These are the results of a nationwide poll of 1,015 U.S. adults surveyed online by Harris Interactive(R) between December 8 and 15, 2004.
The "top ten" list is remarkably stable again this year. Nine of the 10 stars in this year's top-10 list were also on last year's list, and the changes in the rankings are relatively modest. In addition to Tom Hanks moving up from #4 to #1, other changes include:
* Mel Gibson drops one place from #1 to #2. He continues to be one of America's most consistently popular stars, having been in the top four since 1994.
* Julia Roberts, the only woman in the top 10, drops one place from #2 to #3. She also shows stability in her fan base, sharing one of the top four places since 2000.
* Johnny Depp continues his rise in popularity showing the most substantial change, moving up six places from #10 last year to #4 this year.
* Denzel Washington moves up to #6 (from #9 last year), his best showing since 1995.
* Sean Connery who was #3 falls to #9.
* George Clooney joins the top 10 coming in at #10 as Tom Cruise (#5 last year) falls off the list this year.
Others whose positions did not change from 2003 are Harrison Ford at #5, John Wayne at #7, and Clint Eastwood at #8.
The continuing popularity of John Wayne is, of course, quite extraordinary. It is now 25 years since he died in 1979. No other dead movie star has ever made it into the top 10 since Harris Interactive began asking this question 11 years ago. Most of his fans are men though this year men choose Hanks or Gibson as their favorite. Wayne still does remarkably well.
Interestingly Tom Hanks is #1 among both men and women; Julia Roberts is a close second among women. The star on the rise this year is Johnny Depp fueled in part by his #1 appeal among people aged 18-29 (who are far more important to the movie industry as they go to the movies much more often than their elders).
Denzel Washington retains his #1 position among African Americans. Hispanics pick Johnny Depp as their favorite.
When the replies are analyzed by party affiliation, Republicans prefer Mel Gibson as their #1 while Democrats like Tom Hanks. Among Independents, however, Robin Williams is tops.
2004 Top 10
1) Tom Hanks
2) Mel Gibson
3) Julia Roberts
4) Johnny Depp
5) Harrison Ford
6) Denzel Washington
7) John Wayne
8) Clint Eastwood
9) Sean Connery
10) George Clooney
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY HARRIS INTERACTIVE
