Top 10 Infamous Actor Rivalries
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#10: Frank Sinatra vs. Marlon Brando
In 1955, these iconic performers co-starred in the musical “Guys and Dolls.” Sinatra relied on natural talent and practical technique, contrasting Brando’s innovative “method acting” approach. But “Ol’ Blue Yes” was no fan of what he called “that method crap,” and he reportedly wasn’t pleased that Brando had been receiving Hollywood’s best roles. This became a case of the old school clashing with the new, as Sinatra preferred one take during production while Brando preferred a more improvisational process. Unsurprisingly, the two never worked together again nor did they speak of each other.
#9: Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Sylvester Stallone
Top 10 Arnold Schwarzenegger Moments
A battle of alpha male action stars, this rivalry is steeped in pure bravado. With iconic '80s characters like Rocky, John Rambo and Cobra, Stallone represented the prototypical American tough guy. But the Austrian-American Arnold Schwarzenegger also established a loyal following with brawny characters like Conan, The Terminator and John Matrix. These two didn’t publicly feud, but they figuratively duked it out by continually one-upping each other on screen. Sly and Arnold would eventually appear together in “The Expendables” franchise, but many fans will somehow always correlate them with their box office battles from the 1980s.
#8: Vin Diesel vs. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
Top 10 Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Moments
“The Fast and the Furious” franchise has been wildly successful since it began, fueled by the cast’s personal chemistry and the characters drive to “smoke 'em”. In 2016, however, The Rock surprised everybody by using Instagram to call out a certain “candy ass” aka “The Fate of the Furious” co-star Vin Diesel. After production finished, both men danced around the issue, but the subtle jabs on social media didn’t go unnoticed by fans. By the film’s premiere, Vin and The Rock had fortunately resolved their issues. This much is clear: they know how to play the Hollywood game.
#7: Sophia Loren vs. Jayne Mansfield
These two sex symbols took different paths to Hollywood. For the Italian Sophia Loren, she first established herself in European cinema, while the American Jayne Mansfield began her career at UCLA. But this rivalry is not about acting; it’s about stealing the moment. In 1957, Hollywood personalities officially welcomed Loren, and Mansfield showed up last to the party, wearing quite the revealing dress. The moment was famously captured on camera, as Loren seems both amused and bothered by Jane’s physique. It’s not a traditional rivalry, but more of a Tinseltown feud, as the tension has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with ego.
#6: Betty White vs. Bea Arthur
Betty White Biography: 'The Golden Girls' to 'The Proposal'
Much like Sinatra and Brando, these two “Golden Girls” clashed mostly due to their differing philosophies. Born and raised on the east coast, Arthur received training at Virginia’s Blackstone College for Girls. In contrast, White graduated from Beverly Hills High School. So while they may have been peers in terms of age, in reality they came from different schools of thought. Bea famously stayed more reserved, while Betty was known for her peppy demeanor; a trait that ultimately kept her in the spotlight years later. The women stayed professional, however, and their collaboration lasted 180 episodes over seven seasons.
#5: Bill Murray vs. Chevy Chase
Top 10 Bill Murray Performances
When “Saturday Night Live” premiered in 1975, it featured Chevy Chase as an original cast member. But he left during Season 2, making room for a certain young comic and TV up and comer from Chicago. When Chase returned to host “SNL” in its third season he and Bill Murray traded verbal jabs, and even physical blows, shortly before the opening monologue. Murray later described the altercation as a “Hollywood fight,” suggesting that it was more about power dynamics rather than genuine animosity. By 1980, both men patched things up and starred together in one of the decade’s most iconic comedies, “Caddyshack.”
#4: Dean Martin vs. Jerry Lewis
James Dean: Biography of a Rebel Without A Cause
For a full decade, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis kept Americans laughing. In the years following World War II, Martin and Lewis established themselves as the era’s premiere comedy duo, and they even co-starred in some 17 films. But with Lewis gaining more attention as “The Stooge,” Martin continued to lose his luster, evidenced when “Look Magazine” cropped him out of a cover shot. Lewis forged ahead with box office success, while Martin became a defining member of Frank Sinatra’s “Rat Rack.” For 20 years, the Hollywood icons didn’t speak, until Ol’ Blue Eyes brought them back together in 1976, leading to a renewed friendship.
#3: Debbie Reynolds vs. Gene Kelly
In 1952, Kelly was already a Hollywood legend. But his co-star for the musical “Singin’ in the Rain” – Debbie Reynolds – had no dancing experience whatsoever. Reynolds was pushed to extremes during rehearsals, and her feet actually bled while filming the now iconic “Good Morning” sequence. Kelly reportedly showed little concern for his young co-star, and he, too, was battling his own health issues, even performing the title number with a 103-degree temperature. For Kelly, it was part of the job, but for a newcomer like Reynolds, she quickly learned that co-stars didn’t necessarily have to be friends.
#2: Bette Davis vs. Joan Crawford
In Hollywood’s Golden Age, image was everything, especially for aging starlets. When Davis and Crawford starred in the 1962 film “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?,” they needed each other for box office success, yet their egos led to a chaotic production and press tour. Crawford unsurprisingly wanted public approval, but it was Davis whom ultimately earned a Best Actress nomination. Even so, Crawford managed to steal the spotlight, as she reportedly contacted various nominees to appear on their behalf, and the eventual winner, Anne Bancroft, accepted the offer. In 2017, this classic rivalry was adapted for an FX series, appropriately titled “Feud.” Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Tyrese vs. James Franco Nick Nolte vs. Julia Roberts Vijay vs. Ajith Kumar
#1: Bruce Lee vs. Chuck Norris
Top 10 Bruce Lee Moments
This was a rivalry all about theoretical debates. The late Bruce Lee has become a mythical figure, while Chuck Norris has evolved into a living martial arts legend. Back in 1972, the two men fought each other in the martial arts classic “Way of the Dragon”, with Lee reigning supreme. After all, he wrote and directed it. Both Lee and Norris had previously spent years training with each other, and their battle at Rome’s Colosseum inspired discussions about who would have the upper hand in a real life fight; a question that would remain unanswered after Lee’s sudden death the following year.
