40+ Male Celebrities That We Can’t Decide if We Like Better With or Without Beards

Colin Farrell graced us with his acting and shined brightly on screen. We remember the iconic roles he played and his fresh face even more. Colin continued grabbing our attention, especially in his performance in In Bruges, with his baby face.

Growing out his hair and beard, the Irish actor looks totally different. We can still point him out thanks to his piercing eyes and charming smile, but we hope he emerges from behind his beard and dazzles us again.

Throughout most of Ben Affleck’s roles, we’ve enjoyed his devilish smile, magnetic energy, and fresh face. Although his early work had him portraying rougher characters, we admired his acting, style, and striking good looks. They grabbed our attention early on.

Fast forward to Ben’s updated look as he proudly wears his beard. We admire his confidence but are brokenhearted, thinking how much his beard hides his handsome features. With a salt and pepper beard, we long for the cleanly shaven look.

Chris Pine, known for his modern portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek film series, wowed us with his deep blue eyes, handsome smile, and charming personality. This look is the quintessential Pine we have adored all these years.

Wanting to look more distinguished, Chris Pine has chosen to grow a full beard that shows off that handsome salt-and-pepper look creeping in. Although we’ve grown to adore Pine’s younger charm, we can’t help being taken in by his new look.

Playing a somewhat inept police officer in Stranger Things, David Harbour sported a circle beard on the show. As the seasons progressed, we saw David’s character being put into more perilous situations and circumstances. We liked the ’80s style that matched the show’s setting.

Occasionally, if the role requires, David will shave his new beard. Whether walking the red carpet or out on the town, the actor prefers donning a beard and mustache as thick as possible. We approve, as the new look sets him apart from the rest.

This Parks and Recreation star came to fame by assuming the gruff, all-American character of Ron Swanson. Although Nick had been sporting a thick mustache, he maintained an otherwise clean-shaven face throughout the show.

Since the show’s final episode, Nick has taken roles that have allowed him to experiment with several unique styles of beards. In The Last of Us, he shows us a new side to the actor’s range, and we adore the softer, warmer side of Nick.

Jared Leto has always been an enigma to us. This off-beat actor grew in popularity by taking on colorful characters. His youthful look and handsome appearance take us in. Leto is always one to draw the attention of those around him.

Now that the actor has settled into a more mature look, it’s difficult for us to compare. We see this updated look featuring an amazing beard as a slightly better version, as his beard adds even more depth and warmth to the fantastic actor.

John Krasinski made a name for himself during the nine seasons he starred in The Office. His character, Jim Halpert, was a scraggly-hair, fresh-faced employee of a paper company. His cute face, sans the beard, is where audiences instantly fell in love with John.

Now that Krasinski has moved on to more serious roles, A Quiet Place and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, he has become somewhat of an action star. Ditching the doughy physique for muscles and a beard has caught our attention again.

This award-winning singer stepped on stage and wowed us with his powerful singing, excellent songs, and ability to halt everyone in their tracks with his impressive music. Although his youthful look didn’t garner positive attention, we still thought he was cute.

When comparing pictures before and after he began growing a full beard, we’re hard-pressed to spot many differences in his appearance. He has the same shaggy red hair, the same glasses, and the same rounded shape, but, for some reason, there’s enough beard to prefer his new look.

Deciding whether Jason Momoa looks best with or without his beard is difficult. In 2019, Jason publicly shaved on camera to urge environmental awareness. Underneath his thick facial hair were a chiseled jawline and an incredible smile that made everyone’s jaws drop.

Since we were first introduced to Momoa as the uncivilized Khal Drogo, most of his roles had the action star’s beard front and center. We’re used to seeing his rugged islander vibe. Both facial styles suit Momoa, but we prefer his clean-shaven face.

Christian Bale is an exceptional actor who has appeared as Bruce Wayne in Batman and John Connor in Terminator Salvation. Both roles called for Bale to transform himself, all while keeping his handsome face unhindered from unnecessary facial hair.

In recent years, Christian Bale has chosen to grow his hair to shoulder length and don an interesting choice for his beard. Although we still admire his good looks, we wish he would return to the same charmingly handsome and clean-shaven actor that we know and love.

Jake Gyllenhaal is most known for his legendary roles and box-office appeal, but did you know that he’s also extremely handsome? This amazing actor has performed in a list of movies showcasing his talent, soft features, and energetic smile.

The Velvet Buzzsaw actor has been seen with seemingly a darker shade of brown hair to match his thick brown beard. Taking on a more serious look, Gyllenhaal still accepts roles that pack us into the theater to enjoy his time on screen.

