Let’s face it, 2022 got off to a hard start with the devastating passing of Betty White just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. So, to start 2023 off right, we wanted to do basically the opposite of that: We have a list of celebrities that are showing aging who’s boss!
It can be both heartwarming and heartening to see some of your favorite famous people who are still killin’ it into their twilight years. From celebrities you haven’t heard from in years to ones you’ll be excited to hear have projects in the works, there’s a whole slew of old-school celebrities that are here to inspire you.
Here is a list of celebrities that you’ll be happy to see are still kicking butt in their 90s!
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Celebrities Over 90
1. Mel Brooks
A man whose movies, like 1974’s Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles, have influenced generations of comedians, the great-grandfather of comedy 96-year-old Mel Brooks is even still working, having done a voice appearance on the animated series Little Demon in 2022. The writer/director and sometimes comedy actor also has two projects in production as of this writing.
2. Bob Newhart
Quite possibly your dad’s or grandad’s favorite sitcom actor, Bob Newhart of The Bob Newhart Show and later Newhart surprisingly did not win his first Emmy until 2014—after receiving his first nomination in 1962. The 93-year-old comedian appears to have slowed down in recent years as his last onscreen appearance was on Young Sheldon in 2020.
3. Bob Barker
Despite the fact that he officially retired from hosting The Price is Right in 2007 after 35 years, Bob Barker is still winning at numbers, having turned an impressive 99 years young in December 2022. Though your favorite pet advocate has moved out of the spotlight in later years, we hope he is enjoying his showcase showdowns at home.
4. William Shatner
Oh captain, my captain! The O.G. starship captain, Star Trek’s William Shatner has more energy at 91 than most people do at 31. Not only is he still making appearances like a recent one at LA Comic Con, but he also appears to have three projects in the works as of this writing. Live long and prosper, indeed!
5. Dick Van Dyke
Sitcom legend Dick Van Dyke recently celebrated his 97th birthday Dec. 13 2022, a few days after he was spotted running errands in Malibu. When asked by reporters what his secret to long life was, the funnyman replied, “Well, if I’d known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself,” before adding, “Well, I don’t know, all my friends are dead, so I’m not going to complain!” Well, all but maybe one as when reporters asked whether he would hear from his Mary Poppins co-star Julie Andrews on his birthday, he quipped, “That’s right, she’s still alive.”
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6. June Lockhart
Having cemented her place in television history with her role as Maureen Robinson on the original Lost in Space in the 1960s, 97-year-old June Lockhart has had a career that spans decades. She even appeared in an episode of the Netflix Lost in Space reboot in 2021 in a voiceover role. She doesn’t seem lost at all!
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7. Lee Grant
Actress, documentarian and director Lee Grant has not appeared onscreen in a role since 2005’s Going Shopping. However, the 97-year-old Academy Award winner did have a voiceover part in 2020’s Killian & the Comeback Kids. Grant, who was blacklisted in Hollywood during the Red Scare for 12 years due to her refusal to name her partner as a communist, remains as feisty as ever in her later years.
8. Eva Marie Saint
98-year-old Eva Marie Saint may have backed away from onscreen roles of late—her last onscreen appearance was in 2014’s Winter’s Tale—but she continues to work in the podcast realm, appearing on The Pack Podcast in various roles in both 2020 and 2021. The On the Waterfront and North By Northwest actress will forever have her mark in film history.
9. William Daniels
Known for his role as Mr. Feeney on ABC’s Boy Meets World for anyone born in or after the ’80s and for his role as Dr. Mark Craig on St. Elsewhere to anyone born before, William Daniels has managed to become a fan favorite for TV watchers of all ages. The 95-year-old actor has not appeared onscreen since the Boy Meets World revival Girl Meets World, which ran from 2014 to 2017, but he still does fan meet and greets. What a gem!
10. Bonnie Bartlett
Actress Bonnie Bartlett starred on St. Elsewhere alongside her husband and college sweetheart William Daniels as well as in a recurring role on Daniels’ Boy Meets World. The 93-year-old Emmy winner has managed to keep her career going for decades, including roles on Better Call Saul, Key & Peele and Parks and Recreation in the 2010s. We also think she and her husband may have found the secret to a long life, but we’ll let them keep that to themselves.
11. James Earl Jones
Iconic actor James Earl Jones famously retired from voicing Darth Vader in the Star Wars universe in 2022, the same year he turned 91. Even so, the Oscar nominee and Honorary Oscar winner still has two projects in development as of this writing. The king lives on!
12. Clint Eastwood
Actor, producer and director Clint Eastwood seems like someone who will work until the day he dies. The Oscar winner directed, produced and starred in 2021’s Cry Macho and the following year turned 92!
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13. Gene Hackman
Much like Jack Nicholson, Oscar winner Gene Hackman is a screen legend who seemed to quietly disappear from our screens. Hackman retired from acting in 2004, but The French Connection actor is still alive and well at age 92.
14. Estelle Parsons
Estelle Parsons has endeared herself to multiple generations as well as fans of both films and TV. She won an Academy Award for her role in Bonnie and Clyde and found a whole new generation of fans playing Beverly, Roseanne and Jackie’s mother, on television’s Roseanne. The 95-year-old continues to reprise this role on The Connors.
