Okay, so maybe he didn’t exactly grow a mustache, but it’s damn near identical. Can you believe it? Only 19 years ago, on August 9th, 1999, Robert Pattinson was born. And now he has the audacity to sport a mustache similar to that of the great Manchu. Talk about living in the past!
Still, if you thought that mustache was unique, think again. There are many other celebrities who have decided to grow something similar. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 mustaches based on various factors, so you can choose which one is best for you.
10. Christopher Walken
Even though his role as Michael Corleone in The Godfather was only two-thirds of the whole movie, Christopher Walken’s mustache is likely to remain in the minds of many moviegoers for a long time. The man is a legend when it comes to mustaches and is certainly the master of the genre. If you’ve never seen Walken without a mustache, then you should obviously get yourself on the IMDB NOW!
What makes his mustache so memorable is that it is very much a manly mustache. It isn’t so much a ladies’ mustache as it is. Although there are exceptions. Walken has acknowledged that he often gets asked if he gets his mustache waxed. And yes, he does wax it. But he also grows it out, so that it looks more like his character Mickey Corleone’s. It’s a bold choice, but it certainly pays off. In terms of shape, Walken’s mustache is similar to what you’d get if you cross an H with an S. That’s right, the “W” shape. It starts a little below his nose and extends to his upper lip. If you have a look at any of Walken’s photos from throughout the years, you’ll see that he’s always sporting a well-groomed mustache. It wasn’t until fairly recently that he started to go through a stage where he wouldn’t trim it or cleanse it with a good quality facial tissue.
9. Morgan Freeman
With rumors flying that he might even play a role in the next Star Wars movie, it’s only right that we take a moment to appreciate Morgan Freeman’s amazing mustache. As you may know, Freeman plays a character named Jacob McCauley in the 2012 movie The Hunger Games. And yes, he does have a very distinguished mustache. Even when he was a young man, Morgan Freeman always enjoyed the company of women. He married three times, but never bothered to put a stop to his wandering heart. Which also explains why he has such a full mustache. Even the photo above, which was taken when he was much younger, doesn’t show us his clean-shaven face. But then again, you probably knew that already. It’s not like he’s ever had to worry about hiding his real identity. After all, with some role models you’re bound to be inspired; with others, it’s best to stay away.
8. Walter Brennan
Brennan came from a long line of traveling salesmen, so it’s not that surprising that he would grow a mustache. What is surprising is that he grew it above his upper lip. Most people grow their mustache below the nose. But Brennan chose to go against the grain. It isn’t that he wanted to show off his upper lip. He just felt that the lower, thinner lip was vulnerable and that going against the grain would make the lip harder to penetrate. While Walter Brennan’s mustache isn’t anything new, it is one of the few that actually look like they could still walk the earth. If you ever watch his old films, you’ll see that his upper lip wasn’t always well-groomed. In fact, Walter Brennan was rather particular about the way he kept his mustache. Whenever he felt it needed a trimming, he’d go up and down the lip with a pair of tweezers. He also used to cleanse it with a good quality facial tissue once or twice a day. Like many other mustaches on this list, Walter Brennan’s lip piece tapers off into a slight point above the upper lip. It’s a choice that gives him an air of mystery that is otherwise lost on the big screen. If you look closely, you’ll see that Walter’s lip isn’t totally covered by his mustache. There’s a tiny bit of peach fuzz that peeks out from under the nose. It’s a detail that many people miss, but it makes his facial hair look more real. If you love watching old movies and you want to see a real-life Walter Brennan, then you should go to a used book store and search for his memoirs. They’re not easy to find, but they’re worth it.
7. Willem Dafoe
Another actor who decided to grow a mustache is Willem Dafoe. The Green Meadows neighborhood of Willem Dafoe’s hometown was known as “Millionaires’ Row.” And it wasn’t solely because of the number of millionaires who resided there. It was also because of the large number of successful, well-known and -read businessmen who had offices there. Today, the one-of-a-kind Gold Medal Winning Mustard from the Dafoe family is proudly on display in one of the family restaurants. But it wasn’t always like that. Willem Dafoe started off his acting career with bit parts. He wasn’t a serious actor back then. But he decided to give it a try, and his first big break came in 1991’s Poor White Trash. From there he went on to star in the acclaimed vampire movie Nightwalkers, and he’s even more famous today for his role as the title character in the RoboCop revival film, RoboCop. Although he doesn’t sport a mustache in the comics, he has frequently been drawn with one. So it’s clear that this isn’t a new phenomenon for the actor. In terms of shape, Willem Dafoe’s mustache is fairly unusual. It doesn’t look like anything you might see on a regular street corner. In fact, it’s a combination of multiple shapes. It starts off as a “V” shape just below the nose, then it twists and turns, almost like it’s on a spring. There are sharp corners, round edges, and even a tiny hook at the end. It’s almost as if someone drew it with a ruler. And yes, he has to brush it several times a day to keep it neat and tidy. And like many of the mustaches on this list, Willem Dafoe’s lip piece doesn’t go all of the way up his nose. There’s a small bit of peach fuzz that peeks out from underneath the bottom of his mustache, giving it a nice bit of texture.
6. Michael Caine
One of the most respected and influential British actors of all time, Michael Caine, often cited as one of the greatest actors of all time, has worn many hats in his long and storied career. In 1938, aged just 14 years old, he began his acting studies at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama. He later returned to his native England to continue his training. While studying, Michael Caine performed Shakespeare and other classical plays. However, it wasn’t long before he began to focus more on film. He made his debut in the film version of William Somerset Maugham’s The Moonbeam, which was released in 1959. Since then he has gone on to appear in many classic films, ranging from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much (1962) to Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York (2002) and Hugo (2011). One of the most memorable scenes from the 2006 film version of Henry V was when Michael Caine’s character, the Duke of York, was fighting against the French in a scene that took place in front of King Henry’s tomb. This was one of the many scenes that were cut from the final version of the film, which was originally two and a half hours long. Interestingly, this was the one scene that director Ken Russell specifically asked to be kept in the film. Michael Caine’s appearance in the film was a last-minute addition, as the actor had just finished shooting the scene in which he murders a pig. When Michael Caine heard that he was going to be in a Shakespearean drama, he rushed to read the play. It didn’t take long for him to realize that he had played the role of the Duke of York before. Michael Caine has since then gone on to play the same character in the 2007 Broadway production of Henry V. This year, Michael Caine was presented with the Laurence Olivier Lifetime Achievement Award at the London Film Awards. It is widely assumed that this is the last award that the legendary actor will receive. He is now 78 years old.