First spotting Leonardo DiCaprio as a troubled youth in Growing Pains and watching his career skyrocket over the next decades, we’ve grown fond of seeing him cleanly shaven for all these years. It’s the look we know. It’s the look we adore.

The Titanic star has recently adopted a bushy beard. Although we’re not quite used to it, the style is growing on us. Looks like Leo is fond of his new beard and might keep it for the foreseeable future.

Aaron Paul first became a household name in his performance in Breaking Bad opposite Bryan Cranston. The shaven look during most of the series portrayed the character’s innocence and the actor himself. It was the look we embraced.

Near the end of the series, as Paul’s character, Jesse, becomes jaded by the events leading up to the series finale, we see the actor sporting a weathered beard. Since the end of the series, Paul has adapted a cleaner beard and wowed us again.

This Marvel star has appeared in many performances, most notably as Thor, and has garnered the respect of his co-stars, the admiration of fans, and the attention of the cameras. Spending much of his early career sans facial hair.

Although his facial hair in Avengers Endgame was a prosthetic, we immediately adored seeing Chris Hemsworth with a beard. After the movie, he grew a beard that seemed to fill out his face. Hey, Chris, we approve.

Idris Elba is known for playing tough characters that sometimes skirt the law. As he’s most known for rocking a powerful mustache that ultimately gains him much respect, we have seen most of his work without a matching beard.

Since he’s grown out his beard, Elba has taken the tough guy persona his characters require to a new level. Even though we believe his characters mean business, we’re thankful his beard doesn’t get in the way of that remarkable smile.

The Matrix star has many notable works, including one of our favorites, Speed. Seeing Keanu’s character use quick thinking and springing into action to safely disarm a device had our hearts pounding. The action was intense, and Keanu was dashing.

In recent years, Keanu has been seen with a full beard and mustache covering half of his still remarkable looks. Opting to grow out his hair and let his beard come in, the star has changed his look and how he carries himself.

Another movie star formerly working on Parks and Recreation is Chris Pratt, who starred as the iconic Andy Dwyer. The oafish, overweight character had that kind-hearted demeanor about him that you couldn’t resist. Alonside his lovable smile, you couldn’t help wanting to pinch his cheeks.

Since Chris moved on from his debut role, he dropped weight, started taking more serious acting roles, and even grew impressive facial hair. We liked Andy for his sweet goofiness, but we can’t get enough of Chris since he grew his beard.

When we think of Prince Harry, the first image in our minds is of him as a child. We think back fondly to the innocent prince that we grew up admiring. Those images stuck with us as he and Prince William spent their childhoods together.

Now that Prince Harry has grown up in the public eye, we acknowledge the man he’s become. As a husband and father, he has grown into his own and even grown a beard to complete the handsome dad look.

One of the many stars that appeared in Game of Thrones, Kit Harington saw his character begin the series with a baby-faced innocence as he seemingly bumbled his way through life. Harington, thanks to his talent playing Jon Snow, managed to build a name for himself.

As the series progressed, Harington’s Jon Snow grew wiser, grew stronger, and grew a beard. All of which impressed us as we continued expressing support for the up-and-coming actor. Since the show’s final episode, Harington has still been melting hearts.

Joaquin Phoenix can become the characters he portrays, causing us to be so invested in his roles. He graced us with his early roles in Gladiator and Signs. Besides the mustache in Her, we had been used to seeing his face shaved.

As Phoenix came into his own, he began growing out his beard. We can easily admire the debonair star as he plays characters that now match a more thoughtful side of himself. We enjoy his work and the new look he’s made for himself.

We all remember seeing Ryan Gosling step on screen for the first time when starring in The Notebook. Portraying the younger version of Noah throughout the movie’s flashback, we’re introduced to a dashing Gosling as he wins our hearts with his sweet persona.

Gosling has developed a career branching into action and drama while taking edgier roles. Breaking away from his character in The Notebook even further, Gosling has grown a beard and shown off his even more attractive side to adoring audiences.

High School Musical saw Zac Efron play a basketball-playing musically-inclined teen and somewhat typecast him in young, attractive roles as a lifeguard or university student. Playing those characters for much of his early career required a clean shave.

Efron has since grown out of those roles and is entering his own by having the freedom to make new choices for his projects and even growing facial hair to remind everyone he’s no longer the same singing athlete that gained him such fame.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star played a wise-cracking troubled teen moving in with distant relatives to avoid a dangerous life back home. Throughout Will Smith’s career, we listened to his clean lyrics, laughed at his clean jokes, and admired his clean-shaven face.

