Theater

UPDATED 01/12/2021 Time and again many people prove that age is just a number. More and more icons from various areas of entertainment are reaching their 90s. Some have even reached triple digits. Considering all the work they have accomplished at the height of their careers, to see them still marching on is awe-inspiring. Indeed, for some their career is still enjoying the momentum. Others, though, might find themselves pursuing a quieter life of enjoyment. No matter what, though, these celebrities in their 90s and above are still wowing fans. From Mel Brooks to Betty White, several key points in entertainment history are touched upon by the celebrities who helped bring them to fruition. Years and years later, they are still here to witness the effects of their legacies. Clint Eastwood, 90 Clint Eastwood / Wikimedia Commons Our first celebrity on this list is also the youngest. Clint Eastwood only recently turned 90 on May 31 but he is no less accomplished than the actors to follow. He initially became a familiar face on television by landing a role in the long-running TV show Rawhide. However, Eastwood eventually became a major box office attraction for his role as The Man With No Name in spaghetti westerns A Fistful of Dollars, A Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Eastwood has had a long, illustrious career in acting and directing over the years. He has shown that he can take on more sensitive roles by co-starring with Meryl Streep in The Bridges of Madison County and he has continued to top the A-list in the 21st century with films such as Million Dollar Baby and Gran Torino. Eastwood has even fathered eight children. Betty White, 98 Betty White / Flickr Comedy powerhouse Betty White is still making waves well into her 90s. This endurance and continued involvement in the industry gives White the longest career of anyone in the industry. That is 80 years spent entertaining America and the world. In that time she also became the first woman to produce a sitcom, Life with Elizabeth (1953). Two years later, she became honorary Mayor of Hollywood. She came quite a long way since her family was struggling through the Great Depression, which her father helped with by building and selling radios. Recently, she has appeared in commercials for Mars, Incorporated, a Hallmark production, and even romantic comedies like You Again and The Proposal. Though she is very much one of the celebrities in their 90s, Betty White isn't slowing down yet. Mel Brooks, 94 Mel Brooks / Wikimedia Commons Known as an actor, comedian, filmmaker, and composer, Mel Brooks has contributed much to the entertainment and film industries. One of his most enduring legacies involves writing the television comedy series Get Smart with Buck Henry. The show was known as a comedic spin on the seductive James Bond approach to espionage and spycraft. Maxwell Smart, Bond's bumbling foil, would become an icon in his own right. His life and career spanned long enough to win him an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Such an accomplishment makes him one of a few EGOT winners; the small population who can claim the same is very telling. And through most of it, he shared a loving relationship with Anne Bancroft until her death in 2005. Dick Van Dyke, 95 Dick Van Dyke / Flickr Though he may not bear the elusive title of EGOT Winner, Dick Van Dyke still sports an impressive resume. His career spanned seven decades and in that time he earned an Emmy, Tony, and Grammy Award. Devoted fans will recognize him as Bert from Mary Poppins, an iconic role that stands the test of time. He is also known for his eponymous comedy show, where audiences could wear a smile to match his own timeless grin. Mary Poppins was not his only experience with music, as he also starred in Bye Bye Birdie (1963) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). The 2000s did not drive Van Dyke to rein in his career yet, however. He also starred alongside Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and more in Night at the Museum (2006) and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014). Fittingly, he was also present in the 2018 Mary Poppins Returns. Eva Marie Saint, 96 Eva Marie Saint / ImageCollect Born in 1924, Eva Marie Saint would give Hollywood 70 years of her talented career. In that time, she worked on some incredibly big projects that would themselves redefine filmmaking. Among such titles is Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest. For this, she earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. By 1957 she had already received Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations for A Hatful of Rain. Even well into the 2000s, Saint kept using her acting talent, starring in Winter's Tale (2014). It is clear, judging by her and other actors in their 90s, that age poses no reason to start slowing down. Before becoming an established actress, the New Jersey native studied acting at Bowling Green University. Since then, she became known for her role opposite Cary Grant as a woman of seduction and mystery. Both character and viewer alike were left, transfixed, at Saint's mercy. She, like other celebrities in their 90s, left a mark on all who saw her work. Read onto the NEXT page for more celebrities who are in their 90s and beyond! Angela Lansbury, 95 Angela Lansbury / ImageCollect Across eight decades, fans of Angela Lansbury could see her act on multiple platforms. The actress held mastery over theater, television, and the big screen alike. WWII brought her family to America, seeking refuge from the Blitz plaguing London. There, she made quick work in her transition to Hollywood, signing