15. Rosemary Harris
98-year-old Rosemary Harris began establishing herself as an actress in the early 1950s and has kept on impressing audiences right on through to today. Marvel fans may remember her best as Peter Parker’s Aunt May in Sam Raimi’s Spider-man trilogy, but she has done so much more!
16. Harry Belafonte
95-year-old Harry Belafonte is responsible for some of the catchiest songs ever recorded, from “Banana Boat” to “Jump in the Line.” The Tony, Grammy and Emmy award winner has been breaking barriers his entire career and left an amazing mark on music history.
17. Norman Lear
Producer, writer and TV show creator Norman Lear has had one of the most prolific careers in television history. The brains behind Sanford and Son, All in the Family, The Jeffersons and more, 100-year-old Lear’s name will forever be synonymous with the evolution of sitcoms.
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18. Henry Kissinger
Former Secretary of State and former National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger worked in the administrations for both Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. The 99-year-old had a major impact on the shape of foreign policy from 1969 until 1976 that is still discussed today … especially whenever anyone else notable passes away.
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19. Jimmy Carter
Former President Jimmy Carter is still known for his philanthropy and activism even at the age of 98. Though he was a one-term president, the impact of many of his decisions during his time in office has been felt for decades and is still being discussed and at many times praised even now.
20. Gene Shalit
Former Today Show critic Gene Shalit may very well be remembered as much for his outlandish appearance as for his reviews. The 96-year-old was The Today Show’s resident film critic for 40 years! Nowadays, he mostly remains outside of the limelight.
21. Roger Corman
Prolific indie movie trailblazer director, producer and sometime actor Roger Corman is known as “The Pope of Pop Cinema.” The 96-year-old is credited with bringing many B-movies to the screen as well as launching the careers of many well-known directors.
22. David Attenborough
The writer, presenter and narrator behind such nature documentary epics as Planet Earth and Nova, 96-year-old David Attenborough has a voice you could recognize anywhere. The English broadcaster, biologist, natural historian and author has more than made his mark on this planet.
23. Tony Bennett
Legendary musician Tony Bennett has one of the most recognizable voices in the history of music. The 96-year-old singer behind such hits as “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and “Rags to Riches” (plus a lot of duets with Lady Gaga!) may have retired, but he will always be remembered by music fans everywhere.
24. Burt Bacharach
Singer and songwriter Burt Bacharach is the mind behind such classic songs as “What the World Needs Now is Love” and “Once in a Blue Moon.” The musician, who is typically remembered sitting at a piano, turned 94 in 2022.
25. Ruth Westheimer aka “Dr. Ruth”
Ruth “Dr. Ruth” Westheimer is quite possibly the most famous sex therapist to ever live. The 94-year-old recently shared these words of wisdom with PEOPLE: “Here is words to live by: Make sure not to put sex life on the sideline, even in older years. But to keep it alive.”
26. James Ivory
One-half of one of the most prolific names in film, the “Ivory” behind Merchant Ivory Productions, James Ivory, turned 94 this year. When he won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Call Me By Your Name at the age of 89, he became the oldest Oscar winner ever.
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27. Rebecca Schull
Actress Rebecca Schull is best known for her appearances in the sitcom Wings and the films United 93 and Crimes and Misdemeanors. The 93-year-old continues to act to this day, with an appearance in 2022’s Meet Cute alongside Pete Davidson and Kaley Cuoco.
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28. James Hong
Actor James Hong had a big year in 2022, with a role in one of the most acclaimed films of the year, Everything Everywhere All at Once, on top of performances in a slew of other movies. Hong also turned 93, but has not let that slow him down! You may remember him from such classics as Big Trouble in Little China and Wayne’s World 2.
29. Joan Plowright
Even if you do not remember her name, you would most likely recognize actress Joan Plowright’s face. With an acting career that has spanned decades, Plowright played such varied characters as Martha Wilson in 1993’s Dennis the Menace and Aunt Lucinda Spiderwick in 2008’s The Spiderwick Chronicles. The 93-year-old is also the widow of legendary actor Laurence Olivier.
31. June Squibb
Academy Award nominee June Squibb found her success as an actress later in life. The Nebraska actress turned 93 in 2022 and currently has two upcoming projects in the works as of this writing.
32. Berry Gordy
Motown Records founder Berry Gordy helped to develop the majority of rhythm and blues artists in the ’60s and ’70s, making his mark on music history. Though he is now retired, the 93-year-old’s presence is still felt through his influence on the progression of music and modern sound.
33. Tippi Hedren
Actress Tippi Hedren is perhaps best known for her collaborations with problematic director Alfred Hitchcock, The Birds and Marnie. The mother of Melanie Griffith and grandmother of Dakota Johnson turned 92 in 2022.
34. Buzz Aldrin
Famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin will forever be famous for being one of the first two people to walk on the moon. The 92-year-old will be hard-pressed to find a bigger accomplishment to be known for!
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35. Robert Wagner
92-year-old Robert Wagner has had an incredibly varied career, from his TV role on It Takes Thief to his comedic appearance in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. While the actor has seen his share of controversies, there’s no denying he has made a name for himself as an actor with a career spanning decades.
36. Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno is still working as much as ever, most recently on One Day at a Time and the Steven Spielberg remake of West Side Story. At 91, the EGOT winner has yet to miss a beat.
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