Hollywood’s veteran actors didn’t follow mustache trends — they set them. Sam Elliott’s walrus and Tom Selleck’s chevron are practically registered trademarks at this point.
Decades on, those mustaches are still the reference photos men bring to barbers. Here are 10 iconic old actors who defined the mustache trend, and what makes each look work.
01 of 10Sam Elliott’s Thick Salt-and-Pepper Walrus Mustache
The 78-year-old Hollywood legend Sam Elliott still manages to charm audiences in 2025 with a thick, silver walrus mustache. That dense, bushy hair drooping over his upper lip seems to tell the world that the Tombstone star still has plenty of mustache left in him. It’s almost as if he could grow a full cowboy mustache like the one he sported in the film, any time he felt like it.
02 of 10John Waters’ Razor-Sharp Pencil Mustache
John Waters, born in 1946, sports a pencil mustache that perfectly mirrors his eccentric, avant-garde filmmaking style. This razor-thin strip of hair above his upper lip, as sharp as his wit, has become a core part of his identity, as integral to his persona as his legendary films.
03 of 10Eddie Murphy’s Center-Parted Mustache
One of Hollywood’s most celebrated comedians, Eddie Murphy keeps things sharp and polished. His painter’s brush mustache is parted in the center and extends to the edges of the upper lip. The cheeks are clean-shaved, and a neat soul patch sits just below the lower lip.
04 of 10Tom Selleck’s Classic Chevron Mustache
Tom Selleck, the star of the hit series Magnum, P.I., is almost as famous for his mustache as he is for his acting. His chevron mustache style is so synonymous with him that many people simply call it the Selleck mustache. That impressive chevron has a thick, full sweep of hair with a subtle triangular gap in the center, sitting perfectly on the upper lip with authority.
05 of 10Danny Trejo’s Long Horseshoe Mustache
The formidable Danny Trejo, with his weathered countenance and tough-guy roles, wears a horseshoe mustache that suits him to a tee. The strips extend from the corners of his lips down toward his chin, forming that classic inverted-U shape. The hair is finer than it once was, showing the natural effects of age on beard density, but it still delivers an appearance every bit as rugged as the characters he portrays.
06 of 10Johnny Depp’s Narrow Pyramid Mustache
Not only did Johnny Depp make headlines in the courtroom, but he also showed up on the red carpet with a precisely shaped, narrow chevron mustache sitting cleanly above the upper lip.
The 62-year-old mostly keeps his face clean-shaved, but when he does grow facial hair, he makes sure it’s worth noticing.
07 of 10Nick Offerman’s Lampshade Mustache
The youngest entry on this list, Nick Offerman pairs a bold, full chevron mustache with heavy stubble across his cheeks and jaw, giving the whole look a lived-in, no-nonsense weight.
His famous character Ron Swanson wears a similar lampshade-style mustache on screen, and in real life, Offerman’s version is just as commanding.
08 of 10Samuel L. Jackson’s Patchy Mustache
Samuel L. Jackson, one of the most prolific actors in Hollywood, often sports a sparse, low-density chevron mustache. Less uniform than a classic full chevron, the uneven growth pattern gives it a relaxed, understated character that pairs surprisingly well with his signature round glasses.
09 of 10Tom Hanks’ Natural, Slightly Uneven Chevron Mustache
Tom Hanks has sported a chevron mustache that feels as warm and approachable as the man himself.
Much like Forrest Gump’s unpredictable journey, Hanks’ mustache isn’t perfectly symmetrical, and that’s precisely what gives it charm. The soft, natural outline and slightly uneven growth make it feel genuine rather than groomed to within an inch of its life.
10 of 10Bryan Cranston’s Zappa Mustache
The 67-year-old actor has been seen sporting a Zappa mustache. The mustache style is named after musician Frank Zappa. It’s a thick mustache that extends downward slightly past the corners of the mouth, often accompanied by a soul patch just below the lower lip. It’s a bold look that fits Cranston’s knack for transformation in his roles.
These are our top 10 old actors and celebrities with a mustache who are over 50 and still rocking it strong.