Honestly, the way we talk about age in Hollywood is usually pretty depressing. We’re obsessed with the "new face" or the latest breakout star who isn't even old enough to rent a car yet. But if you actually look at who’s still standing—and in many cases, still working—the oldest actors and actresses are the ones pulling off the most impressive stunts just by existing. We aren't just talking about people who "used to be" famous. We’re talking about legends like Dick Van Dyke, who celebrated his 100th birthday in late 2025 and is still technically more active than most people half his age.
It’s wild to think about.
These performers have lived through the transition from black-and-white film to streaming. They’ve seen the rise and fall of the studio system. And yet, they’re still here. Staying relevant for eighty or ninety years isn't just luck; it’s a specific kind of stamina that doesn't get enough credit in an industry built on the "next big thing."
The Century Club: Dick Van Dyke and the Magic of 100
Let’s start with the man of the hour. Dick Van Dyke officially hit the 100-year mark in December 2025. You probably saw him on The Masked Singer a couple of years back, or maybe you remember him popping up in Days of Our Lives. He’s basically the human embodiment of "joy as a survival tactic." He’s gone on record saying that if he’s not enjoying himself, he’s "really bad" at the job.
Clearly, he’s been enjoying himself for a long time.
Then you’ve got Mel Brooks. The man is 99 right now and will hit triple digits this June. If you haven't seen the new HBO Max documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!, you should. It premiered just a few weeks ago in January 2026, and it’s a reminder that his brain is still moving at a hundred miles per hour. He’s still cracking jokes about the absurdity of life, proving that being one of the oldest actors and actresses doesn't mean you lose your edge.
He literally says in the film, "I was born to make people laugh, so I do that."
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It’s simple.
It’s also incredibly rare. Most people want to retire at 65. These guys are looking at 100 and asking, "What’s next?"
The Quiet Strength of the Leading Ladies
While the guys often get the "lovable old man" headlines, the women on this list are the ones who truly defined the Golden Age of cinema. Eva Marie Saint is 101 years old. Think about that for a second. She won an Oscar for On the Waterfront in 1955. She worked with Hitchcock in North by Northwest. In 2026, she stands as the oldest living Academy Award winner.
She’s often described as fragile on screen, but that’s a total lie. She’s tough as nails.
Then there’s June Lockhart. If you’re a sci-fi fan or grew up with Lassie, she’s basically your TV mom. She’s 100 now. She made her film debut in 1938. That is nearly nine decades of professional work. It's almost impossible to wrap your head around the amount of change she’s witnessed in the industry.
Why June Squibb is the Current Queen of Workaholics
You can't talk about oldest actors and actresses without mentioning June Squibb. She’s 96. Unlike some stars who have retreated to quiet lives, Squibb is having a massive late-career surge. Just this month, in January 2026, she was spotted on Broadway in Marjorie Prime. Even younger stars like Iain Armitage are posting selfies with her, calling her "incomparable."
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She didn't even get her first Oscar nomination until she was 84 for Nebraska.
She’s the perfect example of why the "it's too late" narrative is garbage. She landed her first-ever leading film role in Thelma at age 94. She’s busy. She’s tired of people asking if she’s going to stop.
The Ones We Lost and the Ones Still Directing
We did lose a giant recently. Gene Hackman passed away in early 2025 at age 95. It hit hard because, even though he had been retired from acting for a long time, he was such a permanent fixture in the collective movie-going consciousness. His death marked the end of a specific era of gritty, 70s-style leading men.
But Clint Eastwood is still holding the fort.
He’s 95 now. He’s still directing. He’s still composing music. People keep waiting for him to hang it up, but he just keeps showing up to the set. He’s a "one-man institution," and honestly, the industry is going to look very different when he finally decides he’s done.
Other Living Legends Over 90
- Tippi Hedren: The Birds star is 96. She’s spent much of her later life as a fierce advocate for animal rights.
- James Hong: At 96, he’s got over 600 credits. From Everything Everywhere All At Once to Seinfeld, he’s been in everything.
- Robert Wagner: The suave leading man of the 50s is now 95. He lives a much quieter life these days, but he’s still a massive part of Hollywood history.
- William Daniels: Everyone’s favorite teacher, Mr. Feeny, is 98.
The Reality of Aging in the Spotlight
It’s not all red carpets and standing ovations. Being one of the oldest actors and actresses in a town that worships youth is a grind. You have to deal with the fact that your peers are mostly gone. You have to navigate a world that sometimes treats you like a museum exhibit rather than a working professional.
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Take Lee Grant, who is around 100. She was blacklisted in the 50s and had to reinvent herself as a director later. Her story isn't just about longevity; it's about survival.
There’s also the health factor. Not everyone is as mobile as Dick Van Dyke. Some, like the late Gene Hackman, struggled with Alzheimer’s in their final years. It’s a reminder that these icons are human. Their "legend" status doesn't protect them from the realities of time.
What We Can Learn From Them
If you’re looking for a takeaway from these lives, it’s probably that "retirement" is a social construct these people don't subscribe to. They keep working because the work is what keeps them engaged. Whether it’s Mel Brooks writing or June Squibb taking the stage, the common thread is a refusal to be bored.
Actionable Insights for the Movie Buff:
- Watch the Classics Now: If you haven't seen On the Waterfront (Eva Marie Saint) or The Producers (Mel Brooks), do it this weekend. These aren't just "old movies"; they are the blueprints for everything you watch today.
- Support Late-Career Projects: When performers like June Squibb lead a film in their 90s, go see it. Box office numbers for these films encourage studios to keep hiring older talent.
- Documentaries are Key: Watch the recent 2026 Mel Brooks doc or the 2025 retrospectives on Dick Van Dyke. They offer a perspective on Hollywood history you won't get from a textbook.
- Check the Credits: Next time you’re watching a Pixar movie or a random sitcom, look at the voice cast. You’ll be surprised how many of these legends are still working in the recording booth.
The "oldest" labels shouldn't be about a countdown. They should be about a celebration of the sheer willpower it takes to remain an artist for a century. Hollywood is a fickle place, but for a few rare individuals, the spotlight never really goes out.