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!
