Whammer before a fan shoots him in a Chicago hotel room:
Knocking the cover off the ball in his first Knights game:
Smashing the Wrigley Field clock:
And, of course, winning the NL pennant with the light-breaking walkoff home run:

Being a Red Sox fan, it makes sense that he patterned Hobbs after Ted Williams, who was a left-handed batter/thrower and wore the number 9.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 01:39:25 PMBolding those I haven't heard of off the top of my head. Born in 1982.

_	_	_	_	_
2010s	|	2000s	|	1990s
Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Tom Hanks
Robert Downey, Jr.	|	Tom Cruise	|	Tom Cruise
Vin Diesel	|	Russell Crowe	|	Jim Carrey
Chadwick Boseman	|	Tom Hanks	|	Matt Damon
Gwyneth Paltrow	|	Orlando Bloom	|	Mel Gibson
Scarlett Johansson	|	Brad Pitt	|	Harrison Ford
Tom Hardy	|	Will Smith	|	Al Pacino
Jeremy Renner	|	Seth Rogen	|	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Michael Keaton	|	Viggo Mortensen	|	Tommy Lee Jones
Chris Evans	|	Mel Gibson	|	Kevin Spacey
Mark Ruffalo	|	Denzel Washington	|	Pierce Brosnan
Jonah Hill	|	George Clooney	|	Gene Hackman
Benedict Cumberbatch	|	Jim Carrey	|	Morgan Freeman
Jennifer Lawrence	|	Johnny Depp	|	Kevin Costner
Bryce Dallas Howard	|	Steve Carell	|	Robin Williams
_	_	_	_	_
1980s	|	1970s	|	1960s
Harrison Ford	|	Al Pacino	|	Peter O'Toole
Bill Murray	|	Robert Redford	|	Audrey Hepburn
Eddie Murphy	|	Diane Keaton	|	Jack Lemmon
Michael Douglas	|	Woody Allen	|	John Wayne
Sigourney Weaver	|	Dustin Hoffman	|	Lee Marvin
William Hurt	|	Barbra Streisand	|	Natalie Wood
Tom Cruise	|	Faye Dunaway	|	Sean Connery
Glenn Close	|	Richard Dreyfuss	|	Omar Sharif
Tom Berenger	|	Clint Eastwood	|	Steve McQueen
Christopher Lloyd	|	Ellen Burstyn	|	Gregory Peck
Kathleen Turner	|	Roy Scheider	|	Richard Harris
Jack Nicholson	|	Julie Christie	|	Paul Newman
Meryl Streep	|	Jane Fonda	|	Hayley Mills
Danny DeVito	|	Jack Nicholson	|	Burt Lancaster
Dan Aykroyd	|	Harrison Ford	|	Sidney Poitier
_	_	_	_	_
1950s	|	1940s	|	1930s
Marlon Brando	|	Katharine Hepburn	|	Fred Astaire
Grace Kelly	|	Teresa Wright	|	The Marx Brothers
James Stewart	|	Gregory Peck	|	Tyrone Power
Yul Brynner	|	Gary Cooper	|	Norma Shearer
Danny Kaye	|	Ingrid Bergman	|	Judy Garland
Elizabeth Taylor	|	Judy Garland	|	Greta Garbo
Frank Sinatra	|	Bing Crosby	|	James Stewart
Dean Martin	|	Bob Hope	|	David Niven
William Holden	|	Greer Garson	|	Charles Laughton
Montgomery Clift	|	Cary Grant	|	Errol Flynn
Jerry Lewis	|	Clark Gable	|	Shirley Temple
Burt Lancaster	|	Bette Davis	|	Clark Gable
Humphrey Bogart	|	Olivia de Havilland	|	Jean Arthur
John Wayne	|	Spencer Tracy	|	Marlene Dietrich
Cary Grant	|	Celeste Holm	|	Ginger Rogers
_	_	_	_	_

Man, Kathleen Turner was all over the place in the 80s.

Bolding those I haven't heard of off the top of my head. Born in 1999.

_	_	_	_	_
2010s	|	2000s	|	1990s
Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Tom Hanks
Robert Downey, Jr.	|	Tom Cruise	|	Tom Cruise
Vin Diesel	|	Russell Crowe	|	Jim Carrey
Chadwick Boseman	|	Tom Hanks	|	Matt Damon
Gwyneth Paltrow	|	Orlando Bloom	|	Mel Gibson
Scarlett Johansson	|	Brad Pitt	|	Harrison Ford
Tom Hardy	|	Will Smith	|	Al Pacino
Jeremy Renner	|	Seth Rogen	|	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Michael Keaton	|	Viggo Mortensen	|	Tommy Lee Jones
Chris Evans	|	Mel Gibson	|	Kevin Spacey
Mark Ruffalo	|	Denzel Washington	|	Pierce Brosnan
Jonah Hill	|	George Clooney	|	Gene Hackman
Benedict Cumberbatch	|	Jim Carrey	|	Morgan Freeman
Jennifer Lawrence	|	Johnny Depp	|	Kevin Costner
Bryce Dallas Howard	|	Steve Carell	|	Robin Williams
_	_	_	_	_
1980s	|	1970s	|	1960s
Harrison Ford	|	Al Pacino	|	Peter O'Toole
Bill Murray	|	Robert Redford	|	Audrey Hepburn
Eddie Murphy	|	Diane Keaton	|	Jack Lemmon
Michael Douglas	|	Woody Allen	|	John Wayne
Sigourney Weaver	|	Dustin Hoffman	|	Lee Marvin
William Hurt	|	Barbra Streisand	|	Natalie Wood
Tom Cruise	|	Faye Dunaway	|	Sean Connery
Glenn Close	|	Richard Dreyfuss	|	Omar Sharif
Tom Berenger	|	Clint Eastwood	|	Steve McQueen
Christopher Lloyd	|	Ellen Burstyn	|	Gregory Peck
Kathleen Turner	|	Roy Scheider	|	Richard Harris
Jack Nicholson	|	Julie Christie	|	Paul Newman
Meryl Streep	|	Jane Fonda	|	Hayley Mills
Danny DeVito	|	Jack Nicholson	|	Burt Lancaster
Dan Aykroyd	|	Harrison Ford	|	Sidney Poitier
_	_	_	_	_
1950s	|	1940s	|	1930s
Marlon Brando	|	Katharine Hepburn	|	Fred Astaire
Grace Kelly	|	Teresa Wright	|	The Marx Brothers
James Stewart	|	Gregory Peck	|	Tyrone Power
Yul Brynner	|	Gary Cooper	|	Norma Shearer
Danny Kaye	|	Ingrid Bergman	|	Judy Garland
Elizabeth Taylor	|	Judy Garland	|	Greta Garbo
Frank Sinatra	|	Bing Crosby	|	James Stewart
Dean Martin	|	Bob Hope	|	David Niven
William Holden	|	Greer Garson	|	Charles Laughton
Montgomery Clift	|	Cary Grant	|	Errol Flynn
Jerry Lewis	|	Clark Gable	|	Shirley Temple
Burt Lancaster	|	Bette Davis	|	Clark Gable
Humphrey Bogart	|	Olivia de Havilland	|	Jean Arthur
John Wayne	|	Spencer Tracy	|	Marlene Dietrich
Cary Grant	|	Celeste Holm	|	Ginger Rogers
_	_	_	_	_

