Here's What These 16 Famous Bald Actors Looked Like When They Had Hair

Shaving it all off was the best move they ever made.

facial expression, forehead, smile, fictional character, laugh,
(Image credit: Buda Mendes)
By The Editors
published

For many men, going bald is an unavoidable part of getting older. Or just an unavoidable piece of their genetics. But just because you're losing your hair doesn't mean you're losing your dashing good looks. These 16 men remind us that "bald" is just another style—and one that sometimes looks better.

1/28
Bruce Willis (head of hair)
(Image credit: Jim Smeal/WireImage)

Bruce Willis (head of hair)

This is Willis in 1987 . Still a movie star with hair, but maybe not the Willis you recognize today.

2/28
Bruce Willis (head that's bare)
(Image credit: Jim Spellman/WireImage)

Bruce Willis (head that's bare)

Willis' head was just made to be shaved. Lucky dude ... lucky dude.

3/28
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (head of hair)
(Image credit: E. Charbonneau/WireImage for Sony Pictures-Los Angeles)

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (head of hair)

These days, it's an unfamiliar sight. While we like the Rock as a grimy-haired Hercules, we're just not used to any length of mane.

4/28
The Rock (head that's bare)
(Image credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

The Rock (head that's bare)

Not only is the Rock, somehow, even better looking buzzed, he also, somehow, pulls off the subbled goatee. Not an easy feat.

5/28
Samuel L. Jackson (head of hair)
(Image credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

Samuel L. Jackson (head of hair)

Here's Jackson in 1994, looking almost exactly the same as Jackson in any other decade. The man just does not age.

6/28
Samuel L. Jackson (head that's bare)
(Image credit: Ron Galella/WireImage)

Samuel L. Jackson (head that's bare)

Jackson only two years later. We see you now, Nick Fury.

7/28
Jason Statham (head that's bare)
(Image credit: Larry Busacca/NBC/NBCU )

Jason Statham (head that's bare)

Like Willis, Statham has been blessed with the kind of head that is never conspicuous hairless. Quite the opposite, in fact.

8/28
Woody Harrelson (head of hair)
(Image credit: Bob Riha Jr/WireImage)

Woody Harrelson (head of hair)

Here's Harrelson in 1986, looking much less like the villainous/anti-hero character's he's been in the habit of playing lately.

9/28
Woody Harrelson (head that's bare)
(Image credit: Tony Barson/WireImage)

Woody Harrelson (head that's bare)

One does not simply hunt zombies or genetically-modified "monkeys" with a full head of hair.

10/28
Vin Diesel (head of hair)
(Image credit: Twentieth Century Fox)

Vin Diesel (head of hair)

Diesel in 2006's Find Me Guilty. This has to be photoshopped, right?

11/28
Vin Diesel (head that's bare)
(Image credit: Anthony Harvey)

Vin Diesel (head that's bare)

Diesel is third "Fast and Furious" entry on this list. Is this the era of the bald action man?

12/28
Terry Crews (head of hair)
(Image credit: Frederick M. Brown)

Terry Crews (head of hair)

Maybe it's the flat bangs buzz, but something doesn't feel quite right.

13/28
Terry Crews (head that's bare)
(Image credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Terry Crews (head that's bare)

There he is! And like the Rock, Terry pulls off the bald plus goatee.

14/28
Patrick Stewart (head that's bare)
(Image credit: SGranitz/WireImage)

Patrick Stewart (head that's bare)

Stewart returned to his normal form.

15/28
J.K. Simmons (head of hair)
(Image credit: Zade Rosenthal)

J.K. Simmons (head of hair)

It's hard to find any evidence that J.K Simmons once had hair, and, yes, we know this is probably not his hair. But it's as close as we can get without digging into his yearbook. 

16/28
J.K. Simmons (head mostly bare)
(Image credit: Karl Walter/Getty Images)

J.K. Simmons (head mostly bare)

We don't care if you're rushing or dragging, but if you don't think Simmons owns the bald look, you can get the hell out of this band.

17/28
Michael Keaton (head of hair)
(Image credit: Alice S. Hall/NBC/NBCU )

Michael Keaton (head of hair)

Here's Keaton on with Jay Leno in 1991, but somehow still in 1985.

18/28
Michael Keaton (head mostly bare)
(Image credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Michael Keaton (head mostly bare)

Balding Michael Keaton we think is the best Michael Keaton look.

19/28
Stanley Tucci (head of hair)
(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Stanley Tucci (head of hair)

Here's Tucci in the first Captain America. You can already see beneath his wispy hair a head that was always made to be bald.

20/28
Stanley Tucci (head that's bare)
(Image credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Stanley Tucci (head that's bare)

The bald makes the look. And the glasses are a stylish compliment.

21/28
Laurence Fishburne (head of hair)
(Image credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Laurence Fishburne (head of hair)

Fishburne has done almost every combination of beard and facial hair. But we're guessing this isn't the one you're most familiar with.

22/28
Laurence Fishburne (head that's bare)
(Image credit: Peter Carrette Archive/Getty Images)

Laurence Fishburne (head that's bare)

Here he is. Morpheus, er, we mean, Fishburne, in 2001.

23/28
Channing Tatum (head of hair)
(Image credit: JB Lacroix/ WireImage)

Channing Tatum (head of hair)

Tatum's a handsome man no matter what he does with his head. The hair styled in front doesn't hurt, but we think there's a better look.

24/28
Zach Galifianakis (head of hair)
(Image credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Zach Galifianakis (head of hair)

With Galifianakis, we're here for the beard. But we like one particular variation . . .

25/28
Zach Galifianakis (head that's bare)
(Image credit: Melinda Sue Gordon - © 2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Legendary Pictures)

Zach Galifianakis (head that's bare)

And all of a sudden, Galifianakis could be your next "Fast and Furious" entry. Or Bond villain. Either way, we like it.

26/28
John Malkovich (head of hair)
(Image credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

John Malkovich (head of hair)

Malkovich in 1985. Something here feels ... off.

27/28
John Malkovich (head that's bare)
(Image credit: Vera Anderson/WireImage)

John Malkovich (head that's bare)

He's still got some weird scarf pattern wrapped around his neck. But we think his head is looking much better.

28/28
Mark Strong (head that's bare)
(Image credit: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Mark Strong (head that's bare)

For Strong, the shave really maketh the man.

The Editors
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