Growing up, I watched some of my friends fall victim to the bowl cut. I was a victim of it myself a few times — both in childhood, and again in the 90’s when the bowl cut was a “thing”. If you’re too young to remember the 90’s just look up some pictures of Demi Moore and Linda Evangelista from that decade and you’ll see what I mean.

Like I said — I’ve been a victim of the bowl cut a few times myself, and to be honest, I don’t really need to experience it again. But like so many other retro fashion trends that are back in style, the bowl haircut is making a comeback too. Lots of celebrities have been sporting their own version of the old-school cut this past year including Ruby Rose, Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, and Charlize Theron.

These celebs are just the latest in a long-list of stars who’ve sported this look over the years. Hollywood has a long history with this haircut and in this week’s Friday Five I’ve rounded up some of my favorites.

1. Louise Brooks

Silent film star, Louise Brooks, was rocking her signature short bob even before Moe Howard from The Three Stooges. In fact, her ultra-cool Jazz Age bob is one of the most iconic haircuts in film history. You may not be familiar with Louise Brooks, but her trademark hairstyle caused a sensation in the 1920’s, and has inspired countless big screen and real-life imitations over the years. Liza Minelli, Uma Thurman, Demi Moore, Natalie Portman, Audrey Tatou, Charlize Theron have all copied their hairstyles from Brook’s famous ‘Lulu’ bob.

2. Peter O’Toole & Richard Burton in Becket

Before Timothée Chalamet cut his curls to play Henry V in The King, Peter O’Toole played another Henry (Henry II, to be precise) in 1964’s Becket. Both legendary actors sport a bowl cut in the film — appropriate given the cut traces its roots to Medieval times. If you’ve never seen this movie you’ve been missing out. It was nominated for 12 Academy awards, and O’Toole, Burton, and their bowl cuts are spectacular in it.


3. Janet Munro in Swiss Family Robinson

Swiss Family Robinson is one of my favorite live-action Walt Disney movies, so I was excited to see it available to stream when Disney Plus launched this week. The 1960 film features some pretty sweet bowl cuts on some of the male members of the Robinson family (like Kevin Corcoran and Tommy Kirk). I can’t say I ever thought Janet Munro looked much like a boy even with her cropped hair and cabin boy clothes — but whatever. She makes the haircut look good.

4. Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek 

Star Trek launched in 1966, just one year after Vidal Sassoon made waves in the hair world with his famous five-point bobbed haircut. So it’s not hard to imagine that might have had a little influence in the show’s creators when they were designing Spock’s look. 50 years later this iconic ‘do continues to live long and prosper.

5. Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber

My list would not be complete without Jim Carrey’s “Lloyd Christmas” in Dumb and Dumber. For a character like Lloyd it plays up his naivety and ineptitude perfectly, and for awhile the cut became referred to as “The Lloyd”.

With such a short list to work with a lot of quality bowl cuts didn’t make the proverbial cut. So if I missed some of your favorites (and I’m sure I did) feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Feel free to tell tales about your own experience with the bowl cut. Most of us have been victims ourselves — so we can all sympathize.