(edit: add Jerry Lewis to the list; I thought he and Jerry Lee Lewis were the same person when I did it initially)

Quote from: Bobby5280 on September 17, 2025, 02:47:13 PMI think the 1970's was a peak era of the American movie industry. That was the last decade where Hollywood's movie studios took a lot of serious chances. Even "Star Wars" was one hell of a gamble back then. Since then it has been a long slide into increasingly predictable territory (we can blame that on "Star Wars" too). Today, a lot of series TV is objectively better than what Hollywood studios are putting into 2 hour movies.

You could even argue that was the *only* decade where studios took a lot of serious chances. If you look at a list of the "greatest" movies from earlier decades, they're dominated by well-established genre films: westerns, musicals, suspense, etc. The 70s existed in a small sliver of time between the demise of the old studio system and the rise of the new studio system (i.e., franchises and blockbusters).

I agree that television today is far outpacing films in terms of storytelling and acting - it's notable that a lot of actors who previously worked exclusively (or nearly so) in film are now showing up on television series.

Another thing that occurred to me: many of the enduring or "recognizable" names from earlier decades are perhaps known more for an overarching type or personality trait/quirk - one that could be easily impersonated or goofed on. Thanks to Warner Bros., I understood who Jimmy Cagney or Humphrey Bogart or Mae West or Bing Crosby or Jimmy Stewart were long before I saw any of their films. It would take me a minute to name a John Wayne movie, but I could bust out a (bad) impression of him on the spot.

Those types of actors have become less and less common, perhaps. You can do a Jimmy Stewart impersonation, but how do you do Tom Hanks (whose career is often compared to Stewart's)? Someone like Robert Redford, who was a huge star, a great actor, and very handsome in his prime, doesn't have that "quirk" that would make him indelible, or easily imitated.

Quote from: kphoger on September 17, 2025, 02:55:05 PMThe 1970s were fifty years ago.  That's over a decade more than our country's median age.  More people were born after the 1980s than were alive during the 1980s.  Redord's star power in the 1970s is almost irrelevant, and growing more so with every passing year.

Yet I've heard of 10/15 of the listed 30's actors and 12/25 from the 40's, all in and around the same time/delta.

I think the big divide in this thread isn't necessarily strictly age. Those who were in their teen years before smartphones became a thing had a much higher focus on movies than anyone younger.

And there's Kyle.

I didn't think I'd ever hear from somebody who doesn't know who Robin Williams was in my life, but here we are...

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 03:46:30 PMI didn't think I'd ever hear from somebody who doesn't know who Robin Williams was in my life, but here we are...

I've probably heard the name before, but it's a common enough first name and common enough last name that I couldn't definitively say someone famous with that name existed. I still don't know whether this person is male or female.

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 17, 2025, 03:49:55 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 03:46:30 PMI didn't think I'd ever hear from somebody who doesn't know who Robin Williams was in my life, but here we are...

I've probably heard the name before, but it's a common enough first name and common enough last name that I couldn't definitively say someone famous with that name existed. I still don't know whether this person is male or female.

I don't really care that much about pop culture in general, but if there were a single actor on the list that I wish everyone knew, it would probably be Robin Williams.

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 17, 2025, 03:49:55 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 03:46:30 PMI didn't think I'd ever hear from somebody who doesn't know who Robin Williams was in my life, but here we are...

I've probably heard the name before, but it's a common enough first name and common enough last name that I couldn't definitively say someone famous with that name existed. I still don't know whether this person is male or female.

Robin Williams is the man wearing the glasses:

(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/514GPQOBCHL._UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg)

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 17, 2025, 04:14:28 PMRobin Williams is the man wearing the glasses:

And the one with the beard:

(https://static0.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Aladdin-Genie.jpg)

Quote from: Rothman on September 16, 2025, 10:21:04 PMEh, I'd give a pass to Gen Alpha on not knowing Robert Redford, but you'd have to live under a rock to not know who he is otherwise, especially given his appearance in the Marvel movies.

And, if those who don't know who he is are genuinely interested by your terse "Who?" posts in here, but unwilling to Google on your own, I'll gladly assign you homework due to your interest in being educated:

Please watch the movies Sneakers (1992), Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid (1969), All the President's Men (1976) and, heck, why not Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).

Write a 1000-word report on your reactions.

New assignment/watch list:

Popeye (1980), The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), Flubber (1997), Good Will Hunting (1997), Patch Adams (1998), One Hour Photo (2002), Robots (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Old Dogs (2009), The Butler (2013), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).

And heck, might as well binge watch the series Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 04:32:49 PMNew assignment/watch list:

Popeye (1980), The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), Flubber (1997), Good Will Hunting (1997), Patch Adams (1998), One Hour Photo (2002), Robots (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Old Dogs (2009), The Butler (2013), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).

And heck, might as well binge watch the series Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).

For a Cliff's Notes version, just Good Morning, Vietnam; Dead Poets Society; Hook; and Good Will Hunting would suffice.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 04:38:53 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 04:32:49 PMNew assignment/watch list:

Popeye (1980), The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), Flubber (1997), Good Will Hunting (1997), Patch Adams (1998), One Hour Photo (2002), Robots (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Old Dogs (2009), The Butler (2013), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).

And heck, might as well binge watch the series Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).

For a Cliff's Notes version, just Good Morning, Vietnam; Dead Poets Society; Hook; and Good Will Hunting would suffice.

Extra credit: one of his HBO comedy specials

Quote from: DTComposer on September 17, 2025, 03:36:11 PMI agree that television today is far outpacing films in terms of storytelling and acting - it's notable that a lot of actors who previously worked exclusively (or nearly so) in film are now showing up on television series.

