15 Celebrities You Didn’t Realize Lived So Long

Sometimes, we see a movie (usually an old one) and wonder what the life of that person must have been. Well, those actors might have been young in that film, but they continued on with their lives, often without us even noticing. A full life can be lived out of the spotlight.

Their careers may have peaked years before their deaths, creating the impression that they were gone long before they actually were. These celebrities all lived remarkably long lives, often spending decades beyond the period when most people stopped seeing them regularly on screen.

Olivia de Havilland

Best remembered for Gone with the Wind and her classic Hollywood career, Olivia de Havilland lived to the age of 104. She spent decades as one of the last surviving stars from Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas was already a screen legend by the 1960s, yet he lived until 2020 at age 103. Many younger movie fans were surprised to learn he survived well into the twenty-first century.

Bob Hope

Bob Hope’s career stretched across vaudeville, radio, film, and television. Although many associate him with mid-century entertainment, he lived to 100, passing away in 2003 after a lengthy retirement.

George Burns

George Burns seemed old even when he was young. The comedian and actor reached age 100, remaining active in entertainment far longer than most of his contemporaries.

Mickey Rooney

A major child star in the 1930s and 1940s, Mickey Rooney remained active for decades and lived to 93. His lifespan connected some of Hollywood’s earliest years with the modern era.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Known for her glamour and celebrity status more than any single role, Zsa Zsa Gabor lived to 99. She spent many years largely out of the spotlight before her death.

Betty White

Although remembered for The Golden Girls, Betty White’s television career began in the 1940s. She remained beloved into her late nineties and narrowly missed her 100th birthday.

Norman Lloyd

Norman Lloyd appeared in films directed by Alfred Hitchcock and worked throughout television history. He lived to 106, making him one of the longest-lived performers in Hollywood history.

Christopher Lee

Known for Dracula, Saruman, and Count Dooku, Christopher Lee continued acting into his nineties. Many fans forget he lived to 93 and remained professionally active almost until the end.

Don Rickles

The legendary insult comic entertained audiences for generations. Even though his fame peaked decades earlier, Rickles continued performing and making appearances until his death at age 90.

Ernest Borgnine

From Marty to The Wild Bunch, Ernest Borgnine built an impressive career before living to 95. He remained a familiar face on television and in films for decades afterward.

Angela Lansbury

Many remember Angela Lansbury from Murder, She Wrote, but her career began in the 1940s. She lived to 96 and continued working on stage and screen for much of her life.

Carl Reiner

Carl Reiner shaped American comedy as a writer, actor, and director. Despite being associated with much earlier eras of television, he lived until 2020, reaching the age of 98.

Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks belongs on this list simply because many people forget he is still with us. The comedy legend was born in 1926 and has outlived many of his famous contemporaries.

Dick Van Dyke

Dick Van Dyke became a household name in the 1960s, yet he remains active well into his nineties. His longevity continues to surprise audiences who associate him with much earlier television eras.