Character Actors Who Make Aging Fun

The first time I saw "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," I found a new hero by the name of Mabel Simmons, better known as Madea. I thought how refreshing it was to see someone portray a senior adult in such a fun way. Madea, played so well by Tyler Perry, is a strong older woman who loves and protects her family, all the while driving them crazy. One scene of the movie has Madea going with her granddaughter to the house where her husband had evicted her because he had decided to move in his girlfriend. Madea devised her own plan to evenly divide the couple's assets by producing a chainsaw and starts sawing everything in half. As I watched her attack the sofa and head for the grand piano, I laughed and she won my heart.

In the Hollywood world, youth reigns high, so when I see an older character such as Madea, I cheer. It makes me think there may be some common sense in the media industry after all.

Madea's not alone in great characters with a little age and experience. Take Sophia Petrillo on "The Golden Girls" for instance, played by the late Estelle Getty. Sophia moves in with her divorced daughter and her two roommates and becomes a part of the lively household. Although the three women are younger than this lady in her eighties, they have nothing on her as far as dating and activities. It's easy to see why we all love Sophia as she struggles with the normal problems of aging, but still we love the fact that she has an active and vital life.

Another interesting senior character on TV was Martin Crane, Fraiser's father in the show "Frasier." Marty, played by John Mahoney, as he's known to his friends, was wounded in the line of duty as a policeman, but he never lets his handicap slow him down. He hangs out with his friends at his local drinking hole and outclasses his sons in the dating department. Martin is feisty and loveable as he repeatedly bests his sons in their pompous lifestyles.

And then there's the Barones, Frank and Marie. played by Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts. Frank and Marie live across the street from their son, Raymond and his family on the TV show "Everybody Loves Raymond." Although I watch them and think they're probably the worst in-laws a person could get, I still laugh at Frank's stubborn and disagreeable streak and Marie, with her busybody attitude.

I guess Hollywood got the message when "The Golden Girls" was such a success. Hopefully, they learned that TV watchers enjoy seeing people with a little age. It's about time.