And how about that wonderful little project from Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short:  Only Murders in the Building?  Part of the reason it's so good is that they allow themselves to deviate from the traditional TV format.

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 17, 2025, 02:26:33 PMMy dad used to take me to R rated movies all the time when I was a little kid.

Quote from: formulanone on September 17, 2025, 03:20:43 PMSaw RoboCop in the theatre when I was 13 with my brother and father.

I grew up watching all sorts of movies at home with my family.  There's no way I could tell you the first R-rated movie I ever saw.  I do remember, from back in the first grade or so, being scared of claw-handled sinks because I'd watched A Nightmare on Elm Street 3—but I think that's the only movie that ever gave me any bad dreams or daytime fears.  I think I probably saw The Silence of the Lambs sometime around sixth grade or so with my dad and sister.

It was a small town where I grew up, and the movie theater only had one screen.  Less popular movies would play one week-end, more popular movies would play more than one.  From fifth grade through at least junior high, I used to go see every movie with one or two friends, no matter what movie it was.  If it was rated R, then I could simply call my parents from the theater, they'd tell the theater staff that it was OK for me to see the movie, and that was good enough.  Most of time, nobody even bothered making me call, though.  I have to bite my lip when people suggest that good Christian parents would never let their kids watch movies with sex and gore and drugs and stuff, because that stuff was never off limits in this pastor's kid's home in the 1990s.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 03:45:30 PMYet I've heard of 10/15 of the listed 30's actors and 12/25 from the 40's, all in and around the same time/delta.

I think the big divide in this thread isn't necessarily strictly age. Those who were in their teen years before smartphones became a thing had a much higher focus on movies than anyone younger.

And there's Kyle.

A big part of it is that I've just never been very good at remembering (or caring to learn) what the names of different actors are.  With most people, if they're trying to remember the name of a movie, they could say something like "You know, it's the one with Boaty McBoatface and Eugenia Wigglesworth in it", and then everyone else would say, "Oh, yeah, do you mean _______?"  But, with me, if I can't think of the name of a movie, and someone asks me who stars in it, chances are my answer will be "I don't know."  There's a short list of actors and actresses whose names I can match up, but there aren't many on that list.

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 03:46:30 PMI didn't think I'd ever hear from somebody who doesn't know who Robin Williams was in my life, but here we are...

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 17, 2025, 03:49:55 PMI've probably heard the name before, but it's a common enough first name and common enough last name that I couldn't definitively say someone famous with that name existed.

He's definitely on my short list of actors I know by name.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 04:38:53 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 04:32:49 PMNew assignment/watch list:

Popeye (1980), The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), Flubber (1997), Good Will Hunting (1997), Patch Adams (1998), One Hour Photo (2002), Robots (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Old Dogs (2009), The Butler (2013), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).

And heck, might as well binge watch the series Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).

For a Cliff's Notes version, just Good Morning, Vietnam; Dead Poets Society; Hook; and Good Will Hunting would suffice.

I love Hook, but I would replace it with Aladdin, recognizing just how little of what he did was scripted. Then I would add one of the comedy specials, probably A Night at the Met. Maybe add The Birdcage.

I think the goal would be to show how, for most of us, Williams came into our consciousness as a (cocaine-fueled) absolute ball of manic improvisational genius, then showed us remarkable range and depth as an actor.

Quote from: DTComposer on September 17, 2025, 06:11:43 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 04:38:53 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 04:32:49 PMNew assignment/watch list:

Popeye (1980), The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), Flubber (1997), Good Will Hunting (1997), Patch Adams (1998), One Hour Photo (2002), Robots (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Old Dogs (2009), The Butler (2013), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).

And heck, might as well binge watch the series Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).

For a Cliff's Notes version, just Good Morning, Vietnam; Dead Poets Society; Hook; and Good Will Hunting would suffice.

I love Hook, but I would replace it with Aladdin, recognizing just how little of what he did was scripted. Then I would add one of the comedy specials, probably A Night at the Met. Maybe add The Birdcage.

I think the goal would be to show how, for most of us, Williams came into our consciousness as a (cocaine-fueled) absolute ball of manic improvisational genius, then showed us remarkable range and depth as an actor.

I just think part of what makes Robin Williams special were his facial expressions and just general physicality. I love Aladdin, and watch it far too often with a 3-year-old, but Hook, to me, shows up Williams' range even better.

I guess a lot of people are just now finding out this meme features Robert Redford:

Quote from: kphoger on September 17, 2025, 05:40:28 PM

Quote from: DTComposer on September 17, 2025, 03:36:11 PMI agree that television today is far outpacing films in terms of storytelling and acting - it's notable that a lot of actors who previously worked exclusively (or nearly so) in film are now showing up on television series.

And how about that wonderful little project from Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short:  Only Murders in the Building?  Part of the reason it's so good is that they allow themselves to deviate from the traditional TV format.

It's one of the handful of shows I make time to watch nowadays.

I was also thinking of Harrison Ford in Shrinking - a late-career comic lean into his lovable curmudgeon persona.

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 17, 2025, 06:34:21 PMI guess a lot of people are just now finding out this meme features Robert Redford:

It just looks so much like Zach Galifianakis.

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 17, 2025, 08:48:15 AM

Quote from: Scott5114 on September 16, 2025, 09:46:34 PM

Quote from: SEWIGuy on September 16, 2025, 01:29:22 PMI don't care if you're too lazy to click on it or not.

I hate to break this to you, but this place isn't just about you. There are many here who know don't know what the link is. Your apathy doesn't preclude others from discussing.

Cute...but ultimately a failure. I clearly stated that I don't care if he reads it or not.

If you don't care whether anyone reads your posts, then I can just not do that and pretend they're about something more interesting than Robert Redford.

No, pineapple on pizza isn't the wave of the future, you unfettered charlatan.

Quote from: Bobby5280 on September 17, 2025, 02:47:13 PMThat might be you, but most old people do watch movies

FTFY

I'm more familiar with Ellen Burstyn because she plays Detective Stabler's mother in the Law & Order universe than anything else.

Quote from: formulanone on September 17, 2025, 04:55:16 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 04:38:53 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 04:32:49 PMNew assignment/watch list:

Popeye (1980), The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), Flubber (1997), Good Will Hunting (1997), Patch Adams (1998), One Hour Photo (2002), Robots (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Old Dogs (2009), The Butler (2013), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).

And heck, might as well binge watch the series Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).

For a Cliff's Notes version, just Good Morning, Vietnam; Dead Poets Society; Hook; and Good Will Hunting would suffice.

