24 Icons of the ’60s and ’70s Younger Generations Need To Know About
The 1960s and 1970s were two of the most dynamic decades in American history. The Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, the Apollo moon landing, and the rise of punk rock were just a few of the events and cultural shifts that made these eras distinctly memorable.
The icons of the time ranged from fashion-forward stars to stalwart political figures, and all of them are worthy of remembrance. Yet too many people from younger generations have no clue who they are.
1: Andy Warhol
Artist, film director, and producer Andy Warhol changed the art scene with his iconic style. Dubbed the leader of the Pop Art Movement, Warhol rose to the spotlight in 1962 with his paintings of Campbell’s soup cans. He went on to paint a collection of Hollywood stars in violently bright colors, relying on a repetitive silkscreen technique.
2: Edie Sedgewick
“It Girl” Edie Sedgwick was a 1960s cultural icon thanks to Andy Warhol. Warhol cast her in several short films, which launched her short-lived and rather tragic career. While discussing the pair on his talk show in 1965, host Merv Griffin stated, “No party in New York is considered a success unless they are there.”
3: Robert Redford
Academy Award winner Robert Redford was in his prime during the late 1960s and ’70s. The Hollywood mainstay began on Broadway before doing a number of forgettable films in the early 60s. Then, in 1969 he starred alongside Paul Newman in the blockbuster hit Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.
4: Mia Farrow
From a quick marriage to Frank Sinatra to starring in Rosemary’s Baby, Mia Farrow kept her name relevant throughout the ’60s and ’70s. Though her long blonde hair may have been perfect for the early 60s flower child movement, it was her short, pixie cut by Vidal Sassoon that swept the nation.
5: John F. Kennedy
The 1960s kicked off with the election of President John F. Kennedy. Though his presidency was short-lived and destined for a tragic ending, Kennedy ignited a cultural firestorm. His courage, commitment to civil issues, and undeniable charisma made him a beloved figure.
6: Marilyn Monroe
Bombshell blonde Marilyn Monroe may have started her upward journey in the 1950s, but there’s no doubt the early 1960s were part of her heyday. Though she passed away before the decade could really get into full swing, Monroe still captures the hearts and minds of many Americans. According to YouGov polling, she remains the 47th most popular person in the world, ahead of icons like Vincent van Gogh and Robert De Niro.
7: Jackie Kennedy Onassis
When her husband was in the White House, America became enamored with Jackie Kennedy’s grace and style. After John F. Kennedy’s assassination, she continued to be a subject of public fascination and went on to fight for landmark preservation throughout her beloved New York City.
8: Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong holds the distinct title of being the first man to walk on the moon. As he stepped into space, he famously said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
9: Buzz Aldrin
Astronaut, engineer, and former fighter pilot, Buzz Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon, directly after Neil Armstrong. It took NASA a mere 11 years to send astronauts to the moon. The federal government established the organization in 1958, and astronauts like Aldrin stepped foot on lunar soil in 1969.
10: Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister who became the leader of the civil rights movement. Before his assassination in 1968, he led the influential March on Washington in 1963 and won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
11: The Beatles
Beatlemania influenced culture on a broad scale. From clothes to hairstyles, it was impossible to avoid the Beatles in the 1960s. On April 4, 1964, the band managed to hold all five of the top five Billboard chart spots — a feat never accomplished before or since.
12: David Bowie
Considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, David Bowie was a 1970s icon for more than just his musical prowess. His shifting identity and innovative style made him an admired figure by teens, artists, and just about everyone else.
13: Donna Summer
Some people call Donna Summer the Queen of Disco, and she certainly earned the title. The five-time Grammy winner had fans stretching from youthful clubbers to Elton John, who once said of Summer’s I Feel Love, “It sounded like no other record.”
14: Diane Keaton
Dianne Keaton is an accomplished film-star, to be sure. But, in the 70s, she also became a fashion icon. Keaton’s role as Annie Hall featured a menswear inspired wardrobe that became all the rage in the late 1970s.
15: Mick Jagger
No one has moves like Mick Jagger. Even today, the musician and stage star can put on a show, but in the ’70s, the lead singer of the Rolling Stones was a sight to behold. Not only did he co-write most of the group’s hit songs, but he also set the tone for the glam rock aesthetic with flamboyant outfits that somehow never looked out of place.
16: Margaret Thatcher
Dubbed the Iron Lady, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was a force to be reckoned with in the late 1970s. She became leader of the Conservative party in Britain in 1975 and was elected Prime Minister in 1979. Her uncompromising leadership style made her polarizing, but she certainly left her mark on culture, politics, and the world at large.
17: Jimi Hendrix
You might call Jimi Hendrix a creative genius. Credited with creating a new musical form that relied on feedback and controlled distortion, there’s no doubt he was more than your average musician.
18: Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa became a nun in 1937, but it wasn’t until 1965, when her order, the Missionaries of Charity, went international that she became a cultural icon. Her work with the poor quickly expanded from Kolkata, India, to New York City and beyond, reaching over 90 countries and earning her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
19: Sonny and Cher
Sonny Bono and Cher began their recording careers in the 1960s when they worked as background singers for Phil Spector. They quickly achieved their own notoriety and became cultural icons in the later ’60s and ’70s with hits like “I’ve Got You Babe.”
20: Billie Jean King
In 1973, at 29 years old, tennis-star Bille Jean King famously won the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match against Bobbie Riggs. King is considered to be one of the best tennis players of all time and also is seen as influential in the fight for gender equality.
21: Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to political office in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. During his short tenure, Milk helped pass legislation that prohibited anti-gay employment and housing discrimination in the city. Sadly, Milk was assassinated in 1978.
22: Richard Nixon
President Richard Nixon held the White House from 1969 to 1974 and quickly became one of the most well-known figures of the time. The Watergate Scandal, which led to his resignation, is still regularly referenced today.
23: Farrah Fawcett
Best known for playing one of Charlie’s Angels, Farrah Fawcett launched a cultural storm. Her signature hairstyle became a staple amongst women in the 1970s, and her timeless fashion sense continues to inspire today’s glamour icons.
24: Stevie Nicks
Described as the epitome of bohemian chic, Stevie Nicks was more than a beloved ’70s musician. Her entire style reflected the groovy, laid-back finery so essential to the decade.
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