Legendary Celebrities Who May Have Already Peaked But Are Still Alive Today
George Hamilton – Born in 1939
George Hamilton is known for his elegant style, suntan, and for appearing in various Ritz Crackers commercials. Still, he is a very prolific actor who has starred in over 110 movies and television series. He began his career in 1952, but it wasn’t until 1959 that he appeared in his first movie “Crime and Punishment U.S.A.” for which he won a Golden Globe.
In 1960, he starred in “Where the Boys Are,” which was a hit, and he has appeared in several other movies like “Home from the Hill,” “The Godfather Part III,” “Love at First Bite,” “8 Heads in a Duffel Bag,” and “The Congressman.”
Katharine Ross – Born in 1940
Katharine Ross is an actress who has appeared in numerous movies, theatre productions, and television series since she began her career in 1962. She received critical acclaim in 1967 when she starred in “The Graduate,” which saw her get nominated for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and winning a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year.
In 1969, Ross starred in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here,” for which she won a BAFTA Award. She continued to star in other movies throughout the following decades and spent most of the ’90s semi-retirement before fully retiring in 2019.
Debbie Harry –Born in 1945
Debbie Harry is a singer, songwriter, and actress most recognizable for being the lead vocalist of the band “Blondie,” which she formed in 1974. She previously worked as a dancer and secretary before pursuing a musical career. In 1976, her band released its first album, “Blondie,” and it was certified Gold in the United Kingdom.
Their third album “Parallel Lines” was a global hit, and the single “Heart of Glass” became the second highest-selling single of 1979. The group split in 1982, and Harry began a solo career and combined it with acting by starring in the 1983 movie “Videodrome.” In 2019, she released a memoir, “Face It.”
Jacqueline Bisset – Born in 1944
Jacqueline Bisset began her career in 1965, but it wasn’t until three years later that she came to prominence by starring in “The Detective” and “The Sweet Ride,” the latter for which she received a Golden Globe Award nomination. She ended the year by portraying the character of Cathy in “Bullitt,” which was one of the year’s highest-grossing movies.
In 1973, Bisset starred in the French movie “La nuit americaine,” which translates to “Day for Night,” and the film won an Academy Award. She continued appearing in several other movies and series, and in 2010, she was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government.
Ann-Margret – Born in 1941
Ann-Margret is a singer, dancer, and actress and is recognized for her roles in “Pocketful of Miracles,” “Carnal Knowledge,” “Taxi,” and “Going in Style,” and has won five Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award. In 1994, she released her autobiography, “Ann-Margret: My Story,” which detailed intimate and vulnerable moments from her life.
Ann-Margret’s music career has spanned over six decades since 1961, and in her younger days, she was noted for her sultry, contralto voice and was usually referred to as a female version of Elvis Presley. In 1962, she was nominated for a Grammy Award; in 2001, her gospel album “God is Love” was nominated for another Grammy.
Kim Novak – Born in 1933
Retired actress Kim Novak began her career in 1954, and she quickly became one of Hollywood’s biggest box-office stars by appearing in movies like “Picnic,” and “The Man with the Golden Arm.” She also had a role in the 1958 movie “Vertigo,” which is recognized as one of the greatest movies ever made.
In 1966, Novak withdrew from acting and only sparingly appeared in movies before retiring in 1991 after the disappointing experience she experienced while filming “Liebestraum.” She has won two Golden Globe Awards and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and has since become a painter and visual artist.
Victoria Principal – Born in 1950
Victoria Principal is an actress best known for portraying Pamela Barnes Ewing in the “Dallas” series from 1978-1987. She began her career in 1971, and the following year, she got her first role in “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean,” which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
In addition to acting, Principal became the author of four books, “The Body Principal,” “The Beauty Principal,” “The Diet Principal,” and “Living Principal.” She also founded her own production company, which focused on television films, some of which she featured in. She was also a successful skincare business owner before another company acquired it.
Cindy Williams – Born in 1947
Cindy Williams became a television icon in the ’70s when she starred in two popular television series, “Happy Days” and “Laverne & Shirley.” She began her professional career by appearing in national commercials for Foster Grant sunglasses and Trans World Airlines, and her first role came in the series “Room 222.”
In 1973, Williams starred in “American Graffiti,” which earned her a BAFTA nomination, and she also appeared in stage productions of “Deathtrap,” “Grease,” and “Moon Over Buffalo.” She also made appearances in series like “Getting By” and “8 Simple Rules” in the ’90s, and she made her Broadway debut in 2007 by starring in “The Drowsy Chaperone.”
Stephanie Beacham – Born in 1947
Stephanie Beacham is best known for playing characters like Sable Colby in the series “The Colbys” and Dr. Kristin Westphalen in the science fiction series “seaQuest D.S.V.” She began her career in 1967 by appearing in British television. In 1970, she made her movie debut in “The Games.”
In the ’70s, Beacham gained a reputation for being a “scream queen” because she appeared in several horror movies like “Dracula A.D. 1972” and “Schizo.” In 2011, she released an autobiography, “Many Lives,” where she discussed her life and career, and she appeared on reality shows like “Strictly Come Dancing” and “Celebrity Big Brother” in 2007 and 2010, respectively.
Bruce Springsteen – Born in 1949
Bruce Springsteen has arguably been one of the world’s biggest and most well-known rock singers since he began his career in 1964 by playing at local venues. In 1973, he released two albums, which didn’t get much attention, but his 1975 album, “Born to Run,” pushed him to mainstream audiences, selling over seven million copies and peaking at number three on the Billboard 200.
Since then, Springsteen has released 18 more albums and has sold more than 140 million records worldwide. He has also received 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award, and a Special Tony Award.
Tony Bennett – Born in 1926
Tony Bennett is a retired singer who was launched into the limelight in 1951 when he released the song “Because of You.” He was at the peak of his powers in the late ’50s when he released albums like “The Beat of My Heart” and “Strike Up the Band,” which were very popular.
Throughout his seven-decade career, he has received numerous accolades, like 20 Grammy Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards, and he was praised for continuing to release critically acclaimed works. In 2014, Bennett and Lady Gaga created a joint album, “Cheek to Cheek,” which they promoted by touring various countries in 2014 and 2015.
Tom Selleck – Born in 1945
Tom Selleck is instantly recognizable for his famous mustache. The actor had a breakout role in 1980 when he portrayed the character Thomas Magnum in the television series “Magnum P.I.,” for which he won an Emmy Award in 1985. He has also appeared in numerous movies and series like “Three Men and a Baby,” “Mr. Baseball,” “Lassiter,” “The Rockford Files,” and “Friends.”
Since 2005, Selleck has portrayed Jesse Stone’s character in nine movies adapted from the books of Robert B. Parker. He has also had the long-standing role of Frank Reagan in the series “Blue Bloods,” and in 2021, he was featured on Nicholas King’s album, “Act One.”
Lorenzo Lamas – Born in 1958
Lorenzo Lamas’ most significant role was as Lance Cumson in the soap opera “Falcon Crest,” for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as Best Supporting Actor. His other notable roles include Reno Raines in the series “Renegade,” Hector Ramirez in the series “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and Dr. Hollywood in the Nickelodeon series “Big Time Rush.”
Lamas is also a theatre actor and has been a part of plays like “The King and I,” which was shown at the Ogunquit Playhouse, and “The Fantasticks” at the Casa Manana Theