The ’90s were a decade full of iconic movies and television shows. Even more importantly, this decade brought forth some of the most crush-worthy male celebrities ever. Whether their faces were plastered on your bedroom walls or were listed when you played M.A.S.H. with your friends, these ’90s heartthrobs had us swooning. Check out how your favorite ’90s crushes look today.
Ryan Phillippe
While the storyline of the film Cruel Intentions was pretty jaw-dropping, the real focus of the movie was on the actor Ryan Phillippe.
Though he had starred in the teen horror movie, I Know What You Did Last Summer, his role as Sebastian in the twisted drama Cruel Intentions really helped establish him as one of the biggest heartthrobs of the ’90s. Phillippe has continued acting and was most recently seen in the USA Network drama Shooter and ABC’s Big Sky.
Brendan Fraser
No discussion about ’90s heartthrobs would be complete without the mention of actor Brendan Fraser. Blessed with both comedic timing and good looks, Fraser appeared in almost every cinema genre. From powerful dramas like School Ties to family films like George of the Jungle and The Mummy.
After a long hiatus, Fraser returned to acting in Doom Patrol and most recently, the crime film No Sudden Move. His return to Hollywood has been dubbed the “Brenaissance.”
Nick Carter
During the late 1990s, the Backstreet Boys were one of the biggest music groups in the world. While fans typically had a favorite band member, Nick Carter was one of the most popular choices when it came to boy-bander crushes. Aside from being a member of the Backstreet Boys, Carter also released three solo albums including an album with a fellow ’90s heartthrob, Jordan Knight.
In recent years, Carter has made various appearances on reality televisions. Most recently, he appeared on the fourth season of The Masked Singer.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar
While the ’90s brought us many sitcoms, one of the most memorable shows was the teen series Saved by the Bell. One of the show’s stars, Mark-Paul Gosselaar shot to stardom as high schooler Zack Morris. After the show ended in 1993, Gosselaar appeared in a variety of film and television roles.
He recently appeared in the ABC comedy Mixed-ish and Black-ish. In 2020, he reunited with his Saved by the Bell costars for a revival of the classic sitcom.
Devon Sawa
Devon Sawa quickly became a household name during the ’90s thanks to films like Casper, Wild America, and Idle Hands. Not only did Sawa become one of the biggest actors in that decade, but his fame extended well into the early 2000s where he starred in memorable films such as the horror movie Final Destination.
Sawa has continued to work steadily in television and film. In 2021, Sawa returned to his horror movie roots with a starring role in the television series Chucky.
Skeet Ulrich
The 1990s may have offered a variety of different types of heartthrobs for every taste but when it came to the quintessential bad boy of the ’90s, the first name that comes to mind is Skeet Ulrich. After appearing in several films as an extra, Ulrich became a bonafide bad boy crush in the 1990s cult horror film, The Craft.
Ulrich then appeared in the classic horror slasher film Scream. Ulrich has continued to act and most recently appeared in The CW’s teen drama Riverdale as well as voicing a character on Robot Chicken.
Johnny Depp
Though Johnny Depp landed his starring role on the television series 21 Jump Street in the late 80s, his popularity and reputation as a Hollywood heartthrob only grew in the 1990s. Depp began exploring darker characters in films such as Edward Scissorhands, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, and Cry-Baby.
Depp’s talent and fan base have only grown with the decades. Today, thanks to roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and other big-budget films, Depp is one of the biggest film stars in the world.
Rider Strong
Rider Strong made a name for himself in the ’90s with a starring role in the popular series Boy Meets World. On the show, Strong played Shawn Hunter, the show’s rebellious and often troubled best friend of the show’s protagonist, Cory Matthews.
By 2000, Strong had moved past sitcoms and explored more adult material with the horror film Cabin Fever in the early 2000s as well as appearances in various independent films. In 2014, he reprised his role as Shawn Hunter in the Girl Meets World series.
