American icons in the modern age: Artist transforms historical legends into contemporary figures in stunning images – so can YOU guess who they are?
- The images below show what some of your favorite Hollywood A-listers, athletes and humanitarians would have looked like today at the age of their most iconic photos
- Photographer, Alper Yesiltas, took old photos of people nearly everyone would recognize and digitalized their faces in a ‘photorealistic’ way to show you what they would look like if they were still alive today
- The names of people who changed the world are forever burned in the back of your brain, but can you recognize the most famous people based on their story alone?
Their names and stories will forever remain in the history books.
These icons of politics, sports, movies, and mechanical innovation forever changed the faces of their industries – but when it comes to their own faces – would you recognize these cultural legends if they were alive in the modern age?
Artist and photographer, Alper Yesiltas, who based in Istanbul, has transformed images of some of America’s most well-known figures, from sports stars to founding fathers, digitizing their portraits in a ‘photorealistic’ way to show you what they would look like if they were still alive today.
Alper transformed iconic photos of the stars you know and love and re-constructed their signature looks, the composition of the photo and lastly, edited the photo to turn these icons into modernized stars who look like they just stepped into 2022.
The images below show what some of your favorite Hollywood A-listers, athletes and humanitarians would have looked like today at the age of their most iconic photos.
Their names may hold a special place in your heart, but can you recognize these faces based on what they would look like today?
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1. The doomed star whose murder left Hollywood in a frantic frenzy
A model and actress who was tragically murdered along with her unborn baby. Her death sparked many of Hollywood’s A-listers to fear for their own lives while casting a shadow of the counterculture that fueled the crazed killers
A model and actress who was tragically murdered along with her unborn baby.
Her death sparked many of Hollywood’s A-listers to fear for their own lives while casting a shadow of the counterculture that fueled the crazed killers. The star’s murder caused a frenzy in Los Angeles due to its horrific nature.
The model soon became the face of victim’s rights as her death transfixed Hollywood.
2. The mother of the civil rights movement
Dubbed the mother of the civil rights movement, this woman sparked a fight like no other after she played a pivotal role in the fight for equal treatment and rights for all races
Dubbed the mother of the civil rights movement, this woman sparked a fight like no other after she played a pivotal role in the fight for equal treatment and rights for all races.
The African American seamstress who uttered the most famous ‘no’ in history, was sent to jail and given a fine for defying the laws that snubbed racial equality. Her action invigorated the struggle for racial equality and helped launch the modern civil rights movement into full gear.
3. The woman behind the on-screen smolder that took over Hollywood
An iconic actress whose proactive glamour earned her stardom in the golden age of Hollywood. This Jewish star dominated the screen and reached new levels of fame
An iconic actress whose proactive glamour earned her stardom in the golden age of Hollywood. This Jewish star dominated the screen and reached new levels of fame. She made her Hollywood debut in 1944 at only 19 years old and her on-screen smolder soon became her signature look.
Starring in one Hollywood’s classic movies with her soon-to-be husband as her co-star, the duo conquered both film and reality. Her ineffable power to dominate the screen with her looks along with her personality that demanded authority caught the attention of stars and fans alike, making her one of Hollywood’s finest.
4. The smooth-moving star who brought dancing to the common man
Known for his energetic and athletic dancing style, this man was a triple threat like no other. He famously starred in, choreographed and co-directed some of the greatest musical films of the 1940s and 1950s
Known for his energetic and athletic dancing style, this man was a triple threat like no other. He famously starred in, choreographed and co-directed some of the greatest musical films of the 1940s and 1950s. The American actor, dancer, singer, filmmaker, and choreographer transformed Hollywood musicals.
He is credited with nearly single-handedly turning the ballet form into a dance that was commercially acceptable to film audiences.
Along with transforming and boldly blending dancing styles to create a perfect and purely visual story, he changed American’s public perception of male dancers after starring in what’s said to be one of the best dance films ever created.
5. The overly-confident explorer
An Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. Determined to find a direct water route west from Europe to Asia, he came across the Americas and was then credited with its discovery
An Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. Determined to find a direct water route west from Europe to Asia, he came across the Americas and was then credited with its discovery.
