This article was originally published on 24/7Mirror
Pamela Anderson — 1989
We all know Pamela Anderson as a buxom blonde from her days on Baywatch. But back in 1989, Pam was just a young gal in Vancouver, BC. Her look was a lot more natural, as seen here. This early modeling photo was before her transition to the big screen and the glam magazines. It was before she met rocker Tommy Lee and had a whirlwind romance that made '90s history. We can clearly see she has no idea about any of that yet!
These days, Pamela Anderson is a mom and a known animal rights activist. She's been in numerous campaigns over years just wearing lettuce, and she continues to make headlines wherever she goes.
Amy Winehouse — 2003
It's a real tragedy that Amy Winehouse is gone. The singer died too young, and millions still miss her to this day. As fans, we may have thought we'd seen all her existing photographs. But we were wrong! After her death, previously unreleased snapshots by photographer Charles Moriarty were finally shown to the public. Here, Amy hangs out on a washer, making that look stylish as only she could. We love it!
According to the photographer: "She's just about to release her first album. She's experiencing brand new things for the first time. This small photographic moment captures that. I think it's important. I think everyone should see it. I think everyone should be able to smile and remember Amy the way that I do."
Shaq and Bill Gates — 1995
This one's a real surprise: It's Shaquille O'Neal and Bill Gates in the mid-'90s. You might think that these two would never hang out — and we have to admit, that was our instinct, too. But since they were both at the top of their game back then, maybe it makes sense they would cross paths. Shaq was a basketball superstar, and Bill was taking over the world of computers. Who knew they both had such a silly side?
These days, both are very rich men. Shaq's net worth hovers around $400 million. Bill is worth more than 134 billion, with a 'b'. We can't deny we are impressed!
Martha Stewart — 1960
Damn, Martha Stewart! We never knew you used to model. But that's the truth, as we can see here. The businesswoman and TV personality got her start in entertainment in a way we would never have guessed. We are used to seeing her in cozy sweaters and pearls, baking and making things we could never perfect. But she actually worked on campaigns for Chanel, and used that money to pay for college. Incredible!
These days, Martha is trying to rehab her image a bit after an unfortunate brush with the law for insider trading. She's been seen on roasts, making fun of her own jail term. Martha has a sense of humor, too!
Winona Ryder — 1991
We loved Winona Ryder in Girl, Interrupted and Edward Scissorhands. But as early as 1991, Winona was already the epitome of cool. We can see why, looking at this photograph. After her breakout roles in Beetlejuice and Heathers, the actress got noticed for her style. Here, she is wearing a fitted leather jacket, a Tom Waits tee, and jeans with dyed dark hair. It suits her perfectly, don't you think?
In her later years, she got in trouble for shoplifting and took a hiatus for a few years. But when she came back, she gained a whole new group of fans for her work on Stranger Things. In Hollywood, Stranger things have happened!
Hugh Hefner — 1970
Here, we see a younger Hugh Hefner and model Barbi Benton fishing near the Florida coast. It's 1970, are photographed fishing off the coast of Florida. Although the playboy was known to have a harem of ladies during his later years, he was actually just dating Barbi for some time. We're not surprised he picked her, either. Hugh once explained: "Picasso had his pink period and his blue period. I am in my blond period right now."
Hugh ultimately did not marry Barbi, and did not marry anyone for another 19 years. He already had one divorce, at the time of this photo. Ultimately, he would end up with two divorces and one widow!
Robin Williams — 1974
Robbin Williams passed away, and we've never been the same. The funnyman made us laugh and cry in equally iconic comedy and drama roles. As fans, we thought we saw it all, until we saw this photo. In 1974, NYC photographer Daniel Sorine was doing his thing in Central Park, just trying to capture life in the city. He took photos of these mimes, but soon forgot about them. 35 years later, he was shocked to see one was Robin!
That must have been quite a find in that attic. But we are not surprised to see that Robin was out and about, perfecting his comedy craft. Mimes were the original comedians, in a way!
Natalie Wood —1965
Actress Natalie Wood was a starlet in another era, and they just don't make them like they used to. Here, we see her in a behind-the-scenes moment during the filming of The Great Race. She just finished shooting the pie fight scene, and thus, she is covered in cream. Back then, she was still pretty excited about her job. She shared: "I was so young, and making movies, going to the studio every morning at dawn was magic."