As Smith grew older and wiser, so did the roles he took on. Completely owning the new beard, the world-famous star has sported varying styles of facial hair that best fit his characters. In real life, we’re happy the beard carried over.

Hugh Jackman is the rare movie star that can do no wrong. Leaving his teaching days behind him, the Australian star made a name for himself as one of Hollywood’s nicest stars. For much of his career, Jackman preferred the clean look.

Jackman’s beard sent the internet into a frenzy, much like his out-of-control character Wolverine. We just couldn’t get enough of how fantastic he looked, especially when he portrayed the iconic character with a feral beard in Logan.

Daniel Radcliffe started in the film industry at a young age in his iconic role portraying Harry Potter in the series of hit movies. Over the years, we enjoyed Daniel’s work as a wizarding student making his way through Hogwarts.

Starring in vastly different roles from his days on Harry Potter, you can now see this British actor take on off-the-wall characters in questionable circumstances. The biggest change we’ve noticed from the actor is his new beard, which we approve of.

Most known for his comedic roles, this handsome actor has appeared in many hit shows and movies, most notably Clueless and Friends. Rudd made us laugh every chance possible. He hadn’t grown facial hair throughout the majority of his long career.

Since becoming a Marvel superhero, however, the long-time actor has started growing a beard that we find charming. Even more surprising is that although he has been acting for decades, he has barely aged, meaning we can enjoy a youthful look and a distinguished beard.

Drake grew up right before our eyes as one of the cast members of Degrassi, a Canadian teen drama. As one of the young actors to appear on the show, we’ve grown accustomed to seeing Drake without facial hair.

The former TV star has made a name for himself as an R&B artist with catchy lyrics and a penchant for flash and excess. After rising to fame, Drake has been seen with an all-too-perfect maintained beard and wardrobe.

Jon Hamm’s role in Mad Men had the iconic actor play Don Draper, a debonair businessman in a marketing firm. Wearing sleek suits with an overcoat and being clean-shaven each day for work was the norm in the period piece set in the ’60s.

To prepare for another role, the movie star grew his hair, trimmed the side, and had a well-maintained beard for the movie Baby Driver. As his character, an antagonist tries to defeat the main hero; we can’t help being taken in by Hamm’s charm.

Here’s a star that played a suave character in the film The Man From U.N.C.L.E. as he donned a suit and tie for his secret agent flick. In many of his roles, you can enjoy his chiseled jawline without worrying about it hiding behind a beard.

Henry Cavill, star of The Witcher, can best be seen wearing his facial hair proudly on the red carpet and, most notably, in Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Surprising audiences, we quickly forgot all his previous films in favor of the new beard.

Appearing in Thelma & Louise drew the attention of audiences everywhere. The young Pitt dazzled us with his performance and helped draw in returning viewers interested in catching his performance. Since then, we’ve enjoyed this starry-eyed actor transforming himself into the on-screen characters we admire.

Brad Pitt still takes on roles that draw much attention, but we’ve noticed that, over the years, the legendary actor has also transformed. Settling down as a husband and father, Pitt has grown a beard that doesn’t hide his wonderful smile.

The ’90s were an interesting time for music and fashion. Many trends came and (thankfully) went, but the stars we grew to admire stayed with us. Justin Timberlake is no exception, as this curly-haired youth took the stage to entertain us with his cute face.

Justin looks back and laughs at the trends his boy band NSYNC used to wear. With a fresh look and better style choices, the singer has also decided to grow a beard that separates him from the teen idol he used to be.

The Weeknd’s lyrics are as interesting as the songwriter, and as smooth as the singer’s shaven face. Throughout his career, The Weeknd has entertained audiences with his catchy music that sticks in your head for days. Not that we’re complaining.

The songwriter seems to have taken on new heights to his appeal by growing his well-maintained beard. The Weeknd now appears to be in better command of his career and his confident new look. We just can’t get enough.

George Clooney was an immediate sensation when he starred in recurring roles in popular sitcoms in the ’80s and ’90s. At the time, the shaggy-haired actor kept his face clean and his roles lighthearted, eventually landing the show E.R., where he remained fresh-faced.

In recent movies and in his personal life, the actor looks quite dapper with his beard and mustache combo. Gracing us with his salt-and-pepper look, we can enjoy a different side to the actor as he continues accepting dramatic roles.

David Beckham made a name for himself as a heartthrob soccer player taking to the field and wooing female fans. Becoming a household name, the mostly shaven celebrity built up his career even further when deciding to play for Real Madrid.

