In 2020, the estimated expected career duration for women was 33.2 years while for men it was 38 years. But, for some actors and actresses, 38 years doesn’t seem to be enough, and they decide to keep working for as long as they can stay relevant. And a few of them even kept their careers in bloom for more than 80 years.
We at Bright Side are grateful for these stars’ commitment, because if all of them retired young, who would then play the gorgeous grandmas and grandpas on screen.
1. Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges, also known as The Dude for his role in the movie The Big Lebowski was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in 1949 into a prominent acting family. His first screen debut was when he was only 1-year-old in the movie The Company She Keeps. In his youth, Bridges also occasionally appeared on his father’s shows Sea Huntand The Lloyd Bridges Show.
Even though Jeff had been acting since he was a 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦, he didn’t make his big break until 1971 in the movie The Last Picture Show for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
To date, Jeff Bridges has starred in 93 movies and TV shows, and it doesn’t seem that he plans to retire anytime soon.
2. Angela Lansbury
Sunlike many actors, Angela was lucky enough to have her big break in her first movie Gaslight which got her nominated for an Oscar. Lansbury didn’t seem to settle for a nomination only, so, the following year, in 1945, she won a Golden Globe for the movie The Picture of Dorian Gray.
But what really made her famous was the TV show Murder, She Wrote in 1984 — for which she received Emmy nominations every year the show was aired.
Angela is 96 years old now, and since 1944 she starred in 112 movies and TV shows.
3. Cloris Leachman
Cloris’s first credit role on-screen was in 1948 on the TV series The Ford Theatre Hour. Over the next few decades, Cloris Leachman had several successful roles, but she reached the height of her career in 1970 for her role as Phyllis Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Her successful moments didn’t stop there. 2 years later, Leachman won an Academy Award for best- supporting actress for her role as Ruth Popper in the movie The Last Picture Show.
Cloris’s 7-decade career ended when she sadly passed away in January 2021 at age 94. Over the years, this Oscar-winning actress starred in a whopping 287 movies and TV shows with Not to Forget being her last one, which was released in 2021.
4. June Lockhart
June was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in 1925 and her first professional debut was when she was only 8 years old in a Metropolitan Opera. However, her first screen appearance was a few years later in the movie A Christmas Carol.
Even at the age of 96, Lockhart still keeps her career going. To date, June has starred in 172 movies and TV shows and she is best known for her role as a TV mother on the CBS series Lassie.
5. Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins, also known as the infamous Hannibal Lecter for his role in the movie Silence of the Lambs, has been working as an actor for more than 60 years. His first screen appearance was in 1960 in the TV series A Matter of Degree and since then, he earned 6 nominations for Academy Awards and won 2 of them.
So far, in his 84 years of life, Anthony starred in more than 140 movies and TV shows and is working on a few new projects at the moment.
6. Betty White
The Golden Girls star, Betty White, entertained many generations for 82 years. Her TV career started in 1952 when she starred in her own show Life With Elizabeth, as the lead actress. Throughout the years, White appeared in more than 120 movies and TV shows and won 5 Primetime Emmys.
In 2013, Betty also earned the Guinness World Records title for longest TV career for a female entertainer. Sadly, she passed away on December 31, 2021, only a few weeks away from her 100th 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day.