Extra credit: one of his HBO comedy specials

You guys forgot Awakenings.

Quote from: Rothman on September 17, 2025, 09:43:56 PM

Quote from: formulanone on September 17, 2025, 04:55:16 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 04:38:53 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 04:32:49 PMNew assignment/watch list:

Popeye (1980), The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), Flubber (1997), Good Will Hunting (1997), Patch Adams (1998), One Hour Photo (2002), Robots (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Old Dogs (2009), The Butler (2013), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).

And heck, might as well binge watch the series Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).

For a Cliff's Notes version, just Good Morning, Vietnam; Dead Poets Society; Hook; and Good Will Hunting would suffice.

Extra credit: one of his HBO comedy specials

You guys forgot Awakenings.

Didn't know we were IMDBRoads...

Quote from: formulanone on September 17, 2025, 09:54:30 PM

Quote from: Rothman on September 17, 2025, 09:43:56 PM

Quote from: formulanone on September 17, 2025, 04:55:16 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 04:38:53 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 04:32:49 PMNew assignment/watch list:

Popeye (1980), The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), Flubber (1997), Good Will Hunting (1997), Patch Adams (1998), One Hour Photo (2002), Robots (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Old Dogs (2009), The Butler (2013), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).

And heck, might as well binge watch the series Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).

For a Cliff's Notes version, just Good Morning, Vietnam; Dead Poets Society; Hook; and Good Will Hunting would suffice.

Extra credit: one of his HBO comedy specials

You guys forgot Awakenings.

Didn't know we were IMDBRoads...

In a thread about a movie actor, the discussion will typically involve movies.

I want to say I started a movie thread back in 2016 or something?  At the time there wasn't much interest.

Quote from: kphogerMultiple people in this thread have commented that they don't know much about movies or even watch them.

That could true in some cases. Still, I think I'm on to something when pointing out Robert Redford's political views didn't sit well with a lot of people. He wasn't Jane Fonda, but he was still pretty liberal.

Quote from: kphogerThe 1970s were fifty years ago.  That's over a decade more than our country's median age.  More people were born after the 1980s than were alive during the 1980s.  Redford's star power in the 1970s is almost irrelevant, and growing more so with every passing year.

The movies Redford starred in played on broadcast and cable TV channels for decades after they were released. The same goes for some of the movies Redford directed. It's likely more than a few of those movies were available to watch on various streaming platforms before Redford's death.

Quote from: formulanoneSaw RoboCop in the theatre when I was 13 with my brother and father. There was also a party of younger kids with some parents a couple rows ahead of us who were kind of noisy for the first few minutes of the movie...until the ED-209 appeared on the screen.

I was a college student in NYC when I first saw "Robocop." I was surprised how much I liked the movie; I thought it was going to be trashy. Instead it was kind of ground-breaking. But, wow, the violence was rough. And that was after they edited it down a good bit to avoid an X-rating. I wished they released the movie with 70mm Dolby mag film prints. "Robocop" was the first movie to use Dolby SR on 35mm release prints. The Loews 34th Street Showplace had a Dolby SR setup. It sounded pretty good.

In the late 1990's I spent over $40 on a Criterion Collection DVD of "Robocop." It had the unedited "X-Rated Cut." Yeah, I can understand why the MPAA made them do some cutting. The commentary track on the disc is awesome. Producer Jon Davison described the reaction they got from Orion Pictures executives when they first saw the movie. These were people who were used to making Woody Allen films and other high-brow shows. He said those executives were appalled.

Quote from: DTComposerYou could even argue that was the *only* decade where studios took a lot of serious chances. If you look at a list of the "greatest" movies from earlier decades, they're dominated by well-established genre films: westerns, musicals, suspense, etc. The 70s existed in a small sliver of time between the demise of the old studio system and the rise of the new studio system (i.e., franchises and blockbusters).

The Hollywood movie studios were sort of forced into a situation of taking chances. By the late 1960's their overly long bible epics and other movies shot as if they were a stage play weren't selling anymore. The studios were in deep financial trouble. The Hays Code got abolished and replaced with the MPAA ratings system. That allowed more edgy, adult-oriented movies to be made. The US was going thru major cultural upheaval from the late 1960's into the early 70's. The studios turned a new generation of directors loose. The movie-going public enjoyed a string of movies that were huge hits, critically and financially.

Once "Jaws" and "Star Wars" ushered in a new era of epic blockbusters, Hollywood started playing it more and more safe again.

I'll play the game too, bolding the ones I don't know. I was born in 2003.

_	_	_	_	_
2010s	|	2000s	|	1990s
Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Tom Hanks
Robert Downey, Jr.	|	Tom Cruise	|	Tom Cruise
Vin Diesel	|	Russell Crowe	|	Jim Carrey
Chadwick Boseman	|	Tom Hanks	|	Matt Damon
Gwyneth Paltrow	|	Orlando Bloom	|	Mel Gibson
Scarlett Johansson	|	Brad Pitt	|	Harrison Ford
Tom Hardy	|	Will Smith	|	Al Pacino
Jeremy Renner	|	Seth Rogen	|	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Michael Keaton	|	Viggo Mortensen	|	Tommy Lee Jones
Chris Evans	|	Mel Gibson	|	Kevin Spacey
Mark Ruffalo	|	Denzel Washington	|	Pierce Brosnan
Jonah Hill	|	George Clooney	|	Gene Hackman
Benedict Cumberbatch	|	Jim Carrey	|	Morgan Freeman
Jennifer Lawrence	|	Johnny Depp	|	Kevin Costner
Bryce Dallas Howard	|	Steve Carell	|	Robin Williams
_	_	_	_	_
1980s	|	1970s	|	1960s
Harrison Ford	|	Al Pacino	|	Peter O'Toole
Bill Murray	|	Robert Redford	|	Audrey Hepburn
Eddie Murphy	|	Diane Keaton	|	Jack Lemmon
Michael Douglas	|	Woody Allen	|	John Wayne
Sigourney Weaver	|	Dustin Hoffman	|	Lee Marvin
William Hurt	|	Barbra Streisand	|	Natalie Wood
Tom Cruise	|	Faye Dunaway	|	Sean Connery
Glenn Close	|	Richard Dreyfuss	|	Omar Sharif
Tom Berenger	|	Clint Eastwood	|	Steve McQueen
Christopher Lloyd	|	Ellen Burstyn	|	Gregory Peck
Kathleen Turner	|	Roy Scheider	|	Richard Harris
Jack Nicholson	|	Julie Christie	|	Paul Newman
Meryl Streep	|	Jane Fonda	|	Hayley Mills
Danny DeVito	|	Jack Nicholson	|	Burt Lancaster
Dan Aykroyd	|	Harrison Ford	|	Sidney Poitier
_	_	_	_	_
1950s	|	1940s	|	1930s
Marlon Brando	|	Katharine Hepburn	|	Fred Astaire
Grace Kelly	|	Teresa Wright	|	The Marx Brothers
James Stewart	|	Gregory Peck	|	Tyrone Power
Yul Brynner	|	Gary Cooper	|	Norma Shearer
Danny Kaye	|	Ingrid Bergman	|	Judy Garland
Elizabeth Taylor	|	Judy Garland	|	Greta Garbo
Frank Sinatra	|	Bing Crosby	|	James Stewart
Dean Martin	|	Bob Hope	|	David Niven
William Holden	|	Greer Garson	|	Charles Laughton
Montgomery Clift	|	Cary Grant	|	Errol Flynn
Jerry Lewis	|	Clark Gable	|	Shirley Temple
Burt Lancaster	|	Bette Davis	|	Clark Gable
Humphrey Bogart	|	Olivia de Havilland	|	Jean Arthur
John Wayne	|	Spencer Tracy	|	Marlene Dietrich
Cary Grant	|	Celeste Holm	|	Ginger Rogers
_	_	_	_	_

