The Greatest Icons of the 1970s

Best known for her Oscar-winning performance in L.A. Confidential (1997), Kim Basinger first rose to fame as a TV and film star in the late 1970s. She started building her “Hollywood bombshell” image in made-for-TV movies before making her big screen debut in Hard Country (1981).

Kim Basinger

Basinger is not just a talented actress — she’s also a strong animal rights activist and a dedicated vegetarian. She has supported PETA by appearing in anti-fur campaigns and has worked with Farm Sanctuary to raise awareness about animal cruelty in the farming industry. In one public message, she shared the sad story of a calf taken away from his mother, saying, “He should be with his mother.”

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is one of the greatest country music legends of all time. She holds 25 RIAA-certified Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum awards and shares the record for most Billboard No. 1 country singles by a female artist (25 hits, tied with Reba McEntire). With 41 Top 10 country albums and over 110 charted singles, she has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

She has won nine Grammy Awards, received 46 Grammy nominations, and earned honors from the Academy Awards, CMA, ACM, and American Music Awards. Dolly is also one of just seven women to win the CMA Entertainer of the Year Award.

Dolly Parton

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Dolly recently gained a new generation of fans when she performed her hit song “Jolene” with her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, proving that her talent spans across generations.

Susan Dey

Susan Dey began her career as a model but quickly rose to fame after landing the role of Laurie Partridge in the hit sitcom The Partridge Family — all without prior acting experience. At just 17, she became a household name and starred in the show for all four seasons.

Susan Dey

After The Partridge Family, Susan continued acting in both TV and film, taking on emotionally complex and dramatic roles that showcased her growth as a serious actress.

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Meryl Streep

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Meryl Streep’s name is synonymous with acting excellence. After studying drama at Vassar College and Yale, she moved to New York in 1975 — launching one of the most respected careers in film history. As Vanity Fair once said, “It’s hard to imagine a time before Meryl Streep was the greatest-living actress.”

Meryl Streep

Streep is celebrated for her mastery of accents, flawlessly performing with Danish (Out of Africa), British (The Iron Lady, The French Lieutenant’s Woman), Italian (The Bridges of Madison County), and even Bronx accents (Doubt). She credits Barbra Streisand, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan as key influences in shaping her voice as a powerful acting tool.

Susan Sarandon

While Susan Sarandon remains a respected presence in Hollywood, most fans still recognize her for her breakout role in the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). Age hasn’t slowed her down, and she continues to be one of Hollywood’s most admired and in-demand actresses.

Susan Sarandon

Sarandon has transitioned smoothly into television, earning five Emmy Award nominations for roles in shows like Friends (2001), Malcolm in the Middle (2002), and TV films such as Bernard and Doris (2007) and You Don’t Know Jack (2010). In 2017, she starred as Bette Davis in FX’s Feud, showing her versatility across generations of entertainment.

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Barbara Feldon

Although most of Barbara Feldon’s acting experience was in theater, she is best remembered for her role as Agent 99 on the hit 1960s sitcom Get Smart. Like many actresses of her era, Feldon began her career as a fashion model before transitioning into stage and screen.

Barbara Feldon

Feldon still occasionally appears in off-Broadway theater, though she has stated she is “no longer interested in performing.” Instead, she has focused on her writing career and continues to contribute content to magazines and literary publications.

Charlene Tilton

Charlene Tilton is best known for her role as Lucy Ewing on the hit TV drama Dallas, where she earned the nickname “poisonous dwarf” for her fiery character and petite height of under five feet. In the 1980s, she explored pop music and posed for Playboy, but later stepped away from the spotlight.

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Charlene Tilton

Now, Tilton devotes much of her time to charitable work, especially causes supporting foster children, using her platform to make a difference behind the scenes.

Liv Ullmann

Liv Ullmann, who grew up in cities like Tokyo, Toronto, New York, and Oslo, struggled to get noticed on stage in Norway early in her career. But her persistence paid off when legendary Swedish director Ingmar Bergman cast her in ten of his most iconic films, including Persona and The Passion of Anna.

Liv Ullmann

After her successful run as Bergman’s muse, Ullmann transitioned into directing, where she brought her storytelling talents to theatre productions around the world.

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Jacqueline Bisset

Although Jacqueline Bisset first caught attention for her stunning looks, she quickly proved herself as a serious actress with standout performances in films like The Sweet Ride, Murder on the Orient Express, and The Detective. In 2013, she won a Golden Globe Award for her role in the BBC miniseries Dancing on the Edge.

Jacqueline Bisset

In 2010, she was honored with France’s highest award, the Légion d’honneur. She is also known for being the godmother of Angelina Jolie.

Loni Anderson

Loni Anderson began acting in the 1960s and became a household name thanks to her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the hit sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. She remained a fan favorite throughout the 1980s.

