These Were The Biggest Teen Idols of the 50s, 60s, and 70s

Claim to Fame: “Dream Lover” (1960)
Peak Decade: 1960s
Net Worth: $5 million*

Bobby Darin had the looks to make the girls swoon and the talent to keep the fellas tuned in. Interestingly, the New York City native first made a name for himself in the business as a songwriter for star Connie Francis. When his own career took off, Darin became an international name with hits like “Dream Lover,” “Mack the Knife,” and “Beyond the Sea.” 

Bobby Darin @britannica.com/Pinterest

During the ‘50s, Bobby Darin was one of the most famous faces in the world. However, his career declined when he found out that his sister was actually his mother. Darin sadly passed away in 1973 after contracting sepsis from a dental appointment. 

Claim to Fame: “It’s My Party” (1963)
Peak Decade: 1960s
Net Worth: $5 million*

Lesley Gore catapulted to fame when she was just 16 years old, after recording the hit single “It’s My Party.” She had the kind of voice, vibe, and attitude that really spoke to music fans of the decade, although she was more popular in the US than in other territories.

Lesley Gore @Closer Weekly/Pinterest

Gore continued to enjoy commercial success for over 20 years before she turned to composing. The star worked on the soundtracks to films like Fame and Grace of my Heart. Lesley came out as gay later in life, stating in a 2005 interview she had been in a happy relationship with jewelry designer Lois Sassoon for over 20 years. Gore passed away in 2015 after battling lung cancer. 

Claim to Fame: “Lonely Boy” (1959)
Peak Decade: 1950s
Net Worth: $80 million*

You don’t get one of Canada’s highest honors by twiddling your thumbs. Paul Anka OC is one of the seminal songwriters of his time, releasing hits like “Lonely Boy” and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.” The Ottawa-born star got his big break from his uncle, who lent him $100 to record his first single at 14. 

Paul Anka @Getty Images/Pinterest

With his dark tresses and full lips, Anka was the poster boy of the ‘50s. Girls wanted to date him, guys wanted to be him. After some time out of the limelight, Anka claimed that Michael Jackson’s 2009 hit “This Is It” was co-written by him. Jackson eventually relented and paid Anka 50% of the royalties. The singer married his personal trainer Anna Aberg in 2008. 

Claim to Fame: Lead singer of The Monkees
Peak Decade: 1960s
Net Worth: $5 million*

Manchester-born Davy Jones is best known as the lead singer of The Monkees, but he actually started out as an actor. His cheeky demeanor and boyish good looks helped him land the role of the Artful Dodger in the West End musical Oliver! In the early ‘60s. It wasn’t until Jones saw The Beatles performing that he decided he wanted to be a musician. 

Davy Jones @𝕄𝕣. ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕒𝕝/Pinterest

 His early solo effort was a modest success, but when he joined The Monkees everything changed. Hits like “Daydream Believer” and “I Wanna Be Free” introduced Jones to a new audience. After the band broke up in 1971, Jones continued to act ad-hoc up until his passing from a severe heart attack in 2012. 

Claim to Fame: “Poor Little Fool” (1958)
Peak Decade: 1950s
Net Worth: $500,000

Ricky Nelson famously said, “You can’t please everyone so you gotta please yourself.” Although he would grow up to be a handsome man with enormous star power, Nelson cut his teeth as a child actor starring with his family in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Nelson could do it all. He could sing, he could dance, and he could act. 

Ricky Nelson @Ste/Pinterest

As the decades ticked by, Nelson’s popularity waned as the youth of America turned to different idols to entertain them. British imports like the Rolling Stones knocked family-friendly crooners like Nelson out of the spotlight. Nelson met a tragic end when his plane crashed during his comeback tour in 1985. 

Claim to Fame: “Wild One” (1960)
Peak Decade: 1960s
Net Worth: $10 million*

Ask any woman that grew up in the ‘60s who Bobby Rydell is and you’ll likely be met with a wan stare and tales of being weak at the knees over the Philadelphia singer. Rydell first came to prominence as a cast member of Paul Whiteman’s TV Teen Club in the ‘50s. After remaining on the series for many years, Rydell decided it was time for a change.

Bobby Rydell @Minkshmink/Pinterest

When he took to the music business his career wasn’t an instant hit. However, by 1960 things took a turn for the better. His infamy led producers to cast him in the uber-successful movie version of Bye Bye Birdie in 1963. Rydell’s later years have been plagued by health problems, but despite undergoing a liver and kidney transplant in 2012, he continues to perform across the world. 

Claim to Fame: The Donna Reed Show (1958-63)
Peak Decade: 1950s/1960s
Net Worth: $1.5 million*

Being a child star isn’t always easy, but Shelley Fabares made the best out of it. Starting her career at just 10 years old, the young star made her way onto the popular family sitcom The Donna Reed Show in the late ‘50s. Teen audiences adored her, prompting her to dabble in music, despite admitting herself that she “never could sing.” 

