Although the Golden Age of Hollywood ended over 50 years ago, some of the actors from this time period are still alive today. Not only are these actors still alive, they are also still working in the industry. The Golden Age was killed by the television industry, but these actors stayed afloat by adapting and accepting television roles.
While there are some actors who may be older than the ones on this list, they have been retired for decades or had careers that lasted for a brief period of time.
For this list, we chose to highlight the ten oldest actors who are still active (at the time of this writing) or have been active within the last decade.
As of August 2024, the information on this list is as accurate as possible and will be updated as needed.
10 Oldest Living Actors in the World
10. James Hong (February 22, 1929 – Present)
Oldest Age Reached: 95 years, 6 months, and 9 days
Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Years Active: 1945 – Present
Notable Works: Big Trouble in Little China, Blade Runner, Kung Fu Panda
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
James Hong is renowned for his extensive contributions to film and television, appearing in over 600 roles throughout his career. He co-founded the East West Players, which was one of the first Asian American theater groups, helping to significantly increase the representation of Asian Americans in Hollywood.
Did You Know?
Hong was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2021, celebrating his lengthy and impactful career in the entertainment industry.
9. Mel Brooks (June 28, 1926 – Present)
Age (as of October 2022):98 years, 2 months, 4 days
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Years Active: 1947 – Present
Notable Works: Wrote for Your Show of Shows (1950–1954) and Get Smart (1965–1970); Directed The Producers (1967), Blazing Saddles (1974), Spaceballs (1987), and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
While Mel Brooks has acted a bit throughout his 75-year career, he is better known for directing some major comedic cult classics, including Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Brooks was always interested in pursuing a career in entertainment and he began working when he was 14 and had his first performance as a comedian when he was 16.
During World War II, Brooks served in the U.S. Army. Following the end of the War, Brooks helped organize shows for captured Germans and American troops.
After returning home, Brooks worked as an entertainer at various resorts in the Borscht Belt in the Catskill Mountains. Eventually, Brooks became a comedy writer for TV and landed his first big gig as a writer for Your Show of Shows (1950–1954). Brooks’ other notable work as a writer was the show Get Smart.
Building on his writing career, Brooks began directing in the 1970s and many of his films were hits.
Did You Know?
In 2001, Mel Brooks became one of the few EGOT Winners (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) when he won some Tony Awards for the stage adaptation of The Producers.
8. Dick Van Dyke (December 13, 1925 – Present)
Age (as of October 2022):98 years, 8 months, 21 days
Birthplace: West Plains, Missouri, USA
Years Active: 1947 – Present
Notable Works: Bye Bye Birdie (1961 stage production and 1963 film), The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966), Mary Poppins (1964), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971–74)
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Dick Van Dyke is a beloved stage and film actor whose career has spanned over 75 years. Prior to starting his entertainment career in the late 1940s, Van Dyke served in the U.S. Army Air Forces as a radio announcer and entertainer.
He had originally tried to enlist as a regular soldier, but was denied enlistment several times for being underweight.
After leaving the military in 1946, Van Dyke worked as a radio DJ and also had a show on local television. In 1959, Van Dyke made his Broadway debut and a year later he landed his breakthrough role as the male lead of Bye Bye Birdie.
After winning a Tony for his role, Van Dyke’s career took off and he landed his own TV show with CBS, The Dick Van Dyke Show, which aired from 1961 – 1966.
Throughout his career, Van Dyke had numerous iconic roles in some of the most famous movies ever, including Mary Poppies, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the screen version of Bye Bye Birdie. Van Dyke is still very active and occasionally appears in movies.
Did You Know?
Dick Van Dyke has won five Primetime Emmys, a Tony, and a Grammy Award, and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995. He also received the SAG Life Achievement Award in 2013, which is the Screen Actors Guild’s highest honor.
7. Lee Grant (October 31, 1925 – Present)
Age (as of October 2022): 98 years, 10 months, 4 days
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Years Active: 1933 – Present
Notable Works: Peyton Place (1965 – 1966); Valley of the Dolls (1967); In the Heat of the Night (1967); and Shampoo (1975)
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Lee Grant, who will be turning 97 in a few weeks, has worked as an actress, director, and documentarian for nearly 90 years!
Grant’s career began when she was just a child when she made her stage debut in L’Oracolo at the Metropolitan Opera in 1931. Throughout her adolescent and teenage years, Grant studied ballet and attended several prestigious ballet schools, including Julliard.
In 1944, Grant appeared in her first professional stage role as an understudy in Oklahoma.
After making her film debut in 1951 in the film version of Detective Story, Grant received her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination.
However, despite making a big splash in Hollywood, Grant’s career was halted when she became a blacklisted actor in 1952. Reportedly, Grant was blacklisted because of her marriage to Arnold Manoff and her friendship with other actors who had been blacklisted.
Although Grant was not able to work for over 12 years, she hit her stride in the 1960s and played the lead role in the Valley of the Dolls and In the Heat of the Night.
Outside of acting, Grant has directed several TV films, documentaries, and TV episodes.
Did You Know?
In 1986, Lee Grant won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for directing Down and Out in America.