We love her enthusiasm. And even Natalie was a mess, she was an iconic beauty. Sadly, she didn't live to see us write about her here. The actress died in 1981. It happened in a boating accident, of all things!
The Beatles — 1969
We wish we were around to see The Beatles play guitar and sing on stage. Those days are long gone, sadly. John and George aren't even alive anymore, and that means half the band wouldn't attend a possible reunion with Paul and Ringo. Let's take a look at an old, candid picture of the good times, as they were setting up to take that famous Abbey Road photo. All four members are there, three in suits. George is wearing a Canadian tuxedo. Who else could make that look cool?
Nobody, really. If we tried to pull that off, we'd rightly hear laughter. But that's what made The Beatles what they were. Bland men rarely history, but trendsetters and go-getters do!
Mariah Carey — 1994
Hello, Mariah Carey! We love her classic 90's look here on the streets of NYC. In this scene, she recently released her first record. She's not the glam goddess we all know now, just yet. But she didn't care! The singer reflects: “I was too excited to be self-conscious — at that point in life, my ambition was stronger than my shame. Who cared if I arrived a little hungry and a little shabby?”
In the coming years, Mariah Carey would win Grammy after Grammy. She sold record after record, too — Today, her net worth is $320 Million. Not too shabby after all!
Michael Jordan — 1981
Michael Jordan is said to be the best baller in the history of the game. We've all seen him in his iconic Chicago Bulls Jersey on the court, But how many of us have seen him in his college dorm room, in freshmen year? Michael went to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and majored in Cultural Geography. Obviously, though, his main focus at that time was athletic. He got drafted before graduation!
We say that was a good call. Michael now reflects: "When I was young, I had to learn the fundamentals of basketball. You can have all the physical ability in the world, but you still have to know the fundamentals."
Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta — 1978
Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta were the perfect choices for Grease. Together, they made us realize musicals could be cool. That's no small feat! Here, both stars sit at a table at the premiere after-party in 1978. John has his Danny hair and Olivia has her Sandy hair from the end of the film. That's when she showed up with bad girl glam, and shocked the audience. In a good way, of course!
In the coming decades, both actors would take on many other roles. But we still think this was the best project on their resumes. Grease is the time, is the place, is the motion. Grease is still the way we are feeling!
Jimi Hendricks — 1966
Jimi Hendrix is another rockstar that passed away before we were ready to say goodbye. Purple Haze was just the best! After an iconic performance at Woodstock and TV appearances all around the world, Jimi passed away from way too many sleeping pills. Docs said they found 18 times the correct dosage in his system. We don't know why he was having so much trouble sleeping. Was he drinking too much caffeine?
No one can say for sure. But here, we see the musician making a pot of tea in a suit at home. This apartment was leased from buddy and Beatle Ringo Starr. We love this scene, frozen in time!
Helen Mirren — 1960s
Helen Mirren actually used to be quite the dame, back in her day. We have seen her as an older, distinguished actress. But have we seen her sitting on a boat in gogo boots? This picture was taken in the late 1960s, before most of us were alive. Helen has been in the biz for a very long time, one of the few actresses to continue a serious career after her youth faded.
Does Helen think her looks helped her, early on? We think she was a looker, but she senses it wasn't that at all. She insists: "I was never that kind of star. I was never cast because I was gorgeous."
Kurt Cobain — 1992
Kurt Cobain is always going to be rock n' roll royalty. The Washington native founded Nirvana as a teen, and quickly rose to the top of the grunge scene. He married fellow Hole rocker Courtney Love, and they had a baby. Fans of both couldn't have been more excited about that union. But as we know now, the happy family would be short-lived. Kurt took his own life at age 27. We're still confused by his passing!
Here, we see a charming moment with dad and daughter Frances Bean Cobain. It's actually a few months before he ended things, and that makes it all the sadder to see.
Mike Tyson — 1990s
Mike Tyson made boxing even more extreme, if that's possible. His ear-biting incident made headlines around the world, as did his occasional trouble with the law. But one thing we just can't wrap our heads around is why Mike thought it would be a good idea to own a live tiger. Here is his pet in the early 1990s, just taking a prowl down the driveway. Sure, the cat is on a leash. But is this wise?
Eventually, he decided not. Mike now reflects: “There's no way you can domesticate these cats 100 percent. No way that's going to happen. They'll kill you by accident, especially when you're playing rough with them, you're punching them back. They get hyped up, hit you back and you're dead...I'm just happy I educated myself...I shouldn't have had them in my house, believing they were domesticated. I was wrong.”
