40 Wonderfully Old Photos of Famous People From Back in the Day

John Summers • Contributor

Nov 9, 2024 11:00 PM EST

Time stops for no one, not even for the rich and famous. One day you are a teenager goofing around in front of the camera in your parents living room, and the next moment you are one of the richest people on earth. One second you are nervous about taking your yearbook photo and the next you have become a rock and roll legend. It's fun to look back at old pictures of famous people and see them as they were before their life had become something else entirely.

A young Martha Stewart posing for a modeling gig, not aware of the crazy twists and turns her life is going to have in the next couple of years or a 10 year old Tom Hanks posing for a school photo, oblivious to the exciting journey his life is about to take him on. We just wonder why we never knew that Leonardo DiCaprio was a breakdance champion.

01
Steve Buscemi

via BrainTaffy

A young Steve Buscemi performing with his band The Pawns of Love at Gerdes Folk City in the 80s.
02
Notorious B.I.G after graduating kindergarten

via BrainTaffy
03
Harrison Ford

via BrainTaffy

Working out to get ripped for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, 1984.
04
Gwen-Stefani

via BrainTaffy

8th grader Gwen-Stefani with her brother Eric Stefani after getting autographs from the members of the band Madness.
05
14 year old Bryan Cranston with the family dog, 1970.

via BrainTaffy
06
Creed Bratton

via BrainTaffy

Creed Bratton of Office fame back in the 1960s as lead guitarist for the rock band The Grass Roots
07
Willie Nelson

via BrainTaffy

Visiting the White House where he smoked weed on roof with then-President Jimmy-Carters son Chip Carter.
08
Prince Rogers Nelson as an adorable youngster.

via BrainTaffy
09
Patrick Sawyze, Scott Baio, Maureen McCormick, Ron Palillo and Greg Bradford

via BrainTaffy

On the set of Skatetown-U.S.A., 1979.
10
Princess Diana and Young Harry

via BrainTaffy

Princess Diana corrals a young Prince Harry as they arrive for a school nativity play.
11
Lon Chaney Jr.

via BrainTaffy

Chilling with his German Shepherd Moose during a break in filming on the set of Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, 1943.
12
Jimi Hendrix goofing around in his kitchen in 1969.

via BrainTaffy
13
Janet Leigh with her daughter Jamie Lee Curtis

via BrainTaffy
14
Tiny Tom Hanks

via BrainTaffy
15
Bruce Willis

via BrainTaffy

In his Penns Grove High School Yearbook, 1973.
16
Danny Trejo

via BrainTaffy

Working out at Muscle Beach in Venice Beach, 1995. He was 51 years old here.
17
Farrokh Bulsara

via BrainTaffy

aka Freddie Mercury
18
Adam West

via BrainTaffy

aka Bruce Wayne
19
Jason Statham

via BrainTaffy

When he was a member of Britain's National Diving Squad, 1990.
20
O'Shea Jackson Sr.

via BrainTaffy

You might know as Ice Cube, senior in high school yearbook, 1987
21
Martha Stewart

via BrainTaffy

In her early 20s, when she was a fashion model.
22
A very young Carrie Fisher showing off her dollhouse.

via BrainTaffy
23
Matthew McConaughey

via BrainTaffy

A young Matthew McConaughey, runner up in the Little Mr. Texas contest, just 8 years old.
24
Terry Crews

via BrainTaffy

When he played basketball in high school, 1986.
25
Mel Brooks

via BrainTaffy

When he was a combat engineer disarming land mines during World War II
26
A very wee Barack Obama practicing his swing.

via BrainTaffy
27
Kate McKinnon

via BrainTaffy

Wee young Kate McKinnon dressed up as Dana Scully of the X-Files for Halloween.
28
Bruce Springsteen

via BrainTaffy

with his dad Douglas Frederick Springsteen in Mexico, 1972.
29
Stan Lee

via BrainTaffy

During his time in the U. S. Army Signal Corps during World War 2
30
Vin Diesel stylin'.

via BrainTaffy
31
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, 1968.

via BrainTaffy
32
Warwick Davis

via BrainTaffy

During a break in filming Return of the Jedi, 1983.
33
Carrie Fisher

via BrainTaffy

What a legend!
34
Leonardo DiCaprio

via BrainTaffy

10 year old Leonardo DiCaprio when he won second place in the Oer Erckenschwick breakdancing competition in Germany, 1984.
35
A rare photo of Stevie Wonder without his shades.

via BrainTaffy
36
Tony Hawk practicing in his garage in the 80s.

via BrainTaffy
37
Young Canadian darling Ryan Reynolds with his puppy, 1996.

via BrainTaffy
38
The incomparable Nick Offerman, 1994.

via BrainTaffy
39
Wilt Chamberlain in high school in the 50s

via BrainTaffy
40
Arnold Schwarzenegger

via BrainTaffy

Taking ballet lessons from dancer Marianne Claire to perfect his body building competition posing skills.