Hollywood stars who keep on shining
Some of the most beloved actors and entertainers are continuing to work well beyond the traditional retirement age.
While Hollywood is said to be obsessed with youth and glamour, it’s heartening to note that many big-name actors have broken the “age ceiling” and have continued to entertain us in their senior years.
Some have remained popular over the decades, growing into new roles as they age, while others have had their big break later in life and are making the most of their newfound popularity.
Here are a few of the stars who can still command large salaries and draw huge audiences.
Sir Ian McKellen began his acting career in the 1960s but didn't gain worldwide recognition until his role as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. McKellen has continued to work in Hollywood with roles in the X-Men franchise and smaller films such as Mr Holmes.
He turned 84 in May, and he remains an active and celebrated stage and screen actor and LGBTQ+ activist.
Dame Judi Dench began acting in the 1950s and gained wider recognition in the 1990s with her role as M in the James Bond franchise. She has continued to work steadily in movies including Shakespeare in Love, Philomena, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and Belfast. At 88, she remains a beloved and respected actor.
Clint Eastwood, 92, has been a leading man and director for decades, starting off in television in the 1950s then making a string of successful westerns, including A Fistful of Dollars and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in the 1960s.
Although his conservative views put him at political odds with many in the entertainment community, he has become “Hollywood royalty”, directing and starring in films such as Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, and Gran Torino.
Morgan Freeman has been acting all his adult life, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that he gained widespread recognition for his work in films including Street Smart and Driving Miss Daisy.
Freeman has continued to work steadily in Hollywood, with memorable roles in movies ranging from The Shawshank Redemption to The Dark Knight and The Lego Movie.
At the age of 86, he remains a sought-after actor with a distinctive voice and commanding presence.
Dame Helen Mirren began her acting career in the 1960s, but it wasn't until the 1980s that she gained wider recognition for her work on stage and in British television.
Since then, Mirren, 77, has become a Hollywood superstar, with memorable roles in films such as The Queen, Gosford Park, Red, and most recently Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
Jane Fonda became a major Hollywood star in the 1970s with memorable roles in Klute and Coming Home and continues to work in movies such as Book Club and the just-released 80 for Brady, as well as the TV series Grace and Frankie.
At 85, she remains a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, using her platform to advocate for social and political causes.
Harrison Ford has had the rare opportunity to play his two best-known characters, Indiana Jones and Han Solo, as both a young and old man. At 80, he’s just received an honorary award at the Cannes film festival, appears in the TV series 1923 and Shrinking, and is about to hit the big screen again in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Finally, an honorable mention for the late Betty White, who began her career in the 1940s and continued to work in Hollywood for over 80 years, with memorable roles in TV shows including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls, and Hot in Cleveland.
She died in December 2021, just three weeks short of her 100th birthday, and was remembered as a beloved figure in the entertainment industry and a trailblazer for women in comedy.
Footnote: The flipside of the continued success of older stars is what some see as a lack of opportunity for younger actors. The Guardian takes up that point here.