Natalie Portman — 1994
Natalie Portman really had a breakout role as the child star of Léon: The Professional. Here she is with co-star Gary Oldman having a goof on set. But truthfully, this film made her uncomfortable as time went by. It was a little weird, the way she was asked to dress and act. Later, she would say: "Being sexualized as a child, I think, took away from my own sexuality, because it made me afraid."
Natalie says she intentionally took on conservative roles to be taken seriously in the years to come. After the Oscar for Best Actress in Black Swan, the academy clearly does!
Tobey Maguire and Leo DiCaprio — 1989
The entertainment industry can be shallow and cold, say some. But some Hollywood friendships actually go way back. Case in point: Tobey Maguire and Leo DiCaprio, pictured here in 1989. This is actually one of the longest-running bromances we've found, going 30 years strong. The duo met at age 12 when they were both child actors. But they actually first auditioned against each other! It turns out that Toby was initially unimpressed with Leo.
Both were 15, and both were ambitious. Although he now knows he was wrong, Toby reflects: "I saw this string-bean, goofy kid throwing karate kicks and I thought, 'Ok, that guy does not have a shot.'"
Bruce Willis — 1990s
Bruce Willis was our favorite action and drama star in the '80s and '90s. He brought us the Die Hard movies and spooked us in The Sixth Sense. At that time, he was married to Demi Moore. They had 3 kids, she took time off her career to raise them, and Bruce brought home the bacon. These days, the actor's net worth has climbed up to $250 million. But despite his incredible success in Hollywood, that's not his biggest achievement.
Bruce explains: "I'm much more proud of being a father than being an actor." Daughter Scout posted this photo on social media on father's day in 2014. We can clearly see his patenting passion here. Anything for his girls!
Nancy Reagan — 1983
It's Xmas in 1983, and First Lady Nancy Reagan is on the lap of none other than Mr. T. The gruff actor is dressed as Santa Claus, and he's really living up the White House Christmas party. We're a little surprised to see them hanging out so casually. But then again, Nancy was actually a Hollywood actress before she married the prez. She was in movies and sitcoms, just like Mr. T. Maybe she feels right at home with a colleague!
President Ronald Regan ultimately died after a struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Nancy outlived her husband and passed away at age 94. Mr. T is still around, still pitying the fool. We are sure he always will!
Bill Clinton — 1960
Bill Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States, first elected in 1992. He is remembered for good and for bad times, scandals during prosperity. But here, a young Bill posed with his saxophone. How many voters know that he once considered a music career? Some remember he played at the White House a few times. But actually, it was a pretty serious hobby at one point. In office, he promoted ts first love.
The prez declared: “Music is about communication, creativity, and cooperation, and by studying music in schools, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives, and experience the world from a new perspective.”
John F. Kennedy — 1937
Today, vintage pictures of John F. Kennedy and his entire family still sell magazines. The Kennedy clan is even nicked "Camelot". There's just something about their natural looks that Americans find timeless, and that's unlikely to change. As we all know, the nation did not get to see how hunky JFK aged: His life was cut prematurely short when he was assassinated after only a short time in his first term. So very sad!
Here. we see a rare moment before the man was prez. Young John is resting against a car in Europe with his dog Dunker, right before WWII. Clearly, he has no clue what the future holds!
Anthony Bourdain — 2011
TV chef Anthony Bourdain showed us the world through food on No Reservations. Here, we see the foodie with actor Christopher Walken on an episode preparing octopus. We think that sounds like a hard meat to work with, but when you're at this high level, there's nothing you can't cook. Sadly, it all ended in 2018, when the iconic chef ended his own life. Who could have guessed that, here?
We will always remember the chef's words, as we remember his passion. Anthony said: "To me, life without veal stock, pork fat, sausage, organ meat, demi-glace, or even stinky cheese is a life not worth living."
Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher — 1960
Mom Debbie Reynolds and daughter Carrie Fisher were both successful actresses. Little Carrie here would one day gush: "She’s an extraordinary woman. Extraordinary. There's very few women from her generation who worked like that, who just kept a career going all her life, and raised children, and had horrible relationships, and lost all her money, and got it back again. I mean, she’s had an amazing life, and she’s someone to admire."
