Back in the 1990s - while I was living an extremely fun life in splashy South Beach - the world saw the rise of grunge music, the explosion of hip-hop, the internet quickly taking hold of our lives, and an emergence of iconic TV shows & blockbuster movies that starred some of the hottest male stars of the era that we quickly became obsessed with. Even though it's been 30 years since we first saw their perfect smiles and rock-hard bodies, I'm sure you can agree that these six former '90s heartthrobs are still as fine as ever.
JOHN STAMOS - Stamos first gained recognition for his role as Blackie Parrish on the ABC soap opera “General Hospital”, for which he was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. But it was his move to prime-time TV in the starring role as Jesse Katsopolis aka “Uncle Jesse” for 8 seasons on the ABC sitcom “Full House”where he acquired his heartthrob status!
Now at 60 years old, Stamos occasionally tours with the legendary band, The Beach Boys, of which he's been a part for over 30 years. He’s an advocate for the support and advancement of children and his tell-all book “If You Would Have Told Me: A Memoir” was published in October 2023 - where among other topics, he reflects on his struggles with alcoholism, including his 2015 DUI arrest.
WILLIAM MCNAMARA -Throughout the 1990s Billy McNamara's boyish good looks seemed to be everywhere including feature films like “Texasville” (1990), “Stella” (1990), “Copycat” (1995), “Surviving the Game” (1994), “Stealing Home” (1988) and television movies like “Doing Time on Maple Drive” (1992) and “Wildflower” (1991) - for which he earned a CableACE Award nomination.
Today at the age of 58, McNamara is an animal rights activist and vegan. He has produced several documentaries, including the Nat Geo Wild Network: “Animal Intervention”, an exposé on the exotic animal industry in the United States, and is currently the showrunner for his in-development TV series “The Trouble with Billy” that he wrote, directed and produced.
MARIO LOPEZ - Back in 1990 Lopez’s sexy Latin looks made us turn on our TVs every Saturday morning to watch him and his perfectly sculpted torso in the popular sitcom “Saved by the Bell” (1989–1993), and its spinoff “Saved by the Bell: The College Years” (1993–1994). Then in 1997, he put on a skimpy pair of Speedos and went on to star as Olympic diver Greg Louganis in the television film “Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story”. The following year, he was cast as Bobby Cruz in the USA Network series “Pacific Blue” for two seasons before it was canceled.
Today at the age of 50, this sexy father of three hosts the popular nightly TV entertainment news show “Access Hollywood”. And in 2023, he revived the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, as he oversaw the global search for new members, in a project named "Menudo: A New Beginning".
JARED LETO - After starting his career on the television series “My So-Called Life” (1994), the serious yet sultry Leto made his film debut in “How to Make an American Quilt” (1995) and gained critical attention for his performance in “Prefontaine” (1997). After supporting roles in “The Thin Red Line” (1998), “Fight Club” (1999), “Girl, Interrupted” (1999), and “American Psycho” (2000), he received praise for his lead role as a drug addict in “Requiem for a Dream” (2000).
Now at the age of 51, this still youthful-looking heartthrob has received numerous accolades over a career spanning three decades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Additionally, he is recognized for his musicianship and eccentric stage persona as a member of the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars - which he formed in 1998.
JAMES MARSDEN - Before Marsden gained fame for his portrayal of Cyclops in the “X-Men” film series (2000–2014) his piercing blue eyes and perfectly chiseled bone structure were featured in the television shows “Saved by the Bell: The New Class” (1993), “Touched by an Angel” (1995), and “Party of Five” (1995).
Now 50 years old, this father of 3 has starred in the HBO series “Westworld” from 2016 to 2022 and the Netflix series “Dead to Me” from 2019 to 2022, for which he received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2023. He also recently starred as a fictionalized version of himself in the mockumentary series “Jury Duty“(2023), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
BRAD PITT - In 1991, when Pitt appeared as the charming cowboy hitchhiker J.D. in Ridley Scott’s road film “Thelma & Louise” and took his shirt off exposing his 28-year-old sculpted body he became an instant sex symbol. His first leading roles in big-budget productions came with the drama films “A River Runs Through It” (1992), “Legends of the Fall” (1994), and “Interview with the Vampire” (1994), alongside Tom Cruise. He gave critically acclaimed performances in David Fincher's crime thriller “Seven” (1995) and the sci-fi film “12 Monkeys” (1995) - which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor and his first Academy Award nomination. Ohhh...and let's not forget that he was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 1995 and 2000.
At almost 60, Pitt is an Oscar winner, a father of 6, and is still as sexy as ever. However in addition to his A-list status he is is well known for his dedication to environmental issues, including sustainable housing projects and has been a longtime supporter of same-sex marriage, famously saying in 2006 that he would marry then-girlfriend Angelina Jolie once same-sex marriage was legalized in America.
It's no wonder that we are still obsessed with these unforgettable Hollywood heartthrobs after all these years. Here's hoping that they reign for many more!
Listen to my fascinating conversation with 90’s heartthrob WILLIAM MCNAMARA on my podcast by clicking on the links below. Enjoy!