Kyle MacLachlan
Kyle MacLachlan became an unexpected heartthrob on the early ’90s cult-favorite, Twin Peaks. On the show, MacLachlan played special agent Dale Cooper, a mysterious special FBI agent in the small town of Twin Peaks, Washington. MacLachlan quickly captured the attention of audiences with his strong jawline and sharp suits.
Following Twin Peaks, MacLachlan appeared in another cult classic, Showgirls. In recent years, MacLachlan has appeared in various popular shows such as Portlandia and a limited edition revival of Twin Peaks. MacLachlan will soon appear in Peacock’s Joe Exotic.
Fabio
From television commercials to the aisles of your favorite bookstore, it was hard to avoid seeing Fabio during the early ’90s. The Italian model and actor gained notoriety by gracing the covers of many romance novels.
In addition to starring in various fashion campaigns and commercials, Fabio even dabbled in writing. These days, Fabio has kept to his strict workout regime. He recently released a line of male grooming products.
David Hasselhoff
Though he had appeared in several television shows, actor David Hasselhoff gained international attention as the star of Knight Rider in the ’80s. By the early ’90s, he had joined another show which propelled him to the top of Hollywood’s list of heartthrobs — Baywatch.
Hasselhoff’s presence in the show helped make him one of the most famous television stars in the world. These days, Hasselhoff is getting in touch with his German heritage. The actor is expected to appear on a German television series called Ze Network.
Dean Cain
After his promising football career promptly ended following an injury, Dean Cain slipped on another uniform — Superman. After appearing in various television shows, Cain was offered the role of the famous superhero on the popular television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.
His role, and masculine look, gained him a large following. In recent years, Cain has continued acting in several faith-based productions. He has also dabbled in directing with his debut film, Little Angels.
LL Cool J
Between his smooth lyrics and washboard abs, it’s no wonder that LL Cool J was at the top of the list of ’90s heartthrobs. During the ’90s, the rapper dominated the hip hop charts with songs like “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “Doin’ It”. After catching the acting bug, he appeared in several movies including Any Given Sunday and S.W.A.T.
These days, he can be seen on the long-running crime drama, NCIS: Los Angeles as Special Agent Sam Hanna. He also hosts the reality music competition show, Lip Sync Battle.
Chris O’ Donnell
With roles in films like School Ties and Scent of a Woman, Chris O’Donnell was one of Hollywood’s most promising young actors. With his boyish smile and blue eyes, the actor quickly became one of the biggest heartthrobs of the ’90s.
After several disappointing film roles, O’Donnell took a brief break from show business. In recent years, he has appeared on the CBS crime drama, NCIS: Los Angeles and American Dad!
Ryan Merriman
During the late ’90s, it was hard to turn on the Disney Channel and not see Ryan Merriman. The actor appeared in several made-for-television movies including Smart House and later, The Luck of the Irish.
Merriman continued to act, appearing in films such as The Deep End of the Ocean and Just Looking. In recent years, Merriman has made appearances in Pretty Little Liars and most recently in the sci-fi/action television series, Robot Riot.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
No list of ’90s heartthrobs would be complete without the addition of Jonathan Taylor Thomas. During the ’90s, few could say that they didn’t have at least one J.T.T. poster hanging on their bedroom wall.
The actor rose to fame on the ABC sitcom, Home Improvement, but later went on to voice Simba in The Lion King. After making a brief appearance on the ABC sitcom Last Man Standing, Thomas has chosen to stay out of the spotlight.
Christian Slater
While the ’90s had its fair share of Hollywood bad boys, no one was as notorious as actor Christian Slater. Following the success of his dark teen drama Heathers, Slater went on to appear in popular films such as Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, True Romance, and Interview With the Vampire.
These days, Slater is best known for his critically acclaimed performances on the small screen such as in Mr. Robot, Dirty John, and Dr. Death.