All right, I'll play. Born 1986. A good amount of the older ones I only know the name as opposed to actually seen them in something.

_	_	_	_	_
2010s	|	2000s	|	1990s
Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Tom Hanks
Robert Downey, Jr.	|	Tom Cruise	|	Tom Cruise
Vin Diesel	|	Russell Crowe	|	Jim Carrey
Chadwick Boseman	|	Tom Hanks	|	Matt Damon
Gwyneth Paltrow	|	Orlando Bloom	|	Mel Gibson
Scarlett Johansson	|	Brad Pitt	|	Harrison Ford
Tom Hardy	|	Will Smith	|	Al Pacino
Jeremy Renner	|	Seth Rogen	|	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Michael Keaton	|	Viggo Mortensen	|	Tommy Lee Jones
Chris Evans	|	Mel Gibson	|	Kevin Spacey
Mark Ruffalo	|	Denzel Washington	|	Pierce Brosnan
Jonah Hill	|	George Clooney	|	Gene Hackman
Benedict Cumberbatch	|	Jim Carrey	|	Morgan Freeman
Jennifer Lawrence	|	Johnny Depp	|	Kevin Costner
Bryce Dallas Howard	|	Steve Carell	|	Robin Williams
_	_	_	_	_
1980s	|	1970s	|	1960s
Harrison Ford	|	Al Pacino	|	Peter O'Toole
Bill Murray	|	Robert Redford	|	Audrey Hepburn
Eddie Murphy	|	Diane Keaton	|	Jack Lemmon
Michael Douglas	|	Woody Allen	|	John Wayne
Sigourney Weaver	|	Dustin Hoffman	|	Lee Marvin
William Hurt	|	Barbra Streisand	|	Natalie Wood
Tom Cruise	|	Faye Dunaway	|	Sean Connery
Glenn Close	|	Richard Dreyfuss	|	Omar Sharif
Tom Berenger	|	Clint Eastwood	|	Steve McQueen
Christopher Lloyd	|	Ellen Burstyn	|	Gregory Peck
Kathleen Turner	|	Roy Scheider	|	Richard Harris
Jack Nicholson	|	Julie Christie	|	Paul Newman
Meryl Streep	|	Jane Fonda	|	Hayley Mills
Danny DeVito	|	Jack Nicholson	|	Burt Lancaster
Dan Aykroyd	|	Harrison Ford	|	Sidney Poitier
_	_	_	_	_
1950s	|	1940s	|	1930s
Marlon Brando	|	Katharine Hepburn	|	Fred Astaire
Grace Kelly	|	Teresa Wright	|	The Marx Brothers
James Stewart	|	Gregory Peck	|	Tyrone Power
Yul Brynner	|	Gary Cooper	|	Norma Shearer
Danny Kaye	|	Ingrid Bergman	|	Judy Garland
Elizabeth Taylor	|	Judy Garland	|	Greta Garbo
Frank Sinatra	|	Bing Crosby	|	James Stewart
Dean Martin	|	Bob Hope	|	David Niven
William Holden	|	Greer Garson	|	Charles Laughton
Montgomery Clift	|	Cary Grant	|	Errol Flynn
Jerry Lewis	|	Clark Gable	|	Shirley Temple
Burt Lancaster	|	Bette Davis	|	Clark Gable
Humphrey Bogart	|	Olivia de Havilland	|	Jean Arthur
John Wayne	|	Spencer Tracy	|	Marlene Dietrich
Cary Grant	|	Celeste Holm	|	Ginger Rogers
_	_	_	_	_

I would play the game but I don't know how much I'm supposed to know about them for them to count. A few I think I've seen something they were in. Some of them scan as "yeah, there's probably a person by that name". A few of them are actually street names. I'm fairly sure "Chadwick Boseman" is something somebody made up whenever they needed a fake name really fast and that's not actually a real person.

Quote from: Rothman on September 17, 2025, 09:55:42 PM

Quote from: formulanone on September 17, 2025, 09:54:30 PM

Quote from: Rothman on September 17, 2025, 09:43:56 PM

Quote from: formulanone on September 17, 2025, 04:55:16 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 04:38:53 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 04:32:49 PMNew assignment/watch list:

Popeye (1980), The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), Flubber (1997), Good Will Hunting (1997), Patch Adams (1998), One Hour Photo (2002), Robots (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Old Dogs (2009), The Butler (2013), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).

And heck, might as well binge watch the series Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).

For a Cliff's Notes version, just Good Morning, Vietnam; Dead Poets Society; Hook; and Good Will Hunting would suffice.

Extra credit: one of his HBO comedy specials

You guys forgot Awakenings.

Didn't know we were IMDBRoads...

In a thread about a movie actor, the discussion will typically involve movies.

Sorry, I didn't mean for my remark to come off so flippant. My error.

Quote from: Scott5114 on September 18, 2025, 04:06:47 AMI would play the game but I don't know how much I'm supposed to know about them for them to count. A few I think I've seen something they were in. Some of them scan as "yeah, there's probably a person by that name". A few of them are actually street names. I'm fairly sure "Chadwick Boseman" is something somebody made up whenever they needed a fake name really fast and that's not actually a real person.