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Loni Anderson

In the late 1990s, she had recurring roles on shows like V.I.P and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

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Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster became a breakout star with her bold role as a teen prostitute in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver (1977). A Yale graduate, Oscar-winning actress, and accomplished filmmaker, Foster’s career has spanned decades. During her first year at Yale, she was stalked by John W. Hinckley Jr., who became obsessed with her after watching Taxi Driver. He moved to New Haven, contacted her repeatedly, and in 1981, attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan to impress her. After the incident, Foster had to be guarded by bodyguards on campus.

Jodie Foster

In the early 2000s, after some career setbacks, Foster starred in four successful thrillers: Panic Room (2002), Flightplan (2005), Inside Man (2006), and The Brave One (2007). She shifted focus in the 2010s, directing The Beaver (2011) and Money Monster (2016), along with episodes of Orange Is the New Black and House of Cards for Netflix.

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Cher

Known as the “Goddess of Pop,” Cher is a timeless icon in music, film, and fashion. She first rose to fame in the 1960s with the pop duo Sonny and Cher and went on to become a symbol of female empowerment in entertainment.

Cher

She remains the only artist in history to have a Billboard number-one single in every decade from the 1960s through the 2010s. Beyond her career, Cher is widely respected for her political activism, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and philanthropic work, especially in the areas of HIV/AIDS awareness and human rights.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton made her first big-screen impact as the mob wife in The Godfather (1972), but rose to greater fame as Woody Allen’s frequent collaborator and muse, starring in iconic films like Love and Death (1975) and Annie Hall (1977), the latter earning her the Academy Award for Best Actress.

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Diane Keaton

Beyond acting, Keaton is a successful writer, editor, and photographer, and has worked behind the camera as a producer. In 2003, she produced Elephant, a Gus Van Sant drama based on a school shooting.

She’s also a serious art collector and a real estate developer, having renovated and resold several luxury homes in Southern California.

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Loretta Swit

Loretta Swit won over audiences as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the beloved TV series MASH*, one of the most iconic shows of the 1970s and a classic in television history.

Loretta Swit

In the 1980s, Swit supported the work of R Adams Cowley, founder of the first U.S. shock trauma unit at the University of Maryland. She helped bring national attention to his innovative use of helicopters to transport critically injured patients, a breakthrough in emergency care.

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Jane Seymour

British-American actress Jane Seymour rose to international fame in the 1970s and 1980s with standout roles in Live and Let Die (1973), Somewhere in Time (1980), and East of Eden (1981). In recent years, she’s collaborated with Kay Jewelers on a line of special edition “heart” jewelry collections.

One unique feature that sets Seymour apart is her heterochromia — her right eye is brown, and her left eye is green.

Jane Seymour

In 2016, a 2.08-carat cushion-cut vivid blue diamond ring was named The Jane Seymour in her honor by the World Of Diamonds Group. Mined in Russia and set in 18-karat rose-gold-plated platinum, the ring was presented to her during her appearance in The Vortex in Singapore.

Ellen Burstyn

The 1970s were a golden era for Ellen Burstyn, who earned two Academy Award nominations for The Last Picture Show (1971) and The Exorcist (1973), and won Best Actress in 1974 for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, directed by Martin Scorsese.

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Ellen Burstyn

One of her most unforgettable performances came decades later in Requiem for a Dream (2000), where she portrayed Sarah Goldfarb, a character whose mental decline remains one of cinema’s most haunting portrayals of psychological deterioration.

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Rene Russo

Rene Russo became a pop culture figure in the 1970s and 1980s as a top fashion model, gracing the covers of major magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Though she didn’t transition into acting full-time until the 1990s, her presence had already made an impact.

Rene Russo

In recent years, she played Frigga, the mother of Thor, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She also received critical acclaim for her performance in Nightcrawler and starred in popular comedies like The Intern and Just Getting Started.

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Linda Gray

Linda Gray made her first Hollywood mark as the body double for Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate (1967). She later became iconic for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing, the complex and glamorous character on the CBS hit series Dallas (1978–1989).

Linda Gray

Today, Gray continues to shine on stage, performing in top international theatre productions, including as the Fairy Godmother in the London version of Cinderella.

Pam Grier

Pam Grier rose to fame in the 1970s as one of the few African American female action stars, earning iconic status through her roles in blaxploitation films. Her legacy was reignited with Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown (1997), a tribute to the genre that made her famous.

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Pam Grier

In 2011, Grier received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Langston University. She also founded the Pam Grier Community Garden and Education Center in partnership with the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum.

Carol Kane

Carol Kane became a film favorite in the 1970s with standout roles in Hester Street (1975), which earned her an Oscar nomination, and Annie Hall (1977). She later found Broadway success with a long-running performance as Madame Morrible in the hit musical Wicked from 2005 to 2014.

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Carol Kane

Since 2015, Kane has starred as Lillian Kaushtupper in the popular Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, earning a new generation of fans while continuing her celebrated career in both stage and screen.

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Teri Garr

While younger audiences may recognize Teri Garr as Phoebe’s quirky mother on Friends, she was already a Hollywood staple in the 1970s and ’80s, with standout roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and Tootsie (1982), which earned her an Oscar nomination.

Teri Garr

She became a fan favorite for her appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, where she was known for her unscripted, witty banter. In one unforgettable segment, Letterman even convinced her to shower in his office — all on camera.