His plan to travel west from Europe to Asia was presented to officials in both Portugal and England, however he was denied. In 1492, he reached the Spanish monarchs, who funded his voyage. Although the purpose of his voyage was to find a passage way to Asia by sailing west, he never accomplished it. Despite never achieving what he set out to do, the voyager explored the Caribbean and areas in Central and South America.
6. A Hollywood icon in silent films
An enigma on and off screen, this Hollywood actress was famous for her roles in both silent and sound films prior to World War II
An enigma on and off screen, this Hollywood actress was famous for her roles in both silent and sound films prior to World War II. One of the biggest box-office draws of the century, this Swedish actress came to America in 1925 and quickly captured the world with her remarkable beauty and irresistible allure.
Upon her Hollywood arrival, she became one of silent film’s most popular actresses. She was known for her portrayals of tragic characters and somber persona. She frequently quipped back at reporters and paparazzi who begged to know more about her life outside of the camera. She made a practice of shunning reporters, premieres and fan mail and most notably even told a reporter, ‘I want to be alone.’
7. The man who took the country from agriculture to the forefront of industry
An American industrialist, businessman and chief developer of the assembly line technique of mass production
An American industrialist, businessman and chief developer of the assembly line technique of mass production. This man forever changed the way automobiles were manufactured by revolutionizing factory production.
The technological genius was also known as the creative force behind an industry that permanently transformed the country from an agriculture America to an industrial one and marked the start of a new chapter of economic and social success.
8. The epitome of Hollywood chic
Know as the epitome of Hollywood chic, this British-actress and fashion icon was known for her radiant beauty, style and elegance
Know as the epitome of Hollywood chic, this British actress and fashion icon was known for her radiant beauty, style and elegance. The actress and humanitarian set new fashion standards as she starred in classic Hollywood films in the 1960s.
She captured he hearts of audiences as they were enchanted by her combination of beauty, elegance and grace and is one of the few actresses to ever win an an Emmy, Tony, Grammy and Academy Award. In a string of films she became known as the fashion and Hollywood It-girl who made pearls a staple fashion piece.
9. A founding father worth $100
One of the leading figures of American history, this man was a statesman, author, publisher, scientist, inventor and diplomat
One of the leading figures of American history, this man was a statesman, author, publisher, scientist, inventor and diplomat. He served in the continental congress during the American Revolution and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. He also negotiated the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War.
The man who excelled at public service also acted as a delegate to the convention that produced the US Constitution. You can even find the founding father on one of your bills.
10. Record-breaking pilot whose flight turned deadly
The first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. This American aviation pioneer and writer became the world’s most famous missing person
The first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. This American aviation pioneer and writer became the world’s most famous missing person. She set many flying records and was the first person to fly over both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.
The pilot championed the advancement of women in aviation and was determined to become the first person to circumnavigate the earth around the equator, which resulted in her disappearance.
11. The grand slam of athletes
An American professional baseball player whose career spanned over 22 seasons, from 1914 to 1935, in Major League Baseball
An American professional baseball player whose career spanned over 22 seasons, from 1914 to 1935, in Major League Baseball. Known as one of the greatest baseball players in history, this New York Yankees player was a right fielder.
Mostly due to his home runs between 1919 and 1935, which totaled in at 714, he quickly became one of America’s most loved and celebrated athletes. He also set the World Series record for consecutive scoreless innings.
12. A blind and deaf hero
An American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer, this woman was known as one of the most heroic trailblazers for people with disabilities
An American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer, this woman was known as one of the most heroic trailblazers for people with disabilities and led an incredible example of the strength it took to remain positive in difficult times.
After being struck by illness at the age of two, she was left both deaf and blind. She soon invented over 60 signs to communicate. Her efforts to improve the lives for those with disabilities were monumental and she even prompted the organization of commissions for the blind in 30 states by 1937.
