10 Actors From Classic Hollywood Who Could Have Played Superheroes

3. Captain America/ Jimmy Stewart

Captain Stewart Jimmy Stewart embodies good old-fashioned values of honesty, decency, and politeness better than any other classic actor, making him an ideal choice to play the moral compass of The Avengers. Through partnerships with some of the elite Hollywood directors including John Ford, Frank Capra, and Alfred Hitchcock, Stewart established himself as one of the most accomplished actors in history with memorable roles in classics ranging from It's a Wonderful Life to Vertigo to The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Although he seems a bit lanky to play Marvel's steroidal super-soldier, Stewart was a notable athlete in high school and had considerable success in both football and track so there is something there to work with. He would need to bulk up a little bit to play Steve Rogers but his screen persona is so ideal for the role that even if he was a little unconvincing as a super soldier, he would more than make up for it with other aspects of his performance.
Contributor

I love movies, literature, history, music and the NBA. I love all things nerdy including but not limited to Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, and Firefly. My artistic idols are Dylan, Dostoevsky, and Malick and my goal in life is to become like Bernard Black from Black Books. When I die, I hope to turn into the space baby from 2001: A Space Odyssey.