Handsome Men Who Are Now Dead

For your consideration...

2010-08-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

Ludwig van Beethoven, darlings. Let's look at his list of hotness:

1. Obviously incredibly talented: virtuoso pianist, could play viola and violin, wrote numerous compositions including operas. Rowr.

2. He dedicated this to his lady love...

3. He was turned down by at least three or four women who loved him, but couldn't marry him due most likely to his common background. Sympathy hotness!

4. Despite becoming profoundly deaf, is considered one of the greats of classical music.

Let's take another look:

I'm thinking ja.

Do we have a hottie here?

2010-08-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

What do you think?

This is Basil Rathbone, famous British actor well-known for playing Sherlock Holmes.

I love the name. I LOVE his nose. Let's take another look...

Oh well HELLO, Mister Bedroom Eyes and Stache.

Let's check him out in action, shall we?

So, be all judgey in the comments: would you use a time machine trip to snog him?

Hot guy, unfortunate family tie.

2010-07-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

Look at this guy!

RIGHT?

Let's get a better shot. This is Edwin. He was a fantastic Shakespearean actor and here he is costumed to play Hamlet.

Classically handsome, broody-looking, big hands. AMIRITE? He had this unfortunate family tie, though. His brother was none other than John Wilkes Booth, the guy who uh, shot and killed President Lincoln.

But hey! Another picture!

I don't know. I'D date him. I mean, he disowned his brother, refused to even hear his name spoken aloud. Plus---this is Edwin with his daughter Edwina, whom he raised alone after her mother died when she was only two:

Yeah. Try resisting that.

Buster.

2010-07-22T17:40:00.000-07:00

I've had a few requests for this guy, and I'll admit at first it had me scratching my head a bit.

But then I saw pictures like that and started to understand. Huge, almond-shaped eyes, aquiline nose, perfect lips, thick hair. Ok, I see it. In fact, here's a bonus:

The puppy in his pocket especially killed me, but what a nice profile he had. So here you go, Buster Keaton: another handsome man who is unfortunately dead. Sigh.

Hot hot action.

2010-07-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

I had to get to him eventually. I was holding out. But I can do it no longer. Marlon? Honey? Do you need help? Maybe I can just sit here and look at you while you shave. Run my fingers through the hair on the back of your head and look at you in the mirror? Get a whiff of your neck while I'm at it?

Surely he needs no introduction to those who have dreamed of guys now gone. So let's just look at some lovely pictures, shall we? Maybe it'll make your Wednesday go by a bit faster.

Oh my God, jeans and a white tank top.

I'll just be quiet.

I'm sorry there are so many pictures.

NO I'M NOT! Enjoy!

Hot gospel action...

2010-07-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

If you aren't familiar with Sam Cooke, you need to be. If you are, well, you're welcome.

He was an incredibly talented singer who died before his time. I'd love to sit down with him in some lounge and listen to him play before demurely accepting his invitation to dinner and dancing. I'd hesitate only for a split second. Keep him guessing. My, my, Sam.

My, my.

I need to give some love to the site that inspired today's pick: Go, listen It's a fun little place named Pajiba. Hang around and check it out. Then go back to dreaming of Sam.

Hot sleuthing action...

2010-07-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

Jeremy! Darling! Come in. Don't stand out there, you'll catch your death. Go on, take off that hat and gloves. Here. Oh now, with the pipe and the magnifying glass. Don't you want to put those down just for a moment? Aren't you tired of them yet? Go on, I'll fix you a drink. Scotch? Here. Relax. Give me that coat. Isn't that better? I've got a fire going and dinner will be ready in just a bit, just sit there and enjoy your drink and let me look at you.

What? Why do you look at me that way? Darling, you know, I've got a bit of a mystery for you to solve. Plenty of clues. The thing is, the first clue...it's upstairs...

A personal hot favorite...

