At the close of the twentieth century, their films, songs, and photo shoots were enormous events for their fans. For some celebrities, the 1980s was the pinnacle of their fame, while for others it was just the beginning, but regardless, it was their moment to flourish.
Here are the top nine most influential celebrities of the 1980s.
1. Kim Basinger
After the release of “Nine and a Half Weeks,” Kim became the Hollywood sex icon. The actress portrayed a Bond lady in the film “Never Say Never.” Basinger received both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for her performance in “L.A. Confidential.” Kim is currently married to Alec Baldwin, and they have a 26-year-old daughter named Ireland. Currently, Basinger continues to act, but in only one or two projects per year.
2. Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields was the youngest model to ever appear on the cover of Vogue in the 1980s. She was also the first recipient of the Golden Raspberry Award for “Worst Supporting Actress” for the film “Speed Zone.” Young Brooke became prominent in “The Blue Lagoon,” which, despite being poorly received by critics, brought her international renown. The distinctive beauty of Brooke inspired Yves Saint Laurent to experiment with new materials and create numerous extravagant designs.
3. Julia Roberts
The film “Pretty Woman” established Julia Roberts as a prominent actress of the 1980s and 1990s. Since then, the celebrity’s acting career has been quite active. Throughout her career, the Hollywood darling had the opportunity to portray a number of roles that showcased her skills and abilities. Roberts is active on Instagram, where she shares personal videos with her followers.
4. Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer’s film career skyrocketed after Scarface, in which she co-starred with the renowned Al Pacino. The actress has an extensive filmography with dozens of titles, but she now favours a quiet, measured lifestyle. Her last cinematic appearance was in the film “Murder on the Orient Express.”
5. Samantha Fox
The popular song “Touch Me” by the British singer Samantha Fox from the 1980s made her renowned. She formed her own band at 14 and released her debut album a year later. The sixteen-year-old then decided to enhance her portfolio by appearing topless. That’s when the popularity truly began to grow. The blonde began to receive numerous proposals from glossy men’s publications. By the time she was 20, she had become a sex icon not only in Britain but also in the rest of the world. Samantha Fox came out as homosexual in 2003, fell in love with her publicist Myra Stratton, and had been in a 12-year relationship with her. Myra passed away due to cancer.
6. Christie Brinkley
She rose to prominence as Billy Joel’s wife, but her appearance on three covers of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition between 1979 and 1981 led to lucrative contracts with Chanel, Vogue, and Max Factor. Since then, the model has become a successful entrepreneur, fashion designer, and actress, but humanitarian work is her true passion in life. Brinkley is an expert on everything from heart disease to vegetarianism and has won numerous honours for her charitable work. She has three children from three marriages.
7. Cindy Crawford
Cindy Crawford was an enormously successful fashion model in the 1980s, appearing on countless magazine covers and routinely walking the catwalk. Every adolescent in the 1980s had a poster of her on his wall. Fun as it was, she divorced Richard Gere in the mid-1990s to marry Randy Gerber in 1998. This was the correct choice, as even their children, Presley and Kaya, followed in their parents’ footsteps by becoming models.
8. Iman
After Peter Beard unearthed this Somali-American diamond in the dust, Iman became one of the most prominent models of the 1980s and 1990s. World-famous designers such as Gianni Versace and Yves Saint Laurent fought over Iman due to her petite stature and distinctive physique. Why choose between two renowned designers when you can have both? Iman appeared on the covers of hundreds of glossy periodicals in just a few years. When modelling ceased to be enjoyable, Iman turned to something that all models eventually do: entrepreneurship, specifically selling cosmetics. Iman married David Bowie in 1992, and they lived together peacefully for 24 years until his death.
9. Christopher Applegate
Some viewers recall Christina’s roles on “Friends,” in which she portrayed Rachel’s sibling, but the majority of her fame stemmed from “Married with Children.” Recently, Christina Applegate has appeared in films such as “Bad Moms” and “Anchorman 2,” as well as the Netflix dark comedy series “Dead to Me.” Applegate revealed in 2021 that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
