Then vs. now: What the biggest '80s action heartthrobs look like today

One of the defining heroes of the '80s was Harrison Ford, who performed many of his own stunts across the Indiana Jones films. He had already broken onto the scene as Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise, but he soon cemented his leading-man status. 

So when he burst onto the screen as Dr. Henry 'Indiana' Jones Jr. in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) his rugged charm as the archaeology professor made him an instant fan favourite.

The handsome heartthrob was married twice before meeting the love of his life: first to Mary Marquardt (1964–1979), then to Melissa Mathison (1983–2004), before finally meeting Calista Flockhart at the 2002 Golden Globe Awards. 

Now 84 years old, Harrison and Calista have been married for 16 years. Harrison is a father of five, sharing four biological children from his first two marriages alongside his legally adopted son, Liam.

After being told he wouldn't land leading-man roles because of his accent, Arnold Schwarzenegger proved his critics wrong. Not just a former professional bodybuilder, Arnold achieved global superstardom with his roles in Conan the Barbarian (1982) and as the cyborg assassin in The Terminator (1984). 

His love life has been equally high-profile, particularly his marriage to Maria Shriver (1986–2011), a journalist and member of the family of former US President John F. Kennedy. Nowadays, the 79-year-old is dating physical therapist Heather Milligan (his first public romance since his divorce) who is 27 years his junior. Arnold is a father of five, including four children with ex-wife Maria Shriver and his son Joseph.

As for his bodybuilding frame, he is a bit leaner today, but he continues to train regularly into his 70s, frequently sharing his weight workouts on Instagram. Serious gym-spo right there!

Who could forget Sylvester Stallone, who played Rocky Balboa in the '70s before carrying his success into the '80s as soldier John Rambo in First Blood (1982). Sylvester then hit his peak physical frame in Rocky III (1982) and Rocky IV (1985), becoming one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors. 

Known for his rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger, it came as no surprise given they shared a similar muscular build and competed for the same roles. Of course, with big Hollywood fame came a complex romantic history, and he was married three times: first to Sasha Czack (1974–1985), then a brief two-year marriage to Brigitte Nielsen (1985–1987), and finally to Jennifer Flavin in 1997. Sylvester is a father of five, sharing two sons with his first wife Sasha and three daughters with his wife Jennifer.

The 80-year-old remains married to Jennifer today and, much like Arnold, still posts gym videos showing off his impressive physique.

This 6 ft 5 in Swedish martial artist still looks incredibly fit for his age. Best known for playing Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in the Rocky franchise, Dolph Lundgren went on to star in over 80 action-themed films, including Masters of the Universe (1987) and The Punisher (1989). During his career, he had several high-profile relationships, including with singer Grace Jones and Jenny Sandersson. Now, the 68-year-old has been married to personal trainer Emma Krokdal since 2023, despite their 39-year age gap. Dolph is a father of two, sharing daughters Ida and Greta with his ex-wife Anette Qviberg. Following a nine-year battle with kidney cancer, Dolph clearly prioritises his health, with a recent Instagram video showing him back in the boxing ring.

Playing the eye-patched anti-hero Snake Plissken in Escape from New York (1981), Kurt Russell brought an effortless, cool charm to his roles. Another of his big '80s action hits was Big Trouble in Little China (1986), where he played Jack Burton.

For an action heartthrob, Kurt has been remarkably committed in his personal life, proving to be less of a ladies' man and more of a devoted partner. While it is hard to imagine Kurt with anyone other than Goldie Hawn, he did have one previous marriage. The 75-year-old was married to Season Hubley from 1979 to 1983, his only formal marriage to date. Defying Hollywood conventions, he has been in a relationship with Goldie since 1983 without ever marrying, making them one of cinema's most enduring couples. Kurt is a father of two biological sons, Boston and Wyatt, while also helping raise Goldie's two children, Kate and Oliver Hudson. As for his looks, Kurt's famous '80s mullet is no longer intact, but he still sports longer silver locks reminiscent of his younger days.

Gaining global recognition as Max Rockatansky in the post-apocalyptic Mad Max film series (1979–1985), Mel Gibson enjoyed a string of massive hits. He went on to star in the Lethal Weapon franchise (1987–1998) as reckless LAPD detective Martin Riggs, solidifying his status as a box-office heavyweight. The 70-year-old has had a mixed romantic history following the end of his 26-year marriage to Robyn Moore in 2011. He later dated Oksana Grigorieva before his relationship with Rosalind Ross, whom he was with from 2014 to 2025. Despite being single, Mel has a large family and is the father of nine children from past relationships, including seven with his ex-wife, Robyn. Even though he's been unlucky in love, the '80s action star still retains his silver-fox appeal, with his piercing blue eyes and sharp facial features.