Now that Beckham has a family, he embraces the dad look by growing his beard. Do we think the beard looks great? Yes, of course. With a warmer appeal to his appearance, the soccer star looks like a rugged outdoorsy type.

Jamie Foxx blew us away as the quick-talking, wise-mouthed Jamie King in his hit sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show. At the time, the young actor was making his break in tv and planning to transition into movies, so there was less time to style a would-be beard.

Currently, Foxx is sporting a stylish beard that matches his already stylish fashion sense. As his name and popularity grew, so did the extent of his facial hair. Recently, he has been seen with a thick, impressive beard.

Kurt Russell has spent much of his life on screen, entertaining us through his countless roles. Starting into the film industry at a young age and growing before our eyes, he has spent much of his life sans facial hair. This style has contributed to his popularity.

In recent roles, like in The Hateful Eight and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, where he played a bounty hunter in the old west and an all-powerful god, respectively, the long-time actor showed off his spectacular beard in all its glory.

We remember Ryan Reynolds from his roles in Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place, where he played a sarcastic, wise-cracking pizzeria worker, and Van Wilder, where he was a sarcastic, lazy university student. Both roles showcased his adorably bare face.

Now that Ryan has grown up into a mature adult, we recognize him from Deadpool, where he played a sarcastic wise-cracking anti-hero, and Red Notice, where he played a sarcastic criminal. With Ryan’s clear acting range, we’re happy he grew the beard.

Jeff Bridges has always been an anomalous actor because he can completely transform himself into any role he takes. We marveled at his range, watching him perform in the film Arlington Road. We knew we needed to see more of this incredible star.

Although we were late to the game, first watching Bridges portray the iconic aimless main character in The Big Lebowski a year before Arlington Road, we adored his beard. Thankfully, in recent years, Bridges has brought back his incredible beard.

Although Bryan Cranston has appeared in supporting roles for many years, like in The X-Files and the blockbuster movie Saving Private Ryan, the movie star finally got his big break playing Hal in Malcolm in the Middle, which he was most known for at the time.

Recently, in Showtime’s Part Twelve, Cranston can be seen sporting a wildly bushy beard for his on-screen performance. While leading his everyday life during the filming, many wondered if the star was actually the real Bryan Cranston, as he was nearly unrecognizable with that facial hair.

Known for his powerful singing voice and beautiful music, John Legend serenaded us from the other side of a piano for years. Seeing his smiling face without a beard as he sang smooth lyrics is the imagery we’re most used to seeing.

Now that he’s grown a beard, it’s a hard pill to swallow. He looks fantastic with his facial hair, but it’s almost like our minds can’t compute. Eventually, we’ll love his new beard, but it might take time to acclimate.

The Scott Pilgrim vs. the World star has enjoyed fame and celebrity based on his dashing good looks, upbeat personality, and excellent acting abilities. During much of his early work, we saw Chris Evans without facial hair and were happy just the same.

Since appearing in Avengers: Infinity War with a full beard and a more tired version of the superhero, we’ve learned to adore the actor. Seeing this new side of him has brought a whole new depth to his roles.

Tyson Beckford built his career modeling in fashion shows all across the world. Known for his incredible looks, the star eventually made his way to the big screen, playing in the films Zoolander and Biker Boyz after appearing in several music videos.

With an accomplished career, Beckford continues enjoying his time in the limelight but with one major difference; he has since grown a beard. The model and actor can seemingly do no wrong as he looks just as fantastic with facial hair.

Donald Glover has catapulted himself into King Midas proportions as everything he touches turns to gold. Seeing him for the first time starring in Community, the actor, rapper, and comedian has made a name for himself with an almost innocent appearance.

Debuting his controversial music video for the song “This Is America” as Childish Gambino, the performer took to the screen with a wild beard. He has since adopted this new look for the time being. We’ll admit that both appearances perfectly reflect the different stages in Glover’s career.

The R&B singer blew everyone away with hit song after hit song. Even though he was new to the music industry, Kanye West garnered much attention because of his powerful lyrics. His baby face also drew in many fans flocking to him starry-eyed.

Having been married, settling down, and fathering four children, the popular singer continually updated his fashion sense and eventually grew a perfectly trimmed beard. Now, looking better than ever, Kanye has perfected his style and become a master of photogenic pictures.

For decades, David Letterman spent nearly every night entertaining us from the comfort of our couches. Although he was somewhat off the wall and silly in his humor, we enjoyed the cleanly-shaven talk show host and the interviews he conducted.

Since initially stepping down from his hit show, The Late Show With David Letterman, the comedian/host has returned to hosting his talk show. He did, however, surprise us with a thick beard hiding most of his face this time around.