Their relationship was close, even until the end. Carrie tragically passed away at 60 after a cardiac emergency. Mom had a stroke while she was in the hospital. They died within a day of each other!
George Clooney — 1990
George Clooney has been a certified hunk since his days on ER. Ladies loved his premature salt and pepper, and many tried to pin him down in his day. He was one of the longest confirmed bachelors in Hollywood, and many thought it would stay that way. But that all changed in 2014 when he married Amal Alamuddin, a human rights lawyer. Sure, they seem happy now. But the question is, has she seen this old photo?
The silver fox is almost unrecognizable as a young actor with long, silly hair and a biker jacket. It's 1990, so we are willing to give him a bit of a break. But not too much. What were you thinking, George?
Jayne Mansfield — 1963
Before Kim Kardashian, there were other curvy icons that captured the world's attention. One big name was certainly Jayne Mansfield, the blond bombshell of her time. During the Vietnam war, a lot of patriotic entertainers decided to offer their talents to boost morale overseas. Here, we see Jayne and Bob Hope on an aircraft carrier for a USO show in 1963. We're surprised she can pick him up like this!
Jayne once said: "When I'm 100 I'll still be doing pin-ups." But sadly, that never happened. She died in a tragic car crash at just 34. She remains timeless — and missed!
Heath Ledger — 1992
Heath Ledger is yet another actor who is gone too soon. We fell for him when we saw Ten Things I Hate About You and we were stunned when he played the Joker. Heath actually expressed interest in acting pretty young. Although he was equally talented in chess and field hockey and may have purposed both of them professionally, he did ultimately choose movies. Here he is, at one of his very first auditions. As we see on the wall: He's still small!
Interestingly, he made it big without any formal training. It was just pure talent! Heath later explained: "I never took an acting class, so I've made all my mistakes on film."
Halle Berry — 1986
Before Halle Berry was a glamourous movie star, she was a glamourous pageant winner. Look at her here, in 1986 as Miss Teen All American. But according to the actress, it's no big deal. Halle explains: "Let me tell you something - being thought of as a beautiful woman has spared me nothing in life. No heartache, no trouble. Love has been difficult. Beauty is essentially meaningless and it is always transitory."
We think she is more than a pretty face, of course. Halle Berry won an Academy Award for best actress, which is the highest honor in her field.
Martin Luther King Jr. — 1960
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, but he is still the most well known activist from the civil right era. People from all walks of life continue to admire him for his peaceful strategies for change. And his words just seem timeless, no matter the context. MLK taught us: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."
Here we can see some of the love in his own. Martin sits with his wife, Coretta Scott King, and Yolanda and Martin Luther King III. After this photo, they would have two more kids. In this moment at least, no one knows the future yet.
Cher — 1979
Cher has been entertaining us for around half a century. If that sounds, like a lot, it is! First famous for her duo with husband Sonny, the singer has really built quite a solo career as a divorcee: Her current net worth is $360 million. But before she knew she would this filthy rich, she was just disco dancing with actress Tatum Oneal in the late '70s. Both were big stars back then, but only one would have career longevity, Have you heard from Tatum lately, at all?
But despite her constant comebacks, Cher is still a little insecure in the biz. She shares: "I won't be able to do what I'm doing forever. There aren't that many scripts floating around for fifty-year-old chicks."
Michael Jackson — 1980s
Michael Jackson was known for his talent as much as he was known for his controversies. We all have different opinions about the late pop star, at this point. The mystery around his behavior continues. But here, we have a different mystery. What is Mike doing with these two little women? They sit on his lap as he drinks straight from a bottle. The context is really lacking, but we are intrigued.
We're also intrigued by his continued earning potential. After his death, he kept earning around $100 million per year. How? Why, in sales and licensing deals. Today, his estate is worth $2.4 billion. Postmortem, that's pretty decent!
Elijah Wood and Macaulay Culkin — 1993
The vast majority of child stars went home after a few roles. Elijah Wood and Macaulay Culkin are big exceptions, though! Here, we see them posing between scenes during the filming of The Good Son in 1993. Do you remember this film? It told the story of a child psychopath in New England. Pretty interesting, and still underrated. We will leave you guessing which actor was the good son and the bad son. Go see it!
Macaulay went on to make millions in Home Alone, and Elijah struck gold in Lord of the Rings. In the end, Macaulay retired from the scene and Elijah kept up his craft. To each his own!