2010-07-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

Do you know who this is? If you don't, I'm going to give you several reasons to want to hop into that time machine and go VERY far back to enjoy a hot date with this man:

tutored by Aristotle in medicine, philosophy, morals, religion, logic, and art (I always start with the brains, they make me swoon)

a patron of both the arts and sciences

was not a sports fan (seriously!)

there was that whole being a Greek king and creating one of the largest empires in ancient history thing

and, well, look at him! He was said to have one blue and one brown eye, by the way. His hair would have been dark, slightly curly. His complexion olive, though not very dark. He was sturdy and fit, obviously.

I might be a bit scared of him, but I'd still go out on a date with Alexander the Great.

Enjoy this reader suggestion...

2010-07-15T21:43:00.000-07:00

which is....

a hot dead Scottish poet! (Who doesn't love THAT? Except the dead part. We don't like that at all.)

This is Allan Ramsay. Arresting looking, is he not? And let's sample some of his work while we're at it:

My Peggy smiles sae kindly,
Whene'er I whisper love,
That I leuk doun on a' the toun,-
That I leuk doun upon a croun.
My Peggy smiles sae kindly,
It maks me blythe an bauld,
An naething gies me sic delyte,
As waukin o the fauld.

If Scottish old-style isn't very clear to you, he's telling you how your very smile drives him crazy.

Sigh.

HOT dance action...

2010-07-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot of requests for this guy. And I kept thinking yeah, ok. He's an obvious one. I mean, sure he danced, whatever.

Then I saw this picture...

His smile is...disarming. His chest, his shoulders, that jaw. It's rare, believe it or not, that I need a moment to compose myself, but (looks back at picture again)

Geeen Kelley I can't type anymore was a dancer and a choreographer an

Oh hell, WATCH THIS:

You're Leslie Caron!

A note to the weirdos who read this thing:

2010-07-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

I've been really surprised by all the emails I've received. I guess you never really know how many people are reading a blog. I figured this would be too....niche? to get more than a few readers, so thanks for reading and sending me emails. Nice to know I'm not the only one who occasionally pines after a dead guy.

I'm keeping a master list of all your suggestions, so don't worry, you'll see your guy soon. I'm going to try to include less well-known hot guys here and there so you'll be able to discover some new reasons for a time machine.

Toshiro Mifune

2010-07-13T16:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a new one to make you wish for a time machine from guest blogger jM:

The Seven Samurai. Yojimbo. Throne of Blood. When I hear the word 'samurai' there's one face that always comes to mind: Toshiro Mifune. And what a fine face it is. Often called "The John Wayne of Japan," he possessed an commanding presence on screen and a wildness in the eyes that hinted at an element of danger simmering just beneath the surface.

He was younger than me...

2010-07-13T16:27:00.000-07:00

Australian, handsome, talented, and gone too soon. Oh Heath...

I like to remember him this way: happy and slightly goofy.

How have we not drooled over an athlete yet?

2010-07-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

I'm such a nerd girl I guess I forgot about all the lovely athletes who have left us pining after them. Thanks to several public and private requests, this handsome man has been brought to my attention:

Oh, Lou Gehrig. Gone too soon at the age of 37 from a truly evil disease. (I know this blog is normally for sighing and daydreams, but did you know there's still no cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?)

Oh, the dimples. I was going to write up a blurb about what I'd do on an INNOCENT date with him (using my time machine, of course), but then I got to reading about his life and, well, I can't see for my durn blurry eyes now. What a man.

Go Check Your Eye Makeup After This

Beautiful Women Who Are Now Dead

2010-07-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the lovely Pinky McLadybits, there is now a sister blog for you weirdos who also want to drool over dead sexy ladies who have gone to the beyond!

Go ahead, you know you want to look...

I hope I meet him in heaven...

2010-07-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite picture of Mr. Peck (THOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT HORRIBLE WOMAN IS AND I WISH SHE COULD JUST NOT BE IN IT). When I think of classically handsome men, only a few spring to mind, and he's one of them.

Go ahead, shut the door, stare, he won't mind...

You want MORE? How selfish!

Bonus: by the way, Gregory Peck's very much alive grandson looks and sounds like this:

YOU'RE WELCOME!