with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starred in Gaslight (1944) and The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945). For her work, she earned a Golden Globe Award and two Oscar nominations. Many consider Lansbury's big claim to fame as the film The Manchurian Candidate (1962). After her contract with MGM ended, she temporarily moves to theater before starring in the 1962 film, which many consider an example of her finest work. Her success on the big screen would quickly transfer to the stage. Lansbury enjoyed leading roles in Sweeney Todd and The King and I. Even if she was not physically seen, she was heard, lending her memorable vocal talents to the 1991 animated classic Beauty and the Beast. As one of a handful of celebrities in their 90s, hers really is a tale as old as time. Bob Barker, 97 Bob Barker / ImageCollect The price is right about this one, Bob Barker's success truly is beyond measure. With 16 Daytime Emmy Awards to his name, Barker became a household name for hosting not just The Price is Right but also Truth or Consequences. Barker's career as a media personality traces back to his college years when he worked part-time in radio. By then, Barker knew what he wanted to do, and so went to California to pursue broadcasting. From then on, television appearances and hosting opportunities kept coming. He has hosted Miss Universe and the Miss USA pageants alike and became the longest-serving host of both. His passion is not limited to television, however, as he is an avid advocate for animal rights and humane treatment and care of animals. One related group he strongly supports is the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. This makes Barker one of the several celebrities in their 90s who uses his free time to advance worthy causes. His 2007 retirement concluded five decades of television stardom. Tony Bennett, 94 Tony Bennett / Wikimedia Commons Originally, Anthony Dominick Benedetto, Tony Bennett dedicated his active years to the arts. Bennett has dabbled in painting, but it is in music that he really left his mark. He drew from the Great American Songbook when compiling his repertoire, and the results brought him 18 Grammy Awards. Though, his painting should not be dismissed, as several pieces are on permanent public display in many renowned institutions. Bennett's passion for music made itself known early on. But it was not until after returning home from WWII that Bennett would pursue it in full. He gradually expanded his stylistic range, and would eventually utilize traditional pop standards, jazz, show tunes, and big band. Later, he worked to help others embrace the same passion he did and founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, New York. Cicely Tyson, 96 Cicely Tyson / Wikimedia Commons The roles of Cicely Tyson can be enjoyed in many ways, from television to film, to theater. Some debate surrounds the year of Tyson's birth, as she is very protective of her privacy. What is known for sure, however, is that Ms. Tyson developed a career that would involve several significant roles in numerous pieces of media that defined generations and set high standards for those to come. The Harlem native displayed an early determination to pursue her wants and dreams, forsaking a typing job in favor of modeling. Even though she was prohibited from many plays and movies in her youth, Tyson was drawn to the idea of acting. This was a journey she would have to pursue on her own, however, as her religious mother feared the path she was taking. Fortunately, Tyson persisted. Luckily for audiences across the country, Tyson contributed to the success of movies such as The Help, Roots, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, and several Tyler Perry movies. In 2013 in addition to her many other recognitions and awards, Tyson won a Tony Award for her role in The Trip to Bountiful. Like other celebrities in their 90s, Tyson shows that dedication can yield stunning and impactful results. Cloris Leachman, 94 Cloris Leachman / ImageCollect Another powerhouse in her 90s, Cloris Leachman deserves some recognition on this list. A fantastic actress with a career spanning over seven decades, she has won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, as well as a record-setting eight Primetime and one Daytime Emmy Awards. She has appeared in popular movies such as Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, and television shows such as Malcolm in the Middle. Leachman has also voice acted in various films. Age has not slowed down Cloris Leachman by any means. She has continued to act in popular television and movies in the 21st century. She also hilariously joined another actress on this list, Betty White, in You Agan (see the clip below). Leachman even set a record for the oldest contestant to appear on Dancing With The Stars in 2005 at age 82. Sidney Poitier, 93 Sidney Poitier / ImageCollect Poitier was the first black person to win the Best Actor Academy Award in 1964, according to History for Lilies of the Field. He is also known as the oldest living and earliest surviving Best Actor Academy Award winner. Harry Belafonte, 93 Harry Belafonte / ImageCollect Belafonte is the man himself who brought us the memorable song "Day-O," which could be heard in the famous film Beetlejuice. According to Wikipedia, he is one of the most successful Jamaican-American pop stars in history. He was also dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Trinidadian Caribbean musical style in the 1950s to international audiences. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v4BYvWrB5rCk

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