As suggested by suikoden, DismantleTrident and properchap
Perhaps surprisingly, the most popular fictional suggestion came in the form of Quentin Tarantino's bak mei-practising villain, Master Pai Mei. Or, as DismantleTrident put it, “that sensei geezer in Kill Bill who plucks out eyeballs”. properchap added: “It's like the ghost of a beard” Photograph: PR
As suggested by erin306, ashenfacedsupremo and HemiCassandraTrains
“Where are the Russians???????” asked HemiCassandraTrains, stuttering over his question-mark key. “They may be known for their long and shaggy beards, but they can also sport very complicated and delicately styled beards and some of these ought to have a presence.” That might be true, but in this instance the votes went to murdered mystic Grigori Rasputin, whose dishevelled facial hair earns him a rightful spot on this list Photograph: Hulton Getty
As suggested by NuitsdeYoung
One of the better curveballs came from NuitsdeYoung, who nominated “Tolkien's entire race of dwarves”. His reasoning? “Even their women have facial hair. And although small, they tend to be armed and dangerous.” Can this be the real reason audiences have been flocking to Peter Jackson's The Hobbit sequel? Photograph: PR
As suggested by stuckinazoo and DismantleTrident
Jeff Bridges has been known to sport a variety of beards in his time; as stuckinazoo notes: “I always like any beard worn by Jeff Bridges, whether for a character or not.” None, however, beats the grandeur of that worn while playing the protagonist of the Cohen brothers' cult-classic, The Big Lebowski Photograph: Allstar
As suggested by pratman and Gammerax
Although there were multiple suggestions (John Lennon; Josh T Pearson), the readers' award for ‘best beard belonging to a musician’ goes to the late Grateful Dead lead guitarist, Jerry Garcia. The majesty of the bespectacled Californian's jet-black beard was arguably only contested by the equally substantial mop on top of his head Photograph: Michael Putland/Getty Images
As suggested by: leifeng1, originofthespecies and Celtiberico
Most popular among readers' suggestions was Karl Marx. Celtiberico placed him in a list that that served as a history lesson in facial foliage, beginning with Jehovah and terminating at 'that bloke from Mumford and Sons'. Locating Marx alongside colleague Friedrich Engels, meanwhile, originofthespecies nostalgically noted: “Now they were beards. Paxman? Meh” Photograph: Corbis
As suggested by: boynamedstu, JeremydeLanquais and plasticeggs
Another popular response came in the form of larger-than-life actor Brian Blessed. Consensus fell apart, however, when it came to the apex of his unkempt beard's career. boynamedstu noted 1980's Flash Gordon as a particular highlight, while JeremydeLanquais called attention to a more recent outing: 'Brian Blessed … playing Santa Claus on Pointless' Photograph: PR
As suggested by stuckinazoo
The inimitable ‘chin curtain’ of the erstwhile-POTUS was another popular suggestion. Lincoln was first encouraged to grow his facial hair upon receiving a letter on 15 October 1860 from 11-year-old Grace Bedell, a few weeks prior to his election. Despite initially making no promises, he later obliged Photograph: Rex Features
As suggested by: John Greenwood and TheGabardineDog
“A beard of the moment!” exclaimed John Greenwood. Anyone familiar with Channel 4's political thriller Homeland will know the silver-streaked beard of Mandy Patinkin, who plays acting director of the CIA, Saul Berenson. TheGabardineDog was certainly disappointed by its omission from the original list: “[Berenson's] facial hair was the linchpin of US national security and the toast of at least three continents. Shame” Photograph: Twentieth Century Fox/Twentieth Century Fox
As suggested by originofthespecies and RL_Carter
The facial hirsuteness adopted by Charles Darwin during his vintage years was another popular historical suggestion. Unsurprisingly, originofthespecies was among those to name the naturalist and geologist among his suggestions, while RL_Carter modestly proposed that Darwin's considerable beard could only be matched by his own Photograph: Getty Images