(Isn't it amazing? The face AND the voice? It's like.....it's like he CAME BACK FOR US!)

Hot cool hand action...

2010-07-11T17:37:00.000-07:00

It amazes me that I haven't gotten to Paul until now. That chiseled face, those baby blues, his heart of gold. And he only got better with age. Oh, Paul. Your face launched a thousand daydreams. And still does...(I saved the best for last, as usual)...

I've got a hot Russian for ya...

2010-07-11T17:04:00.000-07:00

I've got a friend who's got it very bad for this particular handsome dead guy. His name? Anton Chekhov. He has a strangely modern look to him, doesn't he? He was a doctor and a celebrated writer and playwright and well....have you ever heard a handsome man speak Russian? Your KNEES go weak. And as a parting shot, check this out:

Da, da, da, DA!

Rodolfo Alfonso Raffaello Piero Filiberto Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla, TI AMO!

2010-07-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

Oh Rudy. I understand you had a thing for older women. I also understand you were quite the dancer. I just want to warn you that, should this time machine thing work out, you're in the top five to visit first. Be prepared. I know I will be.

I can't help it, I must do this....

Arahhgfiahyeharbharblarhblarhb

Go ahead:

Feast

He doesn't really give a damn, y'all.

2010-07-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

Of course he haunted your dreams as Rhett Butler. But he could recite Shakespeare's sonnets from memory, play the piano, fix cars, and became the "King of Hollywood" despite the fact that when he first got there, he was considered as ugly as an ape.

I preferred him without a moustache and can't you see George Clooney here?

Hot Caped Action

2010-07-09T20:40:00.000-07:00

Raise your hand if you crushed on Superman. Bonus points if you adored him in Somewhere in Time, too. Oh, Christopher. I hope you're flying somewhere.

A Poignant One...

2010-07-09T20:20:00.000-07:00

This is Captain Sullivan Ballou, who fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. He was a lawyer, public servant, and dedicated family man. He's certainly not hard to look at, but his greatest appeal lies in a touching letter he wrote to his wife during the war. An excerpt--

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me -- perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar -- that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have oftentimes been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the garish day and in the darkest night -- amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours -- always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again.

He was killed in action one week after writing this letter, at the First Battle of Bull Run. He was 32.

Hot Kiss of Death Action.

2010-07-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

I told someone I know about this blog and asked for a suggestion or two and the first person they mentioned was this guy. I thought that was a strange choice, but here you go Mr. Husband Man, a handcuffed Richard Widmark. Enjoy.

Hot sensual action

2010-07-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

There are those of us who feel faint at the sight of fair skin, rosy lips, a bit of a curl at the temple, and a dreamy far-off look. For those, there is Keats.

Any man who could write like this:

Bright star! would I were steadfast as thou art—
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night,
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like Nature’s patient sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth’s human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors—
No—yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever—or else swoon to death.

And look like that. Well. You're welcome.

I don't care!

2010-07-09T17:01:00.001-07:00

LA LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU! I don't care. He WAS in love with Doris Day, THAT'S the truth and I don't care WHAT you say!

Lovely

2010-07-09T16:58:00.000-07:00

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh," he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted to be sure of you."”

Sigh.

High school crush

2010-07-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

Oh River. You are the first HDM who was a contemporary of mine. How I lusted after your chiseled manboy looks.

A few seconds of his long hair look...

But you were gone too soon.

Hot Langford* Action

2010-07-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

It was a long time ago.
I have almost forgotten my dream.
But it was there then,
In front of me,
Bright like a sun--
My dream.
And then the wall rose,
Rose slowly,
Slowly,
Between me and my dream.
Rose until it touched the sky--
The wall.
Shadow.
I am black.
I lie down in the shadow.
No longer the light of my dream before me,
Above me.
Only the thick wall.
Only the shadow.
My hands!
My dark hands!
Break through the wall!
Find my dream!
Help me to shatter this darkness,
To smash this night,
To break this shadow--

LANGSTON! I CAN HELP YOU! LET'S GET COMFORTABLE FIRST! Do you take your whiskey neat or...?