Cybill Shepherd

Before making a name for herself in films like The Heartbreak Kid and Taxi Driver, Cybill Shepherd began her career as a model after winning several high school beauty contests.

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Cybill Shepherd

In recent years, she’s made guest appearances on TV shows such as The L Word and Psych. Off-screen, she is deeply involved in social activism, particularly supporting LGBT rights and women’s rights causes.

Sissy Spacek

Sissy Spacek is best known for her unforgettable role as the title character in Carrie (1976), which earned her an Oscar nomination. She went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980) and received three more Oscar nominations throughout the 1980s.

Sissy Spacek

She continues to stay active in entertainment and recently appeared in the critically acclaimed TV drama Bloodline.

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Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews is one of the most beloved and respected actresses in cinematic history, thanks to her iconic roles in Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. In recent years, she’s reached new audiences by lending her voice to animated hits like Shrek and Despicable Me.

Julie Andrews

Her awards include an Academy Award, BAFTA, five Golden Globes, three Grammys, two Emmys, the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors, and the Disney Legend Award, cementing her legacy in entertainment.

Maureen McCormick

Maureen McCormick became one of the most recognizable TV stars of the 1970s with her role as Marcia Brady on the beloved family sitcom The Brady Bunch.

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Maureen McCormick

Although she continued to find acting opportunities after her time as Marcia, McCormick has openly shared her struggles with growing up in the spotlight, which led to periods of depression and substance abuse.

Donna Douglas

Donna Douglas was best known for playing the sweet and spirited Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, one of CBS’s most iconic sitcoms. Her signature blonde hair and vibrant style helped her land roles in films like Career and Frankie and Johnny.

Donna Douglas

Douglas passed away in January 2015, but her charm and legacy continue to live on in the hearts of Beverly Hillbillies fans everywhere.

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Mary Tyler Moore

Mary Tyler Moore charmed audiences with her smile and comedic timing on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which ran for seven seasons during the 1970s. Before that, she made her breakthrough on The Dick Van Dyke Show beginning in 1961.

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Mary Tyler Moore

Though she passed away in January 2017, Moore’s legacy continues to shine, with her influence felt across generations of fans and performers.

Barbara Eden

Barbara Eden began performing as a singer in her church choir, later singing in nightclubs for just $10 a night. She joined Actor’s Equity at age 16, studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and trained at the Elizabeth Holloway School of Theatre. She also appeared regularly on The Johnny Carson Show.

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Barbara Eden

She became a household name as the title character in the beloved TV show I Dream of Jeannie. In 2011, she released her memoir Jeannie Out of the Bottle, sharing personal stories from her life and career, both on and off screen.

Diana Rigg

English actress Diana Rigg gained widespread fame as Emma Peel in the 1960s TV series The Avengers. In 1994, she won a Tony Award for her role in Medea on Broadway and was honored that same year with the title of Dame.

Diana Rigg

In her later years, Rigg appeared in popular series like HBO’s Game of Thrones and ITV’s Victoria. Known for her bold views, she once remarked in 1969, “Women are in a much stronger position than men,” expressing her critique of conventional feminism.

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Catherine Bach

Catherine Bach became a pop culture icon with her role as Daisy Duke on the hit TV show The Dukes of Hazzard, becoming a pin-up favorite for millions thanks to her famous short shorts and southern charm.

Catherine Bach

Though she’s since traded her Daisy Dukes for more age-appropriate outfits, her sex symbol status remains legendary. Since 2012, she has played Anita Lawson on the daytime soap The Young and the Restless.

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Nichelle Nichols

Nichelle Nichols made television history as Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek (1966–1969), becoming one of the first African American women to play a non-stereotypical lead role on a major TV series. Her impact was so significant that Martin Luther King Jr. personally praised her for breaking barriers. After Star Trek, she partnered with NASA to help recruit more diverse astronauts.

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Nichelle Nichols

Her most recent role was as the aging mother of Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless, earning her an Emmy nomination in 2017.

Kate Jackson

Kate Jackson rose to fame as one of the original stars of Charlie’s Angels — and she even came up with the title of the iconic series. While her peak was in the 1970s, she has continued acting with guest roles on shows like Family Guy and Criminal Minds. She is also currently writing her memoir.

Kate Jackson

In addition to her acting, Jackson is a dedicated health advocate, especially on breast cancer and heart health. In 2003, she received the Power of Love Award from the American Heart Association for her awareness work.

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Victoria Principal

Victoria Principal is best known for her decade-long role as Pamela Ewing on the hit TV series Dallas. After leaving the show, she launched a successful natural skincare line, founded her own production company, and became a best-selling author.

Victoria Principal

For years, Principal has been dedicated to philanthropy, focusing her efforts on wildlife conservation and environmental preservation.

Dawn Wells

Dawn Wells became a household name as the sweet and cheerful Mary Anne on Gilligan’s Island. Before acting, she was a beauty queen, crowned Miss Nevada in 1959 and competing in the Miss America pageant the following year.

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