Who is your idea of an Alpha Male?

In Derren Brown's show The Heist, one guy was found to be unsuitable very early on. He was an alpha male and therefore took charge of an awkward situation that Derren had set up to confuse the participants.
This guy was not thrown by the situation and simply dealt with it and sorted it out for everyone.
Later, he refused to do a 'task' they'd been set as he disagreed with it.
No tantrums, just sure of his own values and capabilities.

I always thought Colonel Gaddafi was an archetypal Alpha Male. Not necessarily one I would have wanted to meet.

On a fictional level George Clooney carrying the boy out of the storm drain in ER was definitely Alpha.

What about Captain Kirk? Definitely the alpha male of the Enterprise. ?

Peasblossom

Oh, I always thought Alpha Male meant someone who always has to be the leader of the pack. Competitive, dominant, with his herd.
I’ll have to look it up now.

I agree with Peasblossom.

dolphindaisy

It's looking like my idea of an Alpha Male is different to others - let's just say my OP should read:
Men I fancy but who are far too young for me!

I wouldn’t consider Will Kirk (the Repair Shop) an alpha male but..oh those eyes!!

I agree with whoever suggested Putin. Alpha males aren’t necessarily likeable but do seem in charge.

People saying their husbands …reallllllly

I don’t see the term ‘alpha male’ as a complement at all

Alpha male – cock of the walk this week; feather duster next week.

Sorry misunderstood please disregard previous message.

Oh, maybe Trump!

dolphindaisy your description isn’t, as defined, an Alpha male, they are disciplined, unemotional, selfish, analytical and uninterested in other people, feelings or emotions. Not someone I’d like to know and I can’t think of anyone who fits that description.

Deleted at own request

DH

Roy Keane
Patrick Viera
John Terry
Eric Cantona
Billy Bremner
Graham Souness

And no, it’s not a compliment.

Donald Trump.

Heaven help us.

Your list seems to rate excessive drinking, smoking, womanising and guns.

That's pretty much what makes an alpha male. I think Chestnut's list is the most accurate.

I'd add Hemingway, maybe?

Chestnut

Here's a few more alpha males:
Charlton Heston
John Wayne
Robert Shaw
Yul Brynner
They are all from the past. Maybe the alpha male is a dying breed because women have castrated them over the last 20 years!

Your list seems to rate excessive drinking, smoking, womanising and guns. I for one, am glad to see there's a little less of these nowadays.

Tarzan

Never thought of it as complimentary, that's for sure.

It's looking like my idea of an Alpha Male is different to others - let's just say my OP should read:
Men I fancy but who are far too young for me!

An alpha male is the type of man that women are attracted to but know they shouldn't get involved with.

Sorry, I can't imagine an alpha male without conjuring the image of a silver-back gorilla.

Grandma70s

To me it means a male I wouldn’t like.

yup me too. To me its an insult, not a compliment.

My OH. He's been my alpha for more than sixty years.

I'm sorry, but I'm still bemused at the thought that Prof Brian Cox is an alpha male. The other Brian Cox, now, maybe.

I can’t stop laughing at the thought of Justin timberlake being an alpha male ?
To me it’s a big loud overbearing man who wants to lord it over everyone, his opinion is all that counts, not a compassionate bone in his body (that would be weak) threatened by a strong woman
No one I want in my life ….a Piers Morgan type