Mithun Chakraborty
It was one of those occasions when even those who had previously mocked Indian cinema acknowledged that ‘Commandos’ was actually quite good. The actor may not be able to reach his former heights, but despite being in his eighties, he continues to act (and that’s with more than 350 films under his belt).
Steven Seagal
Seagal also continues to act, but his best films are long gone, somewhere in the 90s (as is the actor’s former physique).
Kurt Russell
Russell achieved undisputed legendary status back in the 80s, but he has no intention of slowing down, appearing in every notable film Hollywood has to offer, from Tarantino to The Fast and the Furious and The Bone Tomahawk.
Brandon Lee
The tragic fate of his father also touched his son — Brandon died while filming The Crow, adding even more mystique to it. Forever remembered as a young, positive guy, he left us with sad thoughts about what he could have achieved given his talent.
Mickey Rourke
Mickey Rourke could have become a bigger star than Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise combined. But he was not only involved in cinema, but also boxing (and, at the same time, women and alcohol). Many people don’t survive that level of self-destruction, but not Rourke: he keeps coming back again and again, sometimes receiving an Oscar nomination, sometimes leaving another memorable character for all his fans to enjoy (as well as appearing in betting company commercials).
Rutger Hauer
A great actor who starred in a huge number of legendary films (both Dutch works by Paul Verhoeven and Hollywood masterpieces such as Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner). Action films were also Hauer’s passion (Countdown, Blind Fury, Dead or Alive), and they were so sweetly old-school that you still want to rewatch them. The actor passed away in 2019, and we will be forever grateful to him for both his work in the action genre and all the dramatic roles he left behind.
Danny Glover
Glover is a much more serious figure than just an action hero, but his participation in this segment of the industry has left too noticeable a mark to be ignored. Let’s not forget Lethal Weapon and the second Predator. The actor is still active, even if action films are no longer particularly relevant to him.
Gary Busey
Although he cannot be called a serious fighter or bodybuilder, Busey has appeared in many key films of the genre, including Under Siege, Lethal Weapon, Point Break, and many others. The actor is now approaching 80, but he continues to act in a wide variety of genres and films of varying quality.
Donnie Yen
This man is in phenomenal shape in his sixties. That is why he is one of the few who continues to carry the torch of the 80s-90s action movie format, taking it to a fairly serious level. The actor has become so popular that he has elevated his own franchise, Ip Man, to the level of a project that has already enjoyed popularity with four films released. In addition, he starred in the Star Wars spin-off Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as a Chinese star capable of bringing audiences in the PRC to the cinemas. Star Wars: Stories, as a Chinese star capable of bringing Chinese audiences to the cinemas.
Brian Thompson
With such an expressive face, Brian Thompson had no choice but to play villains in the action films of that golden age. He was the main antagonist in Cobra with Sylvester Stallone, and since then he has appeared in the series Moonlighting, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Walker, Texas Ranger, Wild California, several Star Trek films, The Three Amigos, and most importantly, the scene from the first Terminator in which Schwarzenegger’s character arrives in the past.
Keanu Reeves
Probably the most successful actor in this selection. He starred in action films in the 90s (Point Break, Speed) and continues to act today. Given the popularity of the John Wick franchise, it is quite possible that he gained real popularity in connection with filming in this genre in the 21st century. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that one of the favourite actors of the 90s continues to delight us to this day, training desperately in both martial arts and shooting skills.
Nicolas Cage
Cage has had one of the most difficult paths in Hollywood. Coppola’s nephew, he has starred in dramas and thrillers, periodically slipping into the B-movie category and returning to big-budget films. For the last 20 years, he has been starring in what can confidently be described as ‘crap,’ periodically producing a few decent works. We also remember the 90s for such action films as The Rock, Face/Off, and Con Air.
Michelle Keach
It is worth noting that Michelle is unrecognisable not only because of his age, but also because an impressive amount of makeup was used to create the image of Tong Po, the most terrifying kickboxer of all time.
Nick Nolte
One of those actors who has made a name for himself in action films (48 Hrs. and Another 48 Hrs. being the most notable examples) and in a variety of other genres (Hotel Rwanda, Warrior, Prince of Tides, Lorenzo’s Oil, and many others). An Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner, Nick is still active despite being in his eighties.
Eric Roberts
Eric Roberts has appeared in more than 500 (!) films and television series. Although action films were not his primary focus, The Best of the Best and other examples of the genre did not go unnoticed by connoisseurs. The actor appears in everything from Nolan’s The Dark Knight to Oksana Bayrak’s films. Therefore, it is possible that we will see him in both a worthwhile action film and a decent drama.
Will Smith
We won’t write much about Will Smith — his career has been on the rise for the last 30 years, so you know where he has starred and how he hasn’t changed at all in appearance since the 90s.
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Let’s finish with the perfect villain, who has starred in films of all kinds, including Mortal Kombat and Little Tokyo. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is still active, although worthwhile dramas with him are released less often than the next trashy action film where he plays a vicious Japanese villain. Once every five years, he participates in something worthwhile, so we just have to wait for the next such work to see the light of day.