The '80s, like any decade provided a hodgepodge of screen actors and actresses. Note that this discussion refers to actors/actress who peaked in their popularity during the '80s, though feel free to include new actors/actresses who peaked in the '90s or beyond. I feel that Tom Cruise was the ultimate actor of the '80s and Meryl Streep (6 best Actress nominations in the '80s, not to mention playing Margaret Thatcher more recently!) was the most distinctive actress of that decade.

I'm gonna say for men Don Johnson and for women Molly Ringwald.

Nobody can really touch Streep as the greatest.  Also, there is a big difference between early 80's and late 80's. Of the top drawing actors, Cruise owned from 1986 onwards....  The early 80's were still led by Burt Reynolds (1980 - 1983) and Clint Eastwood (1980 - 1986).

However, it could be argued that Harrison Ford was a greater draw card in the 80's than Tom Cruise.  One big surprise to me was the Eddie Murphy who appears on the top 10 drawing artists lists for each year from 1983 - 1989 (more than the rest of those mentioned).

As far a actresses (excepting Streep),  Michelle Pfeiffer had a big time in the 80's (with several big movies).  Julia Roberts started her run of big films in the later 80's.

I'm going to go with Richard Pryor and Meryl Streep.