*I once accidentally called him Langford. I was so embarrassed, I decided Langford was Langston's long-lost cousin and author of the celebrated underground work Well, I Always Liked America, So There.

Hot Romantic action, capital R please

2010-07-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

HE walked in beauty. Oh George--those dark curls, those pouty lips, that chin, that brain (hey, we like them for more than their looks around here!). Described by contemporary women (LUCKY BITCHES) as a dangerous bad boy, I think most of us would enjoy a chance--just one chance--to tame the poet. I mean, look, he's already in his robe!

AND big hands. Sigh....

Hot rebellion action.

2010-07-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

This is Spartacus! (Stop looking at him like that, they didn't have clothes back then.) He was a slave who led a rebellion and those muscles didn't hurt, I'm sure. But we need a better look at his face...

My goodness he looks angry. Like he's going to glare at you before he GRABS YOU and KISSES YOU! What? No, I don't have a REAR shot, what do you think I am?

Oh whatever. Enjoy his Iliac crests.

Hot champion action.

2010-07-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

This is Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight world boxing champion. He was born in Galveston, Texas and was discovered while working on the docks in Galveston by a....um...

His boxing style was very patient...

Hey. You aren't reading this, are you? You're staring at his arms and wondering why he's even wearing those shorts, right? I could be saying anything down here. Did you hear the one about the pirate and the parakeet? Oh nevermind, carry on. Can't say as I blame you.

Archie

2010-07-09T10:35:00.000-07:00

I shall go back to 1933 and lovingly wash the gunk out of his hair. Then towel dry him. Call him Archie! Let him slap me! Make out with him until HE CATCHES ON FIRE, THEN INSIST THAT HE SPANK ME.

He's always done strange things to me.

Hot general action.

2010-07-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

I need to confess right off the bat that I have a thing for uniforms and always have. It's cliche, I know, but there's something about all those buttons that beg to be undone one at a time. Something about the stiffness and formality that needs...mussing. So expect to see quite a few dashing dead guys in uniform around here.

The first time I appreciated General McClellan's beauty was while watching a Ken Burns documentary. Of course. I sat up straight and even blurted out how handsome he was, to which my history buff geek husband began to laugh and say, "McCLELLAN? He wasn't that great of a general, though!" Oh Mr. Husband Man. I don't care about that. Look at those EYES. That thick hair and serious look. Hey....is that a...soul patch? In the 1860s? I think it is. Rowr. C'mere George. Let me loosen that...neck thing and fix you a drink.

Hello darlings.

2010-07-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

This blog is for every geeky dreamer who ever thought "my kingdom for a time machine" so you could get it on with a guy who is now dead.

Maybe you were in World History and the teacher was showing a filmstrip (shut up, I'm old--and this isn't about me specifically anyway, so shut up again!) but your eyes drifted to a military portrait in the lower right-hand corner of page 572 and you were struck: that aquiline nose! Those deep-set brooding eyes! Those ruddy cheeks! Those LIPS. You didn't even realize when your eyes moved down to the crotch of his dress uniform, thinking about how he probably smelled like sweat and wood smoke and despite his hard life, you thought his skin, right there, on his neck, below his ear, was probably soft AND THE LIGHTS WENT BACK UP and the filmstrip clattered to an end and you remembered with a jolt that he died in 1756. Oh, you're DISGUSTING, a hypothetical you might have told yourself. He's just a pile of bones! But as you left class, books clutched to your chest, you harbored a tiny hope that perhaps the 21st century might see real progress in time travel...

Well, honey, it's 2010 and this is the closest thing we've got. Now you can drool over all those good-looking dead guys in the open without fear of getting detention for not listening to the teacher. The obvious and not-so-obvious, the well-known and not-so-well-known will be included. Send your suggestions along with some text and a link to an image (as far back as we have realistic depictions, sickos) to kelliebobellie70 at gmail.com and let's get it on with some dead guys.