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

John Summers • Contributor

Jan 13, 2025 10:00 PM EST

There's something magical about seeing a side of famous people that feels completely unexpected—like a peek into a time before they became legends. This collection is a delightful time capsule, capturing moments of Baby Madonna (as an actual baby), a wrestling Neil DeGrasse Tyson from before he became everyone's favorite astrophysicist , a young and scrappy Robert De Niro, and even a ridiculously youthful, clean-shaven Jim Henson creating the first version of Kermit the Frog.

And if that's not enough to make you smile, we've also got Robert Downey Jr., casually taking his picture at the DMV like the rest of us mere mortals. These snapshots are like tiny windows into a different era, showing the human side of iconic figures before they became household names.

Whether you're here for the nostalgia or just curious to see how your favorite stars looked back in the day, these 32 wonderfully old photos are sure to make you grin—and maybe even say, "Wait, is that really them?"

01
Madonna

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That little baby is Madonna Louise Chiccone 1958
02
Tiny Arnold

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Wilt Chamberlain, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Andre the Giant on the set of Conan the Destroyer, 1983. He looks like a kid next to them
03
Andre the Giant

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This is Andre the Giant age 19! at a Paris fashion exhibition, 1966.
04
Robert Downey Jr.

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Tony Stark taking his picture at the DMV
05
Tim Curry and Little Nell

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Tim Curry and Nell Campbell during a break while filming Rocky Horror Picture Show,1975.
06
Raquel Welch

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Raquel Welch in the make up room on the set of One Million Years BC, 1967.
07
Muhammad Ali

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Muhammad Ali skiing (well, sort of) at Mount Snow, Vermont, 1970.
08
We love Lucy

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Lucille Ball, early 1940s, when she was still blonde.
09
Most Illogical

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Leonard Nimoy and son Adam surfing in the early 70s.
10
Francis Ford Coppola

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Francis Ford Coppola with his mother Italia Coppola dressed as her son for some reason, on the set of The Godfather III, 1973.
11
Chuck Norris

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Chuck Norris pushing the earth down
12
Go on... Guess!

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Wrong. It's a very young Robert DeNiro!
13
Drew Barrymore

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A young Drew Barrymore being very bored by al the adults in the room, 1983.
14
Taking a Break

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Marilyn Monroe enjoying a coke while Jane Russell checks her makeup during a break on the set of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1953.
15
Madeline Kahn

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Madeline Kahn, 1967, age 25. Drop dead bombshell.
16
Too cool for school

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Angelica Huston and Liza Minelli, 1975.
17
Steven Seagal

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Steven Seagal before his hair was under siege
18
Your favorite astrophysicist

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Neil DeGrasse Tyson in his college wrestling days.
19
Debbie Reynolds and Leslie Nielsen

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Look! it's lieutenant Frank Drebin and Princess Leia's Mom!
20
Prince Charles and Princess Diana

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On vacation in 1982. Most inappropriate
21
Martin Short

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Tiny Martin Short with his parents during a lakeside beach vacation.
22
Dwayne "The Pebble" Johnson

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Look at tiny Dwayne The Rock Johnson, junior, with Rocky Johnson, senior, also awesome pro-wrestler.
23
Norma Jean Baker

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12 year old Norma Jean Baker, aka Marilyn Monroe.
24
Slash

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Baby Slash (Saul Hudson) with his parents Ola and Anthony Hudson.
25
David Letterman

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David Letterman at his job stocking groceries.
26
Jada Pinkett Smith and Tupac Shakur

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Jada Pinkett (now Smith) and Tupac Shakur, Baltimore School for the Arts High School. Late 80s
27
Alan Rickman

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Young Alan Rickman, Latymer Upper School
28
Sigourney Weaver

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Sigourney Weaver sampling a hot dog outside of Tail of the Pup, a famous hot dog joint in LA, 1983.
29
Jim Henson

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A very, VERY young and un-bearded Jim Henson working on the first version of Kermit, 1970-71ish.
30
Steve Buscemi

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Steve Buscemi high school yearbook photo, 1975.
31
What a lovely little girl

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Just kidding, That's Conan O'Brien's school photo
32
Once upon a time in Hollywood

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Quentin Tarantino 1973.