A lot of male stars of the 1920s-40s were short to medium in height. Then, in the post-war years, and especially on television, there was a trend towards some particularly tall stars. Guys in the 6ft5 to 6ft7 range, like James Arness, Chuck Connors, Clint Walker, Fess Parker and such.
What stands out to me about modern-era male leads is not their height, but their bratty, metrosexual comportment and manner. I find them embarrassing, compared to the kind of sturdy, adult masculine protagonists the culture used to promote. I guess it’s just par-for-the-course in today’s faggoty America, but it never ceases to turn my stomach.
A little research indicates that the theme of this article simply isn’t correct. Any list of current highest-paid actors is mixed, leaning toward the tall side.