Shelley Fabares @Kev/Pinterest

Fabares married infamous producer Lou Adler in 1964, but the union was short-lived. Over the years the actress has continued to star in numerous TV shows such as Coach and also produced the Screen Actors Guild Awards from 2004-2011. 

Claim to Fame: American Bandstand
Peak Decade: 1950s/1960s
Net Worth: $25 million*

For young musicians hoping to make it into the business, landing a spot on American Bandstand was like being handed a golden ticket. For Fabian Forte, it was the making of his career. As a young man, Forte didn’t even consider being a singer. It was only when Chancellor Records owner Bob Marcucci spotted him that he began to think about it. 

Fabian Forte @Vintage Everyday/Pinterest

Forte initially turned Marcucci down, but eventually, he relented. “I didn’t know what I was doing,” he later recalled. “I really felt like a fish out of water.” He would go on to have hits like “Tiger” and “Turn Me Loose.” After a successful acting stint, Fabian would largely retire from the spotlight in the late ‘90s. 

Claim to Fame: Rebel Without A Cause (1956)
Peak Decade: 1950s
Net Worth: $2 million*

James Dean may have only tasted fame for a brief time, but the mark he left on the world is unmistakable. The young hopeful was an extra in a handful of movies before he finally got his big break when he was accepted into the prestigious Actors Studio to study in the early ‘50s. When audiences got a true taste of his talent in 1953’s East of Eden, he could do no wrong. 
His unconventional gentle yet dangerous demeanor made Rebel Without A Cause a huge feat in 1955, but the actor would never enjoy its success. An avid race car driver in his spare time, Dean would perish in a high-speed crash before the movie was even edited, aged just 24.

James Dean @harpersbazaar.com/Pinterest

Claim to Fame: Battle Cry (1955)
Peak Decade: 1950s
Net Worth: $10 million*

Tab Hunter always knew that he wanted to be on the silver screen. When he was serving in the United States Coast Guard, his comrades dubbed him “Hollywood” as all he ever talked about were movies. Little did they know that Hunter would go on to be one of the biggest stars of his time. In 1956, he received a whopping 62,000 valentines. 

Tab Hunter /Pinterest

After a slew of hit movies under a Warner Bros. contract in the ‘50s, Hunter went on to have brief success as a singer. By the 1970s parts had begun to thin out, thanks in large to rumors about Hunter’s romantic preferences. In 1983, he began a relationship with movie producer Allan Glasser that would last up Hunter’s passing in 2018. 

Claim to Fame: “Who’s Sorry Now?” (1958)
Peak Decade: 1960s
Net Worth: $19 million*

By the late ‘50s, New Jersey native Connie Francis had almost given up any hope of having a successful music career. All the songs she had recorded and released had flopped. When she did a cover of “Who’s Sorry Now?” at her father’s request, she thought it would do the same. It didn’t. The song went to the top of the charts and catapulted her to fame. 

Connie Francis @dailymail.co.uk/Pinterest

The ‘60s were more fruitful for the singer who gained international success, but the ‘70s weren’t kind to Francis. She was viciously attacked while staying in a hotel, leading to a period of depression. The star rallied and overcame many personal tragedies throughout the next decade. Now 81, Francis continues to perform when she can. 

Claim to Fame: Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Peak Decade: 1960s
Net Worth: $50 million* 

Sometimes actors dabble in other fields, but Paul Newman took it to the next level. Although he conquered the silver screen with multiple titles in the ‘60s like Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and The Hustler, Newman later made a name for himself as a race car driver. 

Paul Newman @Vintage Everyday/Pinterest

Newman was no novice either, going on to win several titles. In 2007 he retired from acting altogether, saying, “You start to lose your memory, you start to lose your confidence, you start to lose your invention. So I think that’s pretty much a closed book for me.” The actor passed away in 2008 aged 83 after a long battle with lung cancer. 

Claim to Fame: “Paper Roses” (1973)
Peak Decade: 1970s
Net Worth: $20 million* 

Contrary to popular belief, not every famous Osmond was part of the family band. Marie Osmond broke out on her own as a country music singer in the ‘70s. Her most famous hit was a cover of Anita Bryant’s “Paper Roses.” 

Marie Osmond @Vintage Everyday/Pinterest

She later hosted her own show alongside her teen idol brother, Donny. Over the years, Marie left her singing career behind and became more of a TV personality, starring as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. In 2019, she joined the panel of popular daytime chat show The Talk, alongside Eve, Sharon Osbourne, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Sheryl Underwood. 

Claim to Fame: “Run to Him” (1961)
Peak Decade: 1960s
Net Worth: $10 million*

Bobby Vee seemed to come out of nowhere with his hit single “Rubber Ball” in 1961. The singer had been chipping away at his career for a few years, but it was that song that made him an international star. He was especially successful in the UK throughout the ‘60s as he had ten number one hits. 

Bobby Vee @Alain Robert/Pinterest

The singer was great friends with Bob Dylan, whom Vee met when Dylan was still performing under his real name, Robert Zimmerman. In his later years, Bobby kept touring and playing his hits to devoted fans until he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2011. The illness eventually claimed his life in 2016.