That's actually a real name.  He was the actor who played Black Panther in the titular movie (probably the best Marvel movie IMO).  He died of colon cancer back in 2020.  Story was that he didn't tell anyone aside family that he was sick.

Quote from: CoreySamson on September 17, 2025, 11:26:54 PMI'll play the game too, bolding the ones I don't know. I was born in 2003.

...

You bolded Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortensen. Have you seen the Lord of the Rings movies? Bloom played Legolas and Mortensen played Aragorn. (Recognizing that just because you saw a movie doesn't mean you know the names, as I mentioned earlier in reference to Platoon.)

Quote from: Scott5114 on September 18, 2025, 04:06:47 AMI would play the game but I don't know how much I'm supposed to know about them for them to count. A few I think I've seen something they were in. Some of them scan as "yeah, there's probably a person by that name". A few of them are actually street names. I'm fairly sure "Chadwick Boseman" is something somebody made up whenever they needed a fake name really fast and that's not actually a real person.

I bolded the name of I had heard of that name and knew they were a famous person in show biz. I can't name specific movies for many of the older ones.

Rather than try to bold stuff on a phone here is who I don't know by decade:

1960s:  Omar Sharif
1950s:  Montgomery Clift
1940s:  Teresa Wright, Greer Garson, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland and Celeste Holm
1930s:  Tyrone Power, Norma Shearer, David Niven, Charles Laughton, Marlene Dietrich and Ginger Rogers

Quote from: Henry on September 17, 2025, 03:25:04 PMFour of Robert Redford's best moments as Roy Hobbs stand out to me.

<snipped>

Striking out the Whammer before a fan shoots him in a Chicago hotel room:

Knocking the cover off the ball in his first Knights game:

Smashing the Wrigley Field clock:

And, of course, winning the NL pennant with the light-breaking walkoff home run:

Being a Red Sox fan, it makes sense that he patterned Hobbs after Ted Williams, who was a left-handed batter/thrower and wore the number 9.

I wonder if Bernard Malamud (the author of the book) intended that.  (The book has a very different ending.)

My senior year in high school, my English teacher took the day off, and left us The Natural to watch.  The three of us there (it was a senior cut day) fast-forwarded between the baseball scenes, but we didn't get to the end.

I will say, the movie does do a great job of encapsulating most of the book.

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 18, 2025, 08:51:05 AMGinger Rogers

Only interesting that you hadn't heard of her but have heard of Fred Astaire. That was his main dancing partner and they were in a bunch of movies together.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 18, 2025, 10:08:21 AM

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 18, 2025, 08:51:05 AMGinger Rogers

Only interesting that you hadn't heard of her but have heard of Fred Astaire. That was his main dancing partner and they were in a bunch of movies together.

Strangely I learned who he was in the early 1990s because of a joke name a boss had in Super Castlevania.  I didn't get the reference but my knew who he was.

Quote from: elsmere241 on September 18, 2025, 09:02:23 AM

Quote from: Henry on September 17, 2025, 03:25:04 PMFour of Robert Redford's best moments as Roy Hobbs stand out to me.

<snipped>

Striking out the Whammer before a fan shoots him in a Chicago hotel room:

Knocking the cover off the ball in his first Knights game:

Smashing the Wrigley Field clock:

And, of course, winning the NL pennant with the light-breaking walkoff home run:

Being a Red Sox fan, it makes sense that he patterned Hobbs after Ted Williams, who was a left-handed batter/thrower and wore the number 9.

I wonder if Bernard Malamud (the author of the book) intended that.  (The book has a very different ending.)

My senior year in high school, my English teacher took the day off, and left us The Natural to watch.  The three of us there (it was a senior cut day) fast-forwarded between the baseball scenes, but we didn't get to the end.

I will say, the movie does do a great job of encapsulating most of the book.

Even at 14 years old, I knew that the Wrigley Field portrayed in the film is not the same as the real thing. For one, the clock is to the side of the scoreboard instead of at the top. What I didn't know at the time was that most of the scenes were shot in Buffalo, NY. I guess those who read the book hated the ending (Hobbs strikes out to end the season, and the Knights lose to the Pirates in the playoff game) and demanded that the film get the opposite, and Malamud gave his approval to show the alternate ending, as he wasn't even a baseball fan when he wrote the book.

As for the real 1939 season (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_Major_League_Baseball_season), neither the Giants (who were replaced by the Knights in the film) nor Pirates were ever in contention for the pennant; the former finished fifth at 77-74, while the latter went 68-85, which was one spot below. The Reds won the NL pennant by 4 1/2 games over the Cardinals.

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 18, 2025, 07:39:08 AMYou bolded Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortensen. Have you seen the Lord of the Rings movies? Bloom played Legolas and Mortensen played Aragorn. (Recognizing that just because you saw a movie doesn't mean you know the names, as I mentioned earlier in reference to Platoon.)

I never watched them. Not a big movie guy.

Quote from: CoreySamson on September 18, 2025, 11:09:49 AM

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 18, 2025, 07:39:08 AMYou bolded Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortensen. Have you seen the Lord of the Rings movies? Bloom played Legolas and Mortensen played Aragorn. (Recognizing that just because you saw a movie doesn't mean you know the names, as I mentioned earlier in reference to Platoon.)

I never watched them. Not a big movie guy.

Pirates of the Caribbean?

Quote from: Rothman on September 17, 2025, 09:43:56 PM

Quote from: formulanone on September 17, 2025, 04:55:16 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 17, 2025, 04:38:53 PM

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 04:32:49 PMNew assignment/watch list:

Popeye (1980), The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), Flubber (1997), Good Will Hunting (1997), Patch Adams (1998), One Hour Photo (2002), Robots (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Old Dogs (2009), The Butler (2013), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).

And heck, might as well binge watch the series Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).

For a Cliff's Notes version, just Good Morning, Vietnam; Dead Poets Society; Hook; and Good Will Hunting would suffice.

Extra credit: one of his HBO comedy specials

You guys forgot Awakenings.

Underrated movie. Fun(?) fact: I met Robin Williams' mother at the Northern California premiere of Awakenings. Super sweet, incredibly proud of her son.

Quote from: Henry on September 18, 2025, 10:33:36 AM

Quote from: elsmere241 on September 18, 2025, 09:02:23 AM

Quote from: Henry on September 17, 2025, 03:25:04 PMFour of Robert Redford's best moments as Roy Hobbs stand out to me.

