Sally Jessy Raphael, 90, Talks What People Get So Wrong About Aging

Sally Jessy Raphael just turned 90, and she’s not planning to retire anytime soon. She is known for hosting one of the first audience-driven talk shows on American television, long before Oprah. Her show, The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, launched in 1983, and it broke ground by tackling real-life issues in front of a live audience.

Before television, Raphael worked in radio and news. She interviewed politicians, reported live, and took on media roles when few women were getting such chances. Her signature red glasses became part of her public image, but it was her bold questions and direct style that kept people watching.

Where is Sally Jessy Raphael now?

Sally Jessy Raphael Embraces Being ‘Cute Again’ at 90 and Reveals What People Get Wrong About Aging (Exclusive) https://t.co/TxuLBEKcth

— People (@people) May 13, 2025

 

Earlier this year, she marked her 90th birthday by flying to Paris with two close friends. They visited museums, returned to her favorite local spots, and skipped the usual shopping trips. She joked about going with a man instead to make it more romantic, but admitted the getaway was still worth it.

Raphael lives in New York and is far from retired. She says she’s still looking for work and wants to stay busy. She continues to stay in touch with her audience through her Instagram page, where she posts old clips and updates from her life. She’s also dating again and confirmed she’s settled with someone.

Sally Jessy Raphael believes being old has its privileges

At 90, Raphael says there’s less pressure to impress anyone. She wears what she wants, says what she thinks, and doesn’t care much for outside opinions. That freedom, she believes, is one of the biggest upsides of aging. She also points out that older people often get treated with more attention, even if some things, like being pushed around in airport wheelchairs, can be unpredictable.

She also notices that people now describe her as “cute,” a term she says skips the middle years and comes back in old age. As long as you dye your hair and hide the veins in your legs, she says, people are quick to say you “look young”, even if you clearly say you’re 90.