Arnold Schwarzenegger — 1977
Before he was an action star, and before he was the 'Governator', Arnold Schwarzenegger was a world-class bodybuilder fresh from Austria. He arrived as an immigrant in America to compete, and he ended up winning Mr. Olympia. He was a six-time champ, from 1970 to 1975. Then, he retired. Here, Arnold is pictured in 1977 throwing two people off a boat. They're enjoying his superhuman strength, though. Don't worry about them!
Ultimately, Arnold did not see his titles or movie roles as his greatest achievement. He shared: "As long as I live, I will never forget that day 21 years ago when I raised my hand and took the oath of citizenship. Do you know how proud I was? I was so proud that I walked around with an American flag around my shoulders all day long."
Brad Pitt — 1989
Brad Pitt knew he was a hunk, long before he became an A-lister. Here, we look back at vintage Brad having a bit of fun with a dog. It's 1989, around the time of his very first role in Hollywood. He would gain a lot of attention over the next few years when he starred in Thelma and Lousie and Interview With a Vampire. But he doesn't know that yet!
Today, Brad's net worth is around $300 million. But he reflects: "When I received my first paycheck from my now known day job, I spent it on a period Craftsman chair and a Frank Lloyd Wright-wannabe lamp. With my second paycheck, I bought a stereo."
Johnny Cash — 1971
Johnny Cash was a legendary singer and songwriter. We still sing along to his timeless tunes! His first number one success was "I Walk the Line" in 1956, and the hits just kept coming after that. We've seen him singing in a cowboy hat on stage. But have we seen him after the shown eating cake in a bush? No, we haven't! That time is now. Johnny looks a bit sheepish, but he's enjoying himself.
We wonder if wife June approved of this sloppy shot. But for all we know, she is the one wh took it! The pair were married for 35 years until both passed away within months of each other. We're hoping we find that love, too!
Shakira — 1990
Before she was telling us that her hips don't lie, Shakira was trying to make it big in the biz. Born and raised in Colombia, she was fluent in both English and Spanish. As a teen, seen here, she had high hopes that she could make it in at least one music market, if not both. Ultimately, she succeeded all over the world. But did she have to change who she was, in the process?
Not really, besides a great hair transformation. The singer explained: "I am trying to make my accent so it won't bother anyone, but I am not going to drive myself crazy trying to pretend I am an American girl when I am from Colombia."
Steve Irwin — 2003
Aussie Steve Irwin was known as the Crocodile Hunter, all around the world. He had a show by that name where he captured wild and scary animals. We could never show his courage, but he never wavered. Steve once said: “I have no fear of losing my life - if I have to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it.”
Sadly, as we all know now, Steve was killed by a freak attack from a sting ray. We all thought that the crocs would get him. But in the end, it was a totally unexpected culprit. RIP, Steve!
Sharon Stone — 1983
Actress Sharon Stone was a sex symbol by the early 90's after playing numerous playing femme fatales on screen. Here, we see a young Sharon in 1983, before she was such a mysterious woman. She looks pretty innocent in jeans and a sweatshirt, in contrast to the character you may remember from Basic Instinct. But Sharon knows that Hollywood is all about changing your image over time to survive. What's her outlook?
The actress explains: "A woman has many faces as she goes through her life. It's like we need more than one hair-do. We have many, many changes in the evolution of our lives. We have, we learn, and we grow; we view life differently, and life views us differently."
The Runaways — 1977
The Runaways were an all-female rock band from 1975 to 1979. Back then, this wasn't very common. In fact, it's not very common today, either! You might know some of their hits, like "Cherry Bomb" and "Queens of Noise" from their four studio albums. Truthfully, they never had that much success in America, despite being Americans themselves. It turns out that they were cooler in Asia. Their big market was Japan!
Here, we see members Jackie Fox and Joan Jett having some fun in the studio. We see they are really enjoying some bubble gum. Did they know this moment would become iconic?
Neil DeGrasse Tyson — 1973
Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a rare scientist that has snuck into our pop culture. He is always on TV telling us the wonders of the universe in a relatable way. At this point, we have one main question about space. Do aliens actually exist out there? According to Neil: "Perhaps we've never been visited by aliens because they have looked upon Earth and decided there's no sign of intelligent life."
Fair enough, Neil. But before he was telling us about how stars work, he was a youngster in the Bronx. Here he is in 1973, taking a selfie before they were cool. Do you recognize him?