Let’s walk through the history of Hollywood not along the red carpet, but through decades of fame, reinvention, and determination. These legends-in-their-own-time have endured every period, from the studio system to streaming, and demonstrated that talent doesn’t spoil. They’ve outlasted trends, influenced generations of performers, and continue to shape the industry now. Here are 10 of the longest-lived actors who still set the standard for what it means to be an icon in Hollywood, counting down in cinematically correct order.
10. James Hong (born February 22, 1929)
Few Hollywood names have been on as many credits as James Hong. With more than 600 film and television credits, he’s one of the best-known faces you didn’t know you already knew. From Blade Runner to Kung Fu Panda, Hong has done it all: comedy, drama, sci-fi, animation. Besides acting, he co-founded East West Players, the pioneering Asian American theater group that paved the way for countless others. In 2021, at age 92, he was finally bestowed his long-awaited star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the ultimate honor for a career founded on grit, skill, and legacy.
9. Mel Brooks (born June 28, 1926)
If there were a thing that kept you young, Mel Brooks would never die. The master of comedy behind Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, and Spaceballs has been keeping the world laughing for over seven decades. Beginning as a teen performer and World War II Army veteran, Brooks worked his way from TV writer to one of the most successful comedians in film history. He’s also one of the few artists to become an EGOT-winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) in 2001, joining that exclusive club. Brooks’s combination of humor, fearlessness, and heart ensures that funny never fades.
8. Dick Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925)
There’s a reason Dick Van Dyke is still one of the most popular entertainers of all time; his charm never goes out of style. From The Dick Van Dyke Show through to Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, he’s been making people smile for more than 75 years. A World War II U.S. Army Air Forces veteran who became a radio personality, Van Dyke later won five Emmys, a Tony, and a Grammy, as well as induction into the Television Hall of Fame. Even in his late 90s, he’s still dancing, singing, and appearing in cameos, reminding everyone why he’s Hollywood’s eternal optimist.
7. Lee Grant (born October 31, 1925)
Lee Grant’s tale would be a movie unto itself, one of determination, genius, and survival. A child performer turned movie star, she was blacklisted during the McCarthy years and sidelined for more than a decade. But when she returned, she returned with a bang, headlining Valley of the Dolls, In the Heat of the Night, and going on to win award-winning documentaries. Grant even won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 1986. With almost 90 years in the business, she’s the living example that artistry always prevails.
6. June Lockhart (born June 25, 1925)
To generations of television viewers, June Lockhart was the mom America grew up with. She played Ruth Martin on Lassie and Dr. Maureen Robinson on Lost in Space, solidifying her place as television royalty. But there is even more to her past. She debuted on screen at age 12 in A Christmas Carol (1938) with her parents. She’s worked in nearly every medium since then, from stage to video games, and even showed up for the 1998 Lost in Space film. Emmy-nominated and Tony-awarded, Lockhart continues to be an icon for the warmth of old television.
5. Eva Marie Saint (born July 4, 1924)
Elegant, poised, and eternally talented Eva Marie Saint is Hollywood royalty. She received an Oscar for On the Waterfront opposite Marlon Brando and won the hearts of people once again in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest. She started off her career on live television and has made the transition elegantly through each decade since, including voice work in The Legend of Korra and roles in Winter’s Tale. She’s among the limited actors to have two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,e a film one, a television one, a testament to her own versatility and legacy.
4. Michael Caine (born March 14, 1933)
Sir Michael Caine has made a career out of charisma, class, and that inimitable Cockney accent. From The Italian Job to The Dark Knight trilogy, he’s tried it all: action, comedy, drama, and even leading man romantic roles. Twice an Oscar winner, he’s also written about acting and autobiography, giving a glimpse into his work and his life growing up in London during the postwar period. Still as sharp-tongued as ever, Caine has become something of an anomaly: a worldwide star who feels utterly true, both on and off screen.
3. Gene Hackman (born January 30, 1930)
Gene Hackman has not worked since 2004, but his legacy in movie history is still gigantic. The Oscar-winning star of Unforgiven, The French Connection, and The Conversation gained a reputation for intensity, honesty, and all-out commitment. In retirement, he’s found a new career as a novelist, writing historical fiction that critics are lauding for its realism and storytelling. Off-screen as well, Hackman still makes with the same integrity that marked his performances.
2. William Shatner (born March 22, 1931)
Few people have lived as boldly as William Shatner. Famously known as Star Trek’s Captain Kirk, he’s been an actor, director, writer, musician, and pop culture icon for over six decades. In 2021, at the age of 90, he became the oldest human to fly to space aboard Blue Origin, a befitting adventure for science fiction’s most iconic captain. Whether he’s playing himself for laughs or offering a sincere interview, Shatner’s mixture of humor, interest, and showmanship keeps him captivatingly intriguing.
1. Clint Eastwood (born May 31, 1930)
Clint Eastwood is more than just a Hollywood legend; he’s an institution. From his early westerns to directing Oscar-winning dramas such as Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby, Eastwood has reinvented himself along the way. He’s also a composer, having written the scores for several of his own movies. At more than 90 years old, he’s still directing, acting, and showing that grit, vision, and passion are ageless. If there’s ever been a face that epitomized old-school Hollywood resilience, it’s Eastwood’s.
These stars are not merely survivors; they’re narrators who’ve infused hit films with their DNA. They’ve moved from black-and-white movies to 4K blockbusters, changing and inspiring with each generation. Their career is a living testament to the fact that true legends never die; they just roll along.