<snipped>

Striking out the Whammer before a fan shoots him in a Chicago hotel room:

Knocking the cover off the ball in his first Knights game:

Smashing the Wrigley Field clock:

And, of course, winning the NL pennant with the light-breaking walkoff home run:

Being a Red Sox fan, it makes sense that he patterned Hobbs after Ted Williams, who was a left-handed batter/thrower and wore the number 9.

I wonder if Bernard Malamud (the author of the book) intended that.  (The book has a very different ending.)

My senior year in high school, my English teacher took the day off, and left us The Natural to watch.  The three of us there (it was a senior cut day) fast-forwarded between the baseball scenes, but we didn't get to the end.

I will say, the movie does do a great job of encapsulating most of the book.

Even at 14 years old, I knew that the Wrigley Field portrayed in the film is not the same as the real thing. For one, the clock is to the side of the scoreboard instead of at the top. What I didn't know at the time was that most of the scenes were shot in Buffalo, NY. I guess those who read the book hated the ending (Hobbs strikes out to end the season, and the Knights lose to the Pirates in the playoff game) and demanded that the film get the opposite, and Malamud gave his approval to show the alternate ending, as he wasn't even a baseball fan when he wrote the book.

As for the real 1939 season (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_Major_League_Baseball_season), neither the Giants (who were replaced by the Knights in the film) nor Pirates were ever in contention for the pennant; the former finished fifth at 77-74, while the latter went 68-85, which was one spot below. The Reds won the NL pennant by 4 1/2 games over the Cardinals.

Also the eventual girlfriend in the book is not his high school sweetheart as in the movie. It was just a random woman.

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 18, 2025, 07:39:08 AM(Recognizing that just because you saw a movie doesn't mean you know the names ...)

This is the key to 80% of the issue here.

I've watched a lot of movies.  But that doesn't mean I know or care who the actors and actresses are, let alone the directors.  There's a good chance I'll recognize an actor in one movie from another one that I've seen, but that doesn't mean I know his/her name or care to look it up.

To me, [kphoger does some googling to find out his actual name] Christopher Lee is just "the actor who played Saruman".  Did I recognize him in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?  Sure, of course I did, but then he just became "the actor who played Saruman and Willie Wonka's dad".  There are a few actors and actresses whose names I actually know, but not many.

It's the same with Robert Redford.  Yes, I saw Sneakers years ago.  But there was zero chance that, if you'd asked me, I could have told you Robert Redford starred in that movie.

Likewise, I see that Ben Kingsley also starred in Sneakers.  I just watched Schindler's List with my wife and eldest son a couple of weeks ago, and I see now that Kingsley played Itzhak Stern in that movie.  But I couldn't have told you the actor's name before right now, because I didn't know and didn't care to know.  Also, I'll forget his name in within five minutes of typing this.

So, understand this:  We might very well be interested to know when someone dies.  But that doesn't necessarily mean we'll recognize that person by name.  Tell us who they are.  Otherwise, it'll just look like an R.I.P. thread about some random person we've never heard of and we'll skip right over the thread.

Heh, whereas if I hear Ben Kingsley's name, I think of him as Gandhi (for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor; the film won for Best Picture).

Ben Kingsley was probably the most unexpected actor I've seen pop up in Marvel movies.

Taking a crack at the big list...

I've heard of maybe 50% of them; if you said one of their names, I'd think "oh, the actor/actress?". For the first/last 2-3 decades' of lists, I'd probably shrug at almost all of them. I don't spend much time in the movies or streaming as the years go on.

Could name one or two movies for about one-quarter of them. Mostly in the 70s-90s range with a few exceptions before that. And as the bigger names dwindle (for whatever nonsense reason) they get replaced with new faces and talents and I don't keep up with that.

Probably couldn't pick more than a dozen or so of them out of a police lineup. In that case, Robert Redford would have been one of them; I remember the Natural because we rented it shortly after we bought a VCR, so it was one of the few movies I'd seen twice (wow! the novelty of rewinding!). And my wife really wanted to see The Horse Whisperer so I went along with her.

Quote from: kphoger on September 18, 2025, 12:32:06 PMI've watched a lot of movies.  But that doesn't mean I know or care who the actors and actresses are, let alone the directors.  There's a good chance I'll recognize an actor in one movie from another one that I've seen, but that doesn't mean I know his/her name or care to look it up.

I've never concerned myself with their lives when away from the screen and I'm just not interested in that world. If one thinks my last qualifier was narrow, it's even less for producers and directors...I just don't care. Is it fair to say I find much of it a disposable medium and the information surrounding it trivial?

On the other hand, there's something about unexpectedly seeing one actor/actress in one role and suddenly detecting or questioning whether they're that same one several years later. Especially if the roles aren't anything alike. ("Hey, was that the guy who played the fishmonger and then the roustabout in the movie about the library? Wait, I think she was also the that character in that old legal drama with the milkmaid and the grizzled space cadet!")

Quote from: Scott5114 on September 18, 2025, 04:06:47 AMI would play the game but I don't know how much I'm supposed to know about them for them to count. A few I think I've seen something they were in. Some of them scan as "yeah, there's probably a person by that name". A few of them are actually street names. I'm fairly sure "Chadwick Boseman" is something somebody made up whenever they needed a fake name really fast and that's not actually a real person.

This, and does it count if we only know them from a performance decades after their peak? William Holden is a name I know from The Towering Inferno (1974), but I couldn't name anything else he was in off the top of my head.

Of those, I recognized around 45 to 50 of them as actors.  But I could only match a face to a name for fewer than half of those 45 to 50.

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 18, 2025, 12:54:58 PMBen Kingsley was probably the most unexpected actor I've seen pop up in Marvel movies.

He recently co-starred in The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix release) alongside Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. Not normally something I would have seen, but my wife wanted to watch it and I'll concede it was entertaining.

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 18, 2025, 04:19:27 PMPierce Brosnan

I only know the name Pierce Brosnan because of the Simpsons episode (https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/Treehouse_of_Horror_XII) in which he was one of the AI voices for the Ultrahouse 3000.

Also, I only know the name Bette Davis because of the Kim Carnes song.

Also, I only know the name Ingrid Bergman because of the song by Billy Bragg & Wilco on the album Mermaid Avenue.

Also, I only know the name Sigourney Weaver because of a Jeff Foxworthy routine from the 1990s.

Also, whenever I hear the name Robert Downey Jr, I immediately think of Harry Connick Jr.  I know they're not the same person, but still.

Quote from: kphoger on September 18, 2025, 04:29:52 PM....

Also, I only know the name Bette Davis because of the Kim Carnes song.

