Movies Stars Alive and Over 85

There are many much-acclaimed actors that have lived to their eighty-fifth year or more, well known names that evoke memories of their greatest work. Kirk Douglas is 90 now, a Hollywood legend if there ever was one, while Olivia de Havilland, who ironically died in Gone with the Wind as Melanie, is still with us at 91. Ernest Borgnine, who is remembered by my generation for his role in McHale's Navy is going strong at 90, and Van Johnson, who starred in such classics as Brigadoon and The Caine Mutiny is 90 as well. Eli Wallach, best known for his part in The Magnificent Seven as the leader of the evil bandits, is 91, and Richard Widmark, a Hollywood star since 1947, is the elder statesman of this half dozen at 93.

Kevin McCarthey's name might not ring a bell, but you have seen his face in countless roles. Kevin is 93 now, his biggest part being that of the man who uncovers the nefarious plot to replace people by the alien pods in The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Titanic star Gloria Stuart, who played a 100 year old survivor of the ship's sinking in the blockbuster hit, is "just" 97, born on the Fourth of July in 1910. Herbert Lom is known to Pink Panther fans as Inspector Dreyfus, Peter Seller's Inspector Clouseu's nemesis, but he was also the Phantom of the Opera and Captain Nemo and has worked in films since 1942; Lom is 90.

Zsa Zsa Gabor, an actress probably most famous for being herself, is also 90, currently recovering from a recent stroke. R. G. Armstrong, a veteran character actor who played Pruneface in Dick Tracy and appeared in numerous westerns, has been around for some nine decades. Celeste Holm will turn 91 next May, an Academy Award winner for her role in Gentlemen's Agreement in 1947. Another ninety year old actor is Mel Ferrer, who was married to Audrey Hepburn from 1954 until 1968. There must have been something in the water where Joan Fontaine grew up, as she is Olivia de Havilland's sister and also an Oscar winner for Suspicion. Joan is the younger of the two siblings at 89.

The gorgeous star of Song of Bernadette, Jennifer Jones, is 88. Jones won an Academy Award for her acting in that film and also starred in many other movies, including A Duel in the Sun. 88 year old Gene Barry played the scientist fighting the Martians in War of the Worlds, as well as starring in several television series over the years. Louis Jourdan couldn't kill James Bond in Octopussy as the villain and bought the farm in the end of the movie, but the Gigi star is alive in real life. Maureen O'Hara, star of flicks like The Quiet Man with John Wayne, is 87, while Mickey Rooney just turned 87, a child star that has been on the national scene his entire life.

Cyd Charrise was one of the greatest dancers in the world, working in films like Singin' in the Rain and The Band Wagon; Cyd is 86. Harry Carey, Jr. is recognized by those who watch the old Westerns, having appeared in too many cowboy movies to count in his 86 years. One of the greatest sex symbols of the Twentieth Century, Jane Russell played opposite Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. On June 21st of this year, Russell turned 86. The elegant Deborah Kerr is 85 now, known for her memorable acting in The King And I, King Solomon's Mines, An Affair To Remember, and From Here To Eternity.

British horror star Christopher Lee, always linked to Dracula, is 85. Eleanor Parker, the wealthy baroness that was going to marry Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music is 85 too. So is Jackie Cooper, one of the original Little Rascals and Perry White in the Superman franchise. Finally, if you the name Deanna Durbin rings a bell, you are probably as old as the 95 year old actress is. Durbin was a huge star in Hollywood from the late 1930s until 1948, when she just walked away from movies and never looked back.