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gratuitous male objectification week
June 29, 2012

A Look at Famous Shirtless Men Throughout the Ages

By Sally Holmes

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Photo: Rights Managed/Photo by: Mary Evans

Ah, abs. Those wondrous things that, because of the recent release of Magic Mike, we are reminded to give thanks for this week (a.k.a. Gratuitous Male Objectification Week). Today, we’d like to acknowledge the historical importance of some of the forefathers of shirtlessness — the guys who paved the way for today’s Channing Tatums and Matthew McConaugheys. Would Baby really have had the time of her life if Patrick Swayze had been wearing a shirt during all those dance lessons? Would Marky Mark have been able to produce such good vibrations without visible pecs? And where would Arnold Schwarzenegger be today if an image of hulking muscles didn’t come to mind every time someone said, “Hasta la vista, baby”? Click through the slideshow to see all these half-naked dudes and more.

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1 / 27 Photos
Steve McQueen at Paramount Studios, 1963 Photo: John Dominis/Time & Life Pictures
Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing, 1987 Photo: Rights Managed/Photo by: Mary Evans
Brad Pitt in Kalifornia, 1993 Photo: Copyright ? ?GramercyPictures/Courtesy Everett Colle / Everett Collection
David Chokachi, 1995 Photo: Maureen Donaldson/2009 Getty Images
Ronald Reagan (the actor), 1944 Photo: Hulton Archive
Scott Baio taping Battle of the Network Stars, 1981 Photo: Barry King
LL Cool J, 1980 Photo: David Corio
Ricky Martin, 1994 Photo: Maureen Donaldson/2011 Maureen Donaldson
Iggy Pop, 1973 Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
Brad Pit in Thelma and Louise, 1991 Photo: Fotos International/2011 Getty Images
Ryan Reynolds in Amityville Horror, 2005 Photo: ?MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
Clint Eastwood at home, 1956 Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
Isaac Hayes, 1970 Photo: GAB Archive
Anthony Kiedis, 2001 Photo: Theo Wargo
Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii, 1961 Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
Johnny Weissmuller in Tarzan, 1945 Photo: Keystone Features
Will Smith in Wild Wild West, 1998 Photo: Murray Close/2011 Murray Close
Mike Tyson, 1985 Photo: Michael Brennan/2012 Michael Brennan
Fernando Lamas, 1945 Photo: Silver Screen Collection/2007 Getty Images
Tom Selleck, 1982 Photo: Manchester Daily Express/SSPL/Manchester Daily Express
Bruce Lee, 1973 Photo: Archive Photos/2006 Getty Images
Mark Wahlberg, 1995 Photo: Barry King
Kirk Douglas, 1955 Photo: Silver Screen Collection/2006 Getty Images
Muhammad Ali, 1960 Photo: AFP/1960 AFP
Mick Jagger, 1976 Photo: Michael Putland/2011 Getty Images
Tyson Beckford, 2003 Photo: J. Merritt
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Hercules in New York, 1969 Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
1 / 27

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