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The Breakthrough Years of Cinema Stars
First major success in 1972
Burt Reynolds
Deliverance transformed his image, establishing him as a serious actor and major box office star.
1972
1973
1974
1974
1975
1975
Sybil Danning
Sybil Danning gained significant international exposure with her role in the film Bluebeard, starring alongside Richard Burton. This marked an important step in her career beyond German language productions and introduced her to a wider audience.
1971
1973
1982
1983
1983
1983
Diane Keaton
Gained significant notice as Kay Adams in The Godfather, her first major film role.
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1978
Bette Midler
Bette Midler's debut album, The Divine Miss M, launched her distinctive cabaret-meets-pop persona to a national audience. The album was a commercial success, earning her a Grammy Award for Best New Artist, establishing her as a major musical talent.
1971
1973
1976
1978
1978
1980
Maria Schneider
Maria Schneider achieved international fame for her role in Last Tango in Paris, which became a major and controversial film, marking a significant turning point in her career.
1973
1973
1973
1973
1974
1975
James Caan
Earned an Oscar nomination for his iconic performance as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather.
1975
1976
1976
1976
1978
1981
Sydne Rome
Her role as Jane in the Italian giallo film What Have You Done to Solange? marked her first significant breakthrough in European cinema. This film established her as a notable presence and set the stage for her career in Italian films.
1974
1975
1975
1976
1977
1978
Diana Ross
Made her critically acclaimed acting debut, earning an Oscar nomination for Lady Sings the Blues.
1969
1972
1975
1976
1980
1981
Zeudi Araya
Zeudi Araya made her significant cinematic debut in the film "La ragazza dalla pelle di luna. This leading role immediately propelled her into the public eye and launched her career as an actress in Italian cinema.
1973
1976
1977
Won Best Director Oscar for Cabaret, establishing him as a major filmmaking talent.
1979
Carly Simon
Simon achieved international superstardom with her third album, No Secrets, which topped the Billboard 200 chart. The album's lead single, You're So Vain, became her signature song and a global phenomenon, reaching number one in the US and solidifying her iconic status.
1980
Cicely Tyson
Received an Oscar nomination for her powerful, acclaimed lead performance in Sounder.
2009
Billy Dee Williams
Starred opposite Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues, a major breakthrough film role.
1980
James Faulkner
Faulkner achieved early prominence with his role as Josef Strauss in the musical drama "The Great Waltz. This marked one of his first significant film appearances, establishing him as a rising talent.
1975
Judi Bowker
Judi Bowker achieved widespread recognition with her starring role as Clara in the popular children's television series The Adventures of Black Beauty. This year also marked her significant big-screen debut as Clare of Assisi in Franco Zeffirelli's acclaimed historical drama Brother Sun, Sister Moon.
1974
Paul Winfield
Earned an Oscar nomination for his moving, memorable lead performance in Sounder.
2009
Bernardo Bertolucci
Last Tango in Paris brought him massive international attention and acclaim as a director.
1987

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