March 21st, 2022

60 Tattoos of Hollywood’s Golden Age

Do you know the stars of classic Hollywood?

From the start of the 20th century up until the 1960s, Hollywood and cinema went through a massive change. This era is known as Hollywood’s Golden Age, Old Hollywood or Classical Hollywood Cinema. The birth of this time began after World War I and gave way to some of the most legendary film stars of all time. We’ve curated some of our favorite tattoos of Old Hollywood’s finest in the gallery below, take a peek at these big screen heavy hitters and let us know your favorite performer from this era in the comments section on social media.

Audrey Hepburn

Birth: 5/4/1929

Death: 1/20/1993

Origin: Brussels, Belgium

Most Famous Film(s): “Sabrina” (1954)

“Funny Face” (1957)

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961)

“My Fair Lady” (1964)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by INAL BERSEKOV (@inalbersekov)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Zlata Kolomoyskaya (@goldy_z)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by (@ellyn_ink)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Anne-bonny ink (@anne_bonny__ink)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chino ☦ Chris (@chinoart.ink)

James Dean

Birth: 2/8/1931

Death: 9/30/1955

Origin: Marion, Indiana

Most Famous Film(s): “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by . (@bran.d_tattoos)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Frank Art By O’Dowd (@artbyodowd)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tattoo artist (@sergey_shanko)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jennifer Machin (@jennmx3)

Marilyn Monroe

Birth: 6/1/1926

Death: 8/4/1962

Origin: Los Angeles, California

Most Famous Film(s): “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

“How to Marry a Millionaire” (1953)

“The Seven Year Itch” (1955)

“Some Like It Hot” (1959)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by BEN (@ben_tats)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Donna Farah (@donnafarahtattoo)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ✨Lanegra.art✨ (@lanegra.art)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Yani (@yan2_ta2)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Zlata Kolomoyskaya (@goldy_z)

Bette Davis

Birth: 4/5/1908

Death: 10/6/1989

Origin: Lowell, Massachusetts

Most Famous Film(s): “Of Human Bondage” (1934)

“Jezebel” (1938)

“Dark Victory” (1939)

“All About Eve” (1950)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Zlata Kolomoyskaya (@goldy_z)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Brian Tipping (@eyecandytattoo)

John Wayne

Birth: 5/26/1907

Death: 6/11/1979

Origin: Winterset, Iowa

Most Famous Film(s): “Stagecoach” (1939)

“True Grit” (1969)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ✶ ✶ (@ponylawson)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by (@timothyjozeftattoo)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tattoo Snob (@tattoosnob)

Clark Gable

Birth: 2/1/1901

Death: 11/16/1960

Origin: Cadiz, Ohio

Most Famous Film(s): “It Happened One Night” (1934)

“Mutiny on the Bounty” (1935)

“Gone with the Wind” (1939)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Professional tattoo artist (@proxeus)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by – (@w_inkstudio)

Marlene Dietrich

Birth: 12/27/1901

Death: 5/6/1992

Origin: Berlin, Germany

Most Famous Film(s): “Blue Angel” (1930)

“Morocco” (1930)

“Blonde Venus” (1932)

“Desire” (1936)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Adrian Meza (@ayesuavecito)

Rita Hayworth

Birth: 10/17/1918

Death: 5/14/1987

Origin: New York City, New York

Most Famous Film(s): “Cover Girl” (1944)

“Gilda” (1946)

“The Lady from Shanghai” (1947)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Anna Christine (@mabel_evelyn)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ellis Arch (@ellisarchtattoo)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tattoo Snob (@tattoosnob)

Elizabeth Taylor

Birth: 2/27/1932

Death: 3/23/2011

Origin: London, England

Most Famous Film(s): “A Place in the Sun” (1951)

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (1958)

“Cleopatra” (1961)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by David Corden (@davidcorden)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @marissa_o

Doris Day

Birth: 4/3/1922

Death: 5/13/2019

Origin: Cincinnati, Ohio

Most Famous Film(s): “Pillow Talk” (1959)

“Move Over, Darling” (1963)

“The Thrill of It All” (1963)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by David Corden (@davidcorden)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Erica Flannes (@ericaflannes)

Lucille Ball

Birth: 8/6/1911

Death: 4/26/1989

Origin: Jamestown, New York

Most Famous Work: “I Love Lucy” (1951-1957)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by . . / (@ygtattoos)

Gene Kelly

Birth: 8/23/1912

Death: 2/2/1996

Origin: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Most Famous Film(s): “Anchors Aweigh” (1945)

“An American in Paris” (1951)

“Singin’ in the Rain” (1952)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by VIKA (@vikatattoo______)

Vivien Leigh

Birth: 11/5/1913

Death: 7/8/1957

Origin: Darjeeling, India

Most Famous Film(s): “Gone with the Wind” (1939)

“A Streetcar Named Desire” (1951)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nikita Mantusov (@niktattoo.armavir)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dylan Sartin (@dylantattooart)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kat Tattoos (@kat_r_art)

Sophia Loren

Birth: 9/20/1934

Origin: Rome, Italy

Most Famous Film(s): “Two Women” (1961)

“Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” (1963)

“Marriage Italian Style” (1964)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Luis Antonio (@luisantoniotattoo)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Zoe Margot (@batsforbrains)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Adam Makharita (NYC) (@adamdeanart)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by BLACKSCAB TATTOOS (@markblackscab)

Judy Garland

Birth: 6/10/1922

Death: 6/22/1969

Origin: Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Most Famous Film(s): “The Wizard of Oz” (1939)

“Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944)

“A Star is Born” (1954)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by GLOSSY (@glossylandnyc)

Marlon Brando

Birth: 4/3/1924

Death: 7/1/2004

Origin: Omaha, Nebraska

Most Famous Film(s): “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1951)

“On the Waterfront” (1954)

“The Godfather” (1972)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Inkspiration (@inkspirationapp)

Mae West

Birth: 8/17/1893

Death: 11/22/1980

Origin: Brooklyn, New York

Most Famous Film(s): “I’m No Angel” (1933)

“Go West Young Man” (1936)

“My Little Chickadee” (1940)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nikko Hurtado (@nikkohurtado)

Lauren Bacall

Birth: 9/16/1924

Death: 8/12/2014

Origin: New York City, New York

Most Famous Film(s): “To Have and Have Not” (1944)

“How to Marry a Millionaire” (1953)

“Designing Women” (1957)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by OSKAR NYBRÅTEN (@inkbyoskar)

Editor's Picks

Events
Met Gala 2025: The Best Tattooed Celebrity Looks

At the 2025 Met Gala, inked celebrities like Rihanna, Cardi B, and Lewis Hamilton proved tattoos are the ultimate high-fashion accessory.

Culture
May the 4th Ink Be With You: Best Star Wars Tattoos for Superfans

Celebrate Star Wars Day with tattoos that showcase the Force—from Darth Vader portraits to minimalist Baby Yoda ink. May the ink be with you!

Events
Diplo, Jelly Roll, Zach Bryan, and More: Highlights from Stagecoach 2025

Stagecoach 2025 delivered epic performances, unforgettable moments, and nonstop energy under the desert skies of Indio, California.

InkedMagCover