Jason Priestley
During the early ’90s, there was one zip code that everyone knew by heart — Beverly Hills, 90210. School hunk and Peach Pit patron Jason Priestley quickly became one of the show’s biggest stars. After reining as one of the biggest teen idols, Priestly departed the show in 1998.
Since then, he has returned to his Canadian roots with appearances in the Canadian sitcom Raising Expectations and the dramedy, Private Eyes.
Val Kilmer
Though Kilmer had made a name for himself with appearances in comedic films and theater productions in the ’80s, his status as a leading man in Hollywood was solidified in the ’90s. Kilmer’s roles in films like The Doors, Tombstone, and Heat made him one of the biggest stars of the decade.
While no longer the leading man, Kilmer has continued to appear in a variety of film and television roles. Kilmer recently made headlines when his health struggles were documented in the powerful biographical documentary, Val.
Joshua Jackson
Though Joshua Jackson didn’t look like a traditional Hollywood heartthrob, his role as Pacey Witter in the classic teen drama, Dawson’s Creek, helped make him one of television’s most memorable romantic leads.
After becoming a teen idol, Jackson appeared in several darker films such as Cruel Intentions and The Skulls. Jackson has continued working in a variety of film and television roles and was most recently seen in the shows Little Fires Everywhere and Dr. Death.
Erik von Detten
Like many stars of the ’90s, von Betten got his start on soap operas. He later appeared in several Disney Channel productions including Brink! and So Weird. Von Detten continued acting and capturing hearts with roles in The Princess Diaries and Escape to Witch Mountain.
After years of working in show business, von Detten decided to essentially walk away from Hollywood. These days, von Detten has put his teen crush past behind him and now works at a commodities brokerage firm in Los Angeles.
John Stamos
Though John Stamos got his Hollywood break on the long-running soap opera General Hospital, he quickly soared to the top of Hollywood’s television crushes while playing Jesse on Full House.
Fans adored Stamos as the mullet-rocking “cool” uncle of the Tanner family. Following his success on the show, Stamos appeared in a variety of other television shows including ER and the Lifetime/Netflix thriller, You. Currently, Stamos plays a basketball coach on the Disney+ show, Big Shot.
Leonardo DiCaprio
While Leonardo DiCaprio had appeared in several critically acclaimed films such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Basketball Diaries, and Romeo + Juliet, the actor didn’t achieve Hollywood heartthrob status until his role as Jack Dawson in the blockbuster hit, Titanic.
Following the aptly named “Leo-Mania” of the ’90s, DiCaprio has become one of the most accomplished actors in the film industry. In addition to producing, and raising awareness for various environmental issues, DiCaprio has continued acting. He was most recently seen in the Netflix comedy, Don’t Look Up.
Freddie Prinze Jr.
Freddie Prinze Jr. was the undisputed king of the teen movie during the ’90s and early 2000s. His roles in I Know What You Did Last Summer and She’s All That quickly catapulted him to Hollywood heartthrob status.
After several appearances in television shows like Friends and Boston Legal, the actor’s career took an unexpected turn when he became involved in the world of professional wrestling. Prinze Jr. recently launched a wrestling news-centered podcast called WWFreddie-Wrestling With Freddie.
Usher
During the ’90s, Usher released several albums and chart-topping singles. The singer soon became known for his abs as much as his smooth R&B sound, launching his reputation as one of the biggest heartthrobs in the music industry.
Since his hits “Nice & Slow” and “You Make Me Wanna…”, Usher has carved out an extremely successful career that goes beyond just music. He has starred in several films and has served as an advisor on the music-reality competition show, The Voice. He recently began a residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
Mario Lopez
With his dimples and charismatic personality, it’s no surprise that Mario Lopez became the ultimate teen crush during the ’90s. The actor caught his big break when he was cast as school jock A.C. Slater on the popular sitcom, Saved by the Bell.
After a variety of appearances on television shows, Lopez found his niche as the host of his own radio show On With Mario Lopez and as host for the entertainment news show, Access Hollywood.