....

My brother would say, "You mean the Chipmunks song!" (The album Chipmunk Rock kicked off with that song.)

Quote from: kphoger on September 18, 2025, 04:29:52 PMAlso, I only know the name Sigourney Weaver because of a Jeff Foxworthy routine from the 1990s.

Alien? Ghostbusters? Finding Dory?

:)

Born in 1974, bolds are those I don't recongnize.

_	_	_	_	_
2010s	|	2000s	|	1990s
Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Leonardo DiCaprio	|	Tom Hanks
Robert Downey, Jr.	|	Tom Cruise	|	Tom Cruise
Vin Diesel	|	Russell Crowe	|	Jim Carrey
Chadwick Boseman	|	Tom Hanks	|	Matt Damon
Gwyneth Paltrow	|	Orlando Bloom	|	Mel Gibson
Scarlett Johansson	|	Brad Pitt	|	Harrison Ford
Tom Hardy	|	Will Smith	|	Al Pacino
Jeremy Renner	|	Seth Rogen	|	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Michael Keaton	|	Viggo Mortensen	|	Tommy Lee Jones
Chris Evans	|	Mel Gibson	|	Kevin Spacey
Mark Ruffalo	|	Denzel Washington	|	Pierce Brosnan
Jonah Hill	|	George Clooney	|	Gene Hackman
Benedict Cumberbatch	|	Jim Carrey	|	Morgan Freeman
Jennifer Lawrence	|	Johnny Depp	|	Kevin Costner
Bryce Dallas Howard	|	Steve Carell	|	Robin Williams
_	_	_	_	_
1980s	|	1970s	|	1960s
Harrison Ford	|	Al Pacino	|	Peter O'Toole
Bill Murray	|	Robert Redford	|	Audrey Hepburn
Eddie Murphy	|	Diane Keaton	|	Jack Lemmon
Michael Douglas	|	Woody Allen	|	John Wayne
Sigourney Weaver	|	Dustin Hoffman	|	Lee Marvin
William Hurt	|	Barbra Streisand	|	Natalie Wood
Tom Cruise	|	Faye Dunaway	|	Sean Connery
Glenn Close	|	Richard Dreyfuss	|	Omar Sharif
Tom Berenger	|	Clint Eastwood	|	Steve McQueen
Christopher Lloyd	|	Ellen Burstyn	|	Gregory Peck
Kathleen Turner	|	Roy Scheider	|	Richard Harris
Jack Nicholson	|	Julie Christie	|	Paul Newman
Meryl Streep	|	Jane Fonda	|	Hayley Mills
Danny DeVito	|	Jack Nicholson	|	Burt Lancaster
Dan Aykroyd	|	Harrison Ford	|	Sidney Poitier
_	_	_	_	_
1950s	|	1940s	|	1930s
Marlon Brando	|	Katharine Hepburn	|	Fred Astaire
Grace Kelly	|	Teresa Wright	|	The Marx Brothers
James Stewart	|	Gregory Peck	|	Tyrone Power
Yul Brynner	|	Gary Cooper	|	Norma Shearer
Danny Kaye	|	Ingrid Bergman	|	Judy Garland
Elizabeth Taylor	|	Judy Garland	|	Greta Garbo
Frank Sinatra	|	Bing Crosby	|	James Stewart
Dean Martin	|	Bob Hope	|	David Niven
William Holden	|	Greer Garson	|	Charles Laughton
Montgomery Clift	|	Cary Grant	|	Errol Flynn
Jerry Lewis	|	Clark Gable	|	Shirley Temple
Burt Lancaster	|	Bette Davis	|	Clark Gable
Humphrey Bogart	|	Olivia de Havilland	|	Jean Arthur
John Wayne	|	Spencer Tracy	|	Marlene Dietrich
Cary Grant	|	Celeste Holm	|	Ginger Rogers
_	_	_	_	_

Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 18, 2025, 08:48:49 PM

Quote from: kphoger on September 18, 2025, 04:29:52 PMAlso, I only know the name Sigourney Weaver because of a Jeff Foxworthy routine from the 1990s.

Alien? Ghostbusters? Finding Dory?

:)

I say we take off and nuke the entire thread from orbit.  It is the only way to be sure...

Quote from: DTComposer on September 17, 2025, 12:48:31 PMIt's also disheartening how few women are on this list, including none for the 1990s and 2000s.

Looking over the list again, I was surprised/disappointed not to see Julia Roberts anywhere. I vote to kick Kevin Spacey off the list and replace him with her. :-D

Quote from: hotdogPi on September 16, 2025, 12:32:00 PMI just don't get the point of posting that random people have died, 80% (him included) of whom I have never heard of.

If the name means nothing to you, you have a couple of good options.  Google and maybe learn something.  Or ignore it and move on.

I watched "The Sting" tonight as a way of saying goodbye.

Quote from: kphoger on September 16, 2025, 02:57:12 PMA few examples of a better way to start one of these threads are such as these, all of which were about people I'd never heard of before the RIP thread:

|OCGuy81| — Paul Reubens — told us in both the thread title and OP who he was and how he died

|Henry| — David Sanborn — gave us plenty of info about who he was

|Hot Rod Hootenanny| — Steve Sobol — gave us details about who he was and how he died

|LilianaUwU| — Jonathan Joss — told us why someone might have heard of him, plus something about his death

Redford was better known than any of those people and should need no introduction.

One thing though, Steve Sobol wasn't a famous person but rather a fellow hobby member many of us knew personally (including me). 

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 10:56:16 PMIs not Kirk a media celebrity? 

Redford has been famous for over half a century.  I never heard of Kirk before his murder.

Quote from: kkt on Today at 12:37:32 AM

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 16, 2025, 10:56:16 PMIs not Kirk a media celebrity? 

Redford has been famous for over half a century.  I never heard of Kirk before his murder.

Nor have I.  RGT was trying to argue Kirk was a political figure.  I disagreed given Kirk was a media person and thus (IMO) fell into the broad category of celebrity.  I never said once that Kirk had a higher stature in the general zeitgeist than Robert Redford.   My opinion is that Kirk isn't even the same stratosphere of fame as Redford.

Quote from: Molandfreak on September 17, 2025, 03:46:30 PMI didn't think I'd ever hear from somebody who doesn't know who Robin Williams was in my life, but here we are...

Obligatory road content:  There's a tunnel named after him in Marin County :)

Quote from: kkt on Today at 12:28:20 AMRedford was better known than any of those people and should need no introduction.

Whether or not you feel he should, apparently he does.