The Best TV Shows Starring Boomers

As a group, baby boomers — people born between 1946 and 1964 and who are now between 57 and 75 years old — have been a dominant force when it comes to making a splash in pop culture through the years. These days, however, seeing the faces of this powerful demographic (or those of the silent generation before it) on television is getting harder to do thanks to Hollywood's penchant for featuring the young and beautiful. But don't tune out. Here are some shows that haven't forgotten older stars (or viewers).

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CBS All Access

This spinoff of "The Good Wife" stars 15-time Emmy nominee Christine Baranski, 68, as a smart, powerful lawyer who, after losing her life savings in a Ponzi scheme, must go back to work at a mostly African American law firm. New episodes of the show are only available on the subscription streaming service CBS All Access, but season one can be watched through Amazon Prime.

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HBO

This HBO series about a family fighting for control of a global media company stars Brian Cox as the family patriarch. A fun fact about Cox, 74 — he was the first actor to play Hannibal Lecter on screen in 1986's "Manhunter."

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Netflix

Michael Douglas, 76, and Alan Arkin, 87, may be outside the boomer generation age range, but the themes of this Netflix series may still resonate for that slightly younger generation. Douglas plays Sandy Kominsky, an actor-turned-acting coach who struggles to keep working in age-obsessed Hollywood, while Arkin plays his agent and friend. Boomers aren't overlooked — Kathleen Turner, 66, has turned up as Kominsky's ex-wife, and Nancy Travis, 59, as a recent divorcee taking lessons from the acting coach.

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CBS

While Iain Armitage, the young version of Sheldon from "The Big Bang Theory," is the star of this flashback series, fans of "Designing Women" will recognize Meemaw, the show's grandmother. She's played by Annie Potts, who is 68.

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HBO

Unlike the 1957 series, this one examines the origin story of the famed attorney, in this case played by Matthew Rhys ("The Americans"). Keep an eye out in the first season for John Lithgow, who plays E.B. Jonathan, an attorney who often hires Mason to do private investigation work. Lithgow, 75, also showed up in some seasons of "The Crown" as Winston Churchill.

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Showtime

While Emmy and Oscar nominee Don Cheadle, 57, may be a member of the youth-centric Marvel cinematic universe thanks to his role as War Machine, is also a boomer. In "Black Monday," he plays a tough, veteran stockbroker in the story of how the boys club of Wall Street is brought (temporarily) to its knees in the late 1980s. 

CBS

This police procedural is second only to "Law & Order: SVU" for the title of longest-running non-animated show on prime time in the United States. The show stars Mark Harmon, 69, as the head of a group of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. He's had the role of Leroy Jethro Gibbs since the series began in 2003. Also on the show since the beginning is David McCallum, who stars as Ducky (Dr. Donald Mallard) and might be familiar to more mature viewers as one of the stars of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." He's 87.

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NBC 

The show that beats out "NCIS" for longest-running primetime non-animated series stars Mariska Hargitay, 57, as Olivia Benson, a detective dedicated to solving sexually oriented crimes. The actress is married to Peter Hermann, 53, whom she met on the show and has a recurring role as Defense Attorney Trevor Langan.

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Paramount Network

Kevin Costner, 66, plays the owner of a ranch in this story of boundary conflicts and tension over land rights involving the Yellowstone/Dutton Ranch and nearby Native Americans and land developers. Costner isn't the only actor of retirement age on the show — James Pickens Jr. (66) and Dabney Coleman (89) have made guest appearances.

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VH1

He may defy age when wearing a sky-high wig and tight dress, but RuPaul Charles is 60. But he's not just a master of drag — as one of the producers and the host of "RuPaul's Drag Race" he's won eight Emmys.

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HBO

Based on the 1973 movie of the same name, this story of a Wild West-themed amusement park where "guests" can take out their aggressions (and more) on the androids they meet has Ed Harris in a recurring role. The 70-year-old plays the Man in Black, a veteran guest who wants to expose theme park secrets.

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Comedy Central

As the title suggests, the show revolves around the life of Nora, a fictionalized version of comedian and star Awkwafina. Her father is played by BD Wong, 60, who was recently nominated for an Emmy for his guest performance in "Mr. Robot." 

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CBS All Access

Sir Patrick Stewart became indelibly attached to the Star Trek franchise when he took over the helm of the Enterprise on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Now he's back with a series named after the character at the age of 80.

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Netflix

Jane Fonda (83) and Lily Tomlin (81) aren't exactly boomers, but their Netflix show has likely resonated with some of them. Grace and Frankie become friends after their husbands announce they want divorces — because they've fallen in love with one another. Since the show debuted, Tomlin has been nominated for four Emmys, three SAG Awards, and a Golden Globe. 

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HBO Max

Though some might remember him for his short stint as 007 in "The Living Daylights" and "License to Kill," Timothy Dalton, 75, is also part of the superhero series "Doom Patrol." He plays Chief, a medical doctor who opened his home to a group of shunned superheroes to protect them from the prying eyes of the outside world. 

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CBS

On the air since 2010, this police procedural is centered around a family that works in or with law enforcement — and Tom Selleck, 76, is the patriarch, Frank. Oddly, the actor playing his father Henry, Len Cariou, isn't that much older at 81.  

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AMC

A prequel to the hit series "Breaking Bad," this series shows how Jimmy McGill developed from an earnest lawyer to a greedy criminal defender who goes by the name of Saul Goodman. Bob Odenkirk, 58, was best known as a comedian before this role, working on "Saturday Night Live" and collaborating on several projects with David Cross.

HBO

Bill Hader plays an assassin who, by chance, ends up taking acting classes — and from the onetime Fonz from "Happy Days," Henry Winkler, playing the self-absorbed acting coach. The 75-year-old actor, who has co-written some 30 books for children, won an Emmy for the role. 

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Discovery+

Fans of the Food Network show "Good Eats" were likely glad to see the show — and its star, Alton Brown, back on the air 2019. Brown, 58, added a wacky, mad scientist approach to cooking (and had some great recipes to boot).

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FX

Danny DeVito, 76, joined "The Gang" of misfits who run a bar together in Season 2 of this series, but has stuck around as the cocaine-sniffing, gun-brandishing father of two (and possibly three) of the characters. Even if the show isn't your cup of tea, it's gathered enough fans to stay on the air for 14 seasons.

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TNT

A dramedy about five manicurists who move into organized crime, the owner of the salon has an autistic brother who is played by "Oz" actor Harrold Perrineau, 57. Another boomer on the show is Dean Norris, 58, who plays mob boss Uncle Daddy — and might be familiar to audiences for his role as a DEA agent in "Breaking Bad."

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Netflix

A funny take on reality baking competition shows in which amateur chefs compete to make the least-awful baked goods, the show also has a real chef as a judge. Jacques Torres, a French pastry chef and chocolatier, is 61. 

Fox

As the unflappable Capt. Raymond Holt, tasked with overseeing a precinct of oddball NYPD detectives, Andre Braugher, 58, proved he's just as good at comedy as he is at drama (he's a two-time Emmy winner).