Who were your childhood idols (music, actors, historical figures, etc...) and have you "grown out of them" with age? Have they been replaced by "mature" icons and role models or are they still in your heart?

My childhood idols were Michael Jackson, Madonna and Jean-Claude VanDamme. The only one that isn't my no1 favorite any more is Van Damme, I prefer many other actors today but he's still in my top 20. As concerning MJ and Madonna? Immortal! Not only I still listen to their music regularly, but growing up I could go to their gigs to see them performing live which were all great lifetime experiences. The only difference is now I don't have their posters on my walls

Overall I still very fond of the stuff I liked a lot as a kid, be it music, movies, games, comics or whatever, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR0ZJ9r5QFc

Oh yeah, I was also a fan of the Rally driver http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stig_Blomqvist which is somewhat ironic as I never developed any car/racing interest and never bothered to get a driving license

I never had an idol. As a matter of fact I would go so far as to say my family and society at an early age quite successfully [censored] kicked me right past that phase. The end. Alternate answer, myself. Pick whatever one you like the best. I respect individuals, but am not putting any of them on a pedestal.

I don't believe I had childhood idols, I didn't have imaginary friends, or real ones for that matter. I think the person I idolize most now a days would be Adrien Brody, I mainly like his films and what not, he seems to be quirky. I don't feel as though he tries to be more than he is, he doesn't take himself too seriously and I can relate to that. It doesn't hurt that he's pretty fine. (Of course It's just a vibe, I don't know the guy.)

Pete Rose.

Boy was I an idiot.

Funny thing about that one...my grandfather always said he was a bum. Shoulda listened to him.

Yeah, same here. I'm not claiming I had particularly refined tastes then, either.

My wife says I'm still a kid so here are my late childhood idols: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqgjPR9gFDw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ-tH_6KrJg

It's still Darkwing Duck. Good ol' DW.

If it's because of his drug habit in the past, he has cleaned himself up a bit and trying to resurface in the film industry. But given the martial arts category for films is not as sought after as before, he may never get in A movies ever again. The Expendables was an exception because its mostly about old actors that "still got it".

He could have potentially been everyone's child hood idol. But then he decided to bet on his own team.

Side note: Someone is closing in on him in career hits.

Ok nvm, since Jeter is going to retire soon.

I guess for sports, there's guys I look up to, but not exactly idolize. Mark McGuire, and Dan Marino.