6. June Lockhart (June 25, 1925 – Present)
Age (as of October 2022):99 years, 2 months, 7 days
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Years Active: 1938 – Present
Notable Works: Lassie (1958 – 1964); Lost in Space (1965 – 1968); and Petticoat Junction (1968 – 1970)
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
June Lockhart, the daughter of actors Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, is still active at the age of 95. Lockhart has a few acting credits in recent years, including a voice acting role in an animated film Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm.
In 2013, Lockhart recorded voice lines for a video game called Tesla Effect.
Lockhart made her film debut opposite her parents in a film version of A Christmas Carol in 1938. She is best known for her work as Ruth Martin, the mother of Timmy, on 1950s CBS series Lassie.
Lockhart also famously portrayed Dr. Maureen Robinson in Lost in Space, which ran from 1965 to 1968 on CBS. As an homage to her work as Dr. Maureen Robinson, Lockhart had a cameo in the 1998 film Lost in Space, which was based on the 1960s TV show.
Did You Know?
June Lockhart is a two-time Emmy Award nominee and a Tony Award winner.
5. Eva Marie Saint (July 4, 1924 – Present)
Age (as of October 2022): 100 years, 1 month, 28 days
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, USA
Years Active: 1946 – Present
Notable Works: On the Waterfront (1954), North by Northwest (1959), Superman Returns (2006), and Winter’s Tale (2014)
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Actress Eva Marie Saint has had a long career and is most famous for playing the lead female role in On the Waterfront (1954), opposite Marlon Brando.
Saint’s work in the movie earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her next big role came when she was chosen by Alfred Hitchcock to star in North by Northwest.
Saint’s career began in television when she worked as an NBC page and she appeared on camera for the first time in 1946 on NBC’s Campus Hoopla.
Although she has had periods of where she only appeared in smaller roles, Saint has never stopped working.
Her most recent acting credits were in 2014 in the movie Winter’s Tale and as a voice actor in the animated series The Legend of Korra.
Did You Know?
Eva Marie Saint has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for television and one for motion pictures.
4. Michael Caine (March 14, 1933 – Present)
Age (as of October 2022): 91 years, 5 months, 18 days
Birthplace: London, England
Years Active: 1946 – Present
Notable Works: The Italian Job, Alfie, The Dark Knight
photo source: Wikimedia
Sir Michael Caine is a British film icon known for his distinctive Cockney accent and remarkable versatility. His career spans over seven decades and features roles that range from leading man to memorable supporting characters. Caine’s performances have earned him numerous awards, including two Oscars.
Did You Know?
Michael Caine has authored several books, including his autobiography and guides on acting. He’s known for his sharp wit and has shared his perspective on aging gracefully in the public eye.
3. Gene Hackman (January 30, 1930 – Present)
Age (as of October 2022): 94 years, 7 months, 2 days
Birthplace: San Bernardino, California, USA
Years Active: 1956 – Present
Notable Works: The French Connection, Unforgiven, The Royal Tenenbaums
photo source: Wikimedia
Gene Hackman, an Academy Award-winning actor, retired from acting in 2004 but remains one of the most respected figures in film history. His performances are celebrated for their intensity and authenticity, and he has left an indelible mark on the thriller and drama genres through his varied roles.
Did You Know?
Since retiring, Hackman has turned to historical fiction writing, publishing several novels that have been well-received for their intricate plotting and deep historical research.
2. William Shatner (March 22, 1931 – Present)
Age (as of October 2022): 93 years, 5 months, 11 days
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Years Active: 1951 – Present
Notable Works: Star Trek, Boston Legal, T.J. Hooker
photo source: Wikimedia
William Shatner is best known for his role as Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek series, which catapulted him to international fame. Beyond Star Trek, Shatner has enjoyed a diverse career in television, film, and music. His charismatic and often humorous delivery has made him a beloved figure in pop culture.
Did You Know?
Shatner, at 90, became the oldest person to fly into space when he joined a Blue Origin spaceflight in 2021. His adventurous spirit extends beyond his acting career into his endeavors.
1. Clint Eastwood (May 31, 1930 – Present)
Age (as of October 2022):94 years, 3 months, 1 day
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA
Years Active: 1938 – Present
Notable Works:The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Dirty Harry, Million Dollar Baby
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Clint Eastwood is an iconic cinema figure known for his roles in Western and action films. He is also a successful director and producer, with his films often exploring complex moral issues and human frailties.
Did You Know?
Eastwood is an accomplished musician and composer, having contributed to the scores of several of his films, including “Mystic River” and “Million Dollar Baby.” Despite his age, he continues to direct and star in films, maintaining a significant influence in the industry.
Article Changes
6/8/2024:
- Removed Barbara Rush, Leslie Phillips, Carole Cook, Mike Nussbaum, Branka Veselinović, and Angela Lansbury
- Added James Hong to list in No. 1 spot
- Added Michael Caine and William Shatner
- Updated ages and rearranged list
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I think Olivia Dehavilland is 102
thx elrenojohn for remembering dear Olivia
She just turned 103.
She actually turned 103 on July 1, 2019 : )
I love finding out who is still doing what ,I think it’s interesting as 85 yrs old I was a great fan of Kirk Douglas Clark Gable Etc etc. Thank you
Olivia DeHaviland