13. Ruler of crime in the windy city
One of the most infamous mobsters in the country that ruled an empire of crime in Chicago and was known for running a multi-million-dollar operation in gambling, bootlegging and prostitution in the roaring twenties
One of the most infamous mobsters in the country that ruled an empire of crime in Chicago. From gambling and prostitution to drug dealing and murder, there wasn’t anything this man wouldn’t do.
The mobster was known for running a multi-million-dollar operation in gambling, bootlegging and prostitution in the roaring twenties. It seemed as though no matter what he did, law enforcement couldn’t touch him and he even inspired countless books and films, including Scarface.
14. The star of cinema
An American film and stage actor whose portrayals in classic Hollywood films made him a cultural icon
An American film and stage actor whose portrayals in classic Hollywood films made him a cultural icon. In 1999, he was selected as the greatest male star of classic American cinema by the American Film Institute. He epitomized a film icon and began as a Broadway actor then made his way into Hollywood.
He made his transition from New York Stages to Hollywood film sets and blew everyone away as he regularly portrayed gangsters and conquered on movie sets and stages. He met his wife during a film and the two became a power couple of movie stars.
How many did YOU get right? America’s modernized leaders and icons, revealed
1. SHARON TATE
The star who was tragically murdered at the hands of the Manson family is Sharon Tate – who died in 1969 at the age of 26 – the star’s murder caused a frenzy in Los Angeles due to its horrific nature
2. ROSA PARKS
Rosa Parks – who died in 2005 at the age of 92 – was dubbed the mother of the civil rights and uttered the most famous ‘no’ when she was asked to give up her bus seat
3. LAUREN BACALL
Lauren Bacall – who died in 2014, aged 89 – was an iconic actress whose proactive glamour earned her stardom in the golden age of Hollywood. She was best known for her roles in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and Murder on the Orient Express (1973)
4. GENE KELLY
Gene Kelly – who died in 1996, aged 83 – was famously starred in, choreographed and co-directed some of the greatest musical films of the 1940s and 1950s. He is best known for his work in An American Paris (1951) and Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
5. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
Christopher Columbus – who died in 1506, aged 55 – was an Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. He wanted to find a direct water route west from Europe to Asia, he came across the Americas and was credited with its discovery
6. GRETA GARBO
An enigma on and off screen, Greta Garbo – who died in 1990 at the age of 85 – was a Hollywood actress was famous for her roles in both silent and sound films and was best known for her roles in films Camille (1936) and Ninotchka (1939)
7. HENRY FORD
Henry Ford – who died in 1947, aged 83 – was an American industrialist, businessman and chief developer of the assembly line technique of mass production
8. AUDREY HEPBURN
Audrey Hepburn – who died in 1993, aged 63 – was known as the epitome of Hollywood chic, and was known for her combination of grace and style. She was best known for her work in Sabrina (1954) and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
9. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Benjamin Franklin – who died in 1790, aged 84 – was a founding father and a statesman, author, publisher, scientist, inventor and diplomat. He helped draft the declaration of independence and can even be found on the $100 bill
10. AMELIA EARHART
Emelia Earhart – who was declared dead in 1939, at the age of 41 – was the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was determined to become the first person to circumnavigate the earth around the equator, which resulted in her disappearance
11. BABE RUTH
Babe Ruth – who died in 1948, aged 53 – was an American professional baseball player whose career spanned over 22 seasons in Major League Baseball. He was known as one of the greatest baseball players in history, this New York Yankees player was a right fielder
12. HELLEN KELLER
Helen Keller – who died in 1968, aged 87 – was left blind and deaf as a result of an illness she had when she was just two years old. She was an American author and a heroic trailblazers for people with disabilities
13. AL CAPONE
Al Capone – who died in 1947, aged 48 – was one of the most infamous mobsters in the country that ruled an empire of crime in Chicago. The mobster was known for running a multi-million-dollar operation in gambling, bootlegging and prostitution in the 1920s
14. HUMPHREY BOGART
Humphrey Bogart – who died in 1957, aged 57 – was an American film and stage actor whose portrayals in classic Hollywood films made him a cultural icon. He is best known for his work in Casablanca (1942) and Sabrina (1954)
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