Hard to imagine now, but before the teased hair and neon colors of the ’80s, there was a group of iconic celebrities across all areas of entertainment who were still figuring out who they were.
When were they doing that? In the gritty, less colorful, and much hairier ’70s. Glitzy red carpets weren’t really a thing yet, and celebrity magazines weren’t jockeying for the latest cover star. People magazine hadn’t even started its annual “Sexiest Man Alive” issue.
READ MORE: Can You Recognize These ’80s Celebrities Today?
Phill Collins 1970s Family Man
Before the Glam, Before the Fame — Celebrities in Their ’70s Era
Photos from the ’70s show famous faces in a much more candid, casual, and caught-off-guard light. Things were a little rougher around the edges and much less concerned with makeup and hair trends. It was the decade of natural light, natural hair, and — most certainly — natural beards.
Sir Ian McKellen
Get ready to do some double-takes as you scroll through these photos. From an unrecognizable Steven Spielberg before his blockbuster beard look, to Diane Keaton before she established her signature style, and even a teenage Carrie “Princess Leia” Fisher before that galaxy far, far away — these photos capture the faces you know before they became the icons you remember.
Do You Recognize These Photos of Celebrities From the 1970s?
They may have been iconic in the 1980s and beyond, but the ’70s had a habit of making some famous faces unrecognizable.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
Guess the ’80s Faces: How Many Do You Recognize?
Before social media, these ’80s icons earned their fame the hard way — and while some are still in the spotlight, others may be harder to place today.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
