15 Real Life Tough Guys

Yahoo Movies recently posted their list of 15 Real Life Tough Guys.  Here’s their list and my thoughts…

  • Dennis Farina: was a former cop and came off as a legitimate tough guy.
  • Mel Brooks: served as a demolitions man in the war.  Lacked the size to be considered a classic tough guy and probably had a better chance of killing someone with laughter.
  • Steve Buscemi: a former fire fighter who returned to help out in that role after 9/11 makes Buscemi tough guy in anyone’s book.  However, not a classic tough guy in the movie tradition.
  • Bryan Cranston: He is the one who knocks.  Of course he was also the dad in a sitcom I never watched.  Then again, he was questioned in a real life murder.  Not a traditional movie tough guy, but I ain’t tellin’ him that.
  • James Doohan: a WWII hero.  In his day, I’ll bet Doohan could kick some buttocks.  Never made it big as a movie tough guy, but that’s not what this list is about.
  • Clint Eastwood: would make anyone’s top five movie tough guys.  Glad to see him on a real life tough guy list as well.
  • R. Lee Ermey: Movie tough guy? Check.  Real-life tough guy? Check.
  • Samuel L. Jackson: Cool in the movies and real life.  Tough in the movies, I’ll buy.  Real life — not one of the actors whose name rushes to mind.
  • Dolph Lundgren: Yes, a movie and real life tough guy.  Heck, any man who dated Grace Jones had to be tough.
  • Lee Marvin would be my first or second choice for movie and real life tough guy.
  • Steve McQueen: I was never a big Steve McQueen fan.  I liked him in The Getaway though.  He wouldn’t have made either list for me.
  • Robert Mitchum: is a genuine tough guy — movie or real life.
  • Jack Palance: is another that should easily make both lists.
  • Mickey Rourke: later day Mickey Rourke makes both lists.  Mickey Rourke that started out as the pretty boy actor, was a real life tough guy, but not a traditional movie tough guy.
  • Danny Trejo: has made his career being a tough guy.

I have just one question.  How could Charles Bronson not have made this list?