You hear time and time again, "Do what you love, and you don't have to work a day in your life." These actors are the best proof of that. Well into their 90s, they are still active in the industry, taking on new projects and even winning awards. Here are the 12 busiest nonagenarians in Hollywood.
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The comedy legend turned 90 in April 2023, but she told People she still feels like a tween. "I can't wrap my head around it. I still feel like I'm about 11."
The funnywoman started her career in the 1950s on "The Garry Moore Show," but her career hit its peak with "The Carol Burnett Show," which ran from 1967 to 1978 and revolutionized comedy. Burnett's shelf is packed with six Emmy Awards, a Tony, and even the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
At 90, she's anything but slowing down. In 2022, she made a guest appearance in the final season of "Better Call Saul," reminding us that her signature wit and charm are not going anywhere.
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Rita Moreno, at 92, continues to shine brightly in Hollywood. The EGOT winner, best known for her Oscar-winning role as Anita in "West Side Story," has a number of current and upcoming projects lined up. Most recently she starred in Netflix's 2023 film "Family Switch" and appeared in "80 for Brady" and "Fast X."
At the 2024 Oscars, she dominated the red carpet wearing an astonishing black gown and proving that age is just a number.
Moreno also has zero plans to retire, anytime soon. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, she said, "I love what I do. Why on earth would I want to leave what I love?"
Robert Duvall, at 93, continues to have a busy work schedule. Known for his iconic roles in "The Godfather," "Apocalypse Now," and "Tender Mercies," for which he won an Academy Award, the actor is showing no signs of slowing down.
In 2021, Duvall starred in "12 Mighty Orphans," reuniting on-screen with Martin Sheen more than four decades after their work in "Apocalypse Now."
Duvall maintains an active lifestyle and attributes his longevity to staying physically fit, enjoying good company, and continuing to work in a field he loves.
Clint Eastwood began his Hollywood career in TV in the 1950s and later starring in spaghetti Westerns like "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and "Man with No Name." Known for his rugged charm, Eastwood also got comfortable in the director’s chair, making critically acclaimed films such as "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby," both of which won Oscars.
Today, at 93, his work schedule might not be as busy as it once was, but it’s not empty either. In 2021, Eastwood starred in and directed the neo-Western drama film "Cry Macho."
William Shatner, the Canadian actor known for playing Capt. James T. Kirk in the original "Star Trek," turned 90 in March 2021. So naturally, one might assume that he has slowed down, retired, and plays chess in the park. Well, not exactly. In October 2021, Shatner traveled on Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin space shuttle, becoming the oldest living person to go into space. That's how much he is not slowing down.
He turned 93 on March 22, 2024, the same day the documentary "You Can Call Me Bill" was released featuring the iconic actor's life, career and how much he has lived prospered.
In his memoir “Live Long and…: What I Learned Along the Way,” he reveals his secret to longevity, writing, "Don’t die. That’s it; that’s the secret. Simply keep living and try not to slow down.”
James Earl Jones started his career in the 1950s and quickly made a name for himself with his commanding stage presence. But it's his deep, iconic voice that set him apart, bringing Darth Vader in "Star Wars" and Mufasa in "The Lion King" to life. Beyond voice acting, Jones has a rich film and theater career, with notable performances in "Field of Dreams" and "The Great White Hope," for which he earned an Oscar nomination. At 93, he continues to work, proving that his talent and presence are as strong as ever.
In September 2022, he announced that he would step back from performing the voice of one of his most iconic characters, Darth Vader.
June Squibb is proving that age is just a number. She's probably the busiest 94-year-old in Hollywood, with multiple exciting projects lined up. She’s voicing a character in "Inside Out 2," set to release in June 2024, and also heading to New York to star in Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, "Eleanor the Great," and is set to film a television series that she’s keeping under wraps for now.
Squibb’s career, which saw her receive an Oscar nomination at 84 for her role in 2013 "Nebraska," has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2024, for the first time, she’s leading a film, "Thelma," a comedy where she plays a grandmother on a mission to reclaim her stolen money.
Reflecting on her busy schedule, Squibb told AP, "My friends all laugh at me, asking ‘What are you doing next?’ Sometimes I wonder why people still ask me to work, but I love it, and I do it."
Bob Newhart, the master of deadpan comedy, had his breakthrough in the 1960s with "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart."
His unique style and clever wit led to the hit sitcom "The Bob Newhart Show" in the '70s and later "Newhart" in the '80s.
Today at 94, Newhart is still making us laugh, guest-starring on shows like "The Big Bang Theory" and "Young Sheldon."
The Academy Award-winning actress Estelle Parsons turned 96 in November 2023. And if you think she's been sitting at home doing nothing, you are wrong — she just finished directing a play.
Starting as the first female political reporter on "The Today Show" after moving to New York in the 1950s, Parsons soon made her mark on Broadway in 1956. Soon after she moved to movies and won an Oscar for portraying the hysterical Blanche Barrow in 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde" and starred in films like Paul Newman's drama "Rachel, Rachel" and the Barbra Streisand comedy "For Pete's Sake."
Modern audiences best know her as Beverly Harris, Roseanne's grating grandmother, a role she reprised in "The Connors." In 2024, Parsons directed a play called "American Rot."
"First of all, I am very happy to still be alive!" Mel Brooks told People upon turning 97 in June 2023. But the legendary funnyman is more than alive — he is still smart as a whip and fit as a fiddle.
Known for creating classics like "Blazing Saddles," "Young Frankenstein," and the Academy Award-winning "The Producers," Brooks's work spans film, TV, and theater.
He remains active in the industry. His "History of the World, Part II" premiered in 2023 on Hulu, and that same year, he made a cameo in season 3 of "Only Murders in the Building."
"I feel so sorry for people who hate their jobs. I look forward to going to work every morning," living legend Dick Van Dyke, at 98 years young, told Tracy Smith in a CBS News interview about his seven-decade career.
Known for his iconic roles in "Mary Poppins," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," and "The Dick Van Dyke Show," Van Dyke has been a staple in entertainment for decades. In recent years, he has shown no signs of slowing down, appearing in 2018 "Mary Poppins Returns" and other projects. Van Dyke also made headlines with his impressive fitness routine, inspiring fans to stay active.
David Attenborough, the beloved naturalist and broadcaster, turned 98 in May 2024. Known for his captivating voice and passionate storytelling, Attenborough continues to bring the wonders of the natural world to millions.
Recently, he premiered "Mammals," a six-part series on BBC America and AMC+, exploring the diverse and fascinating behaviors of mammals from the tiny Etruscan shrew to the majestic blue whale.
Additionally, Attenborough is working on "Planet Earth III," exploring dynamic habitats around the globe, from coasts and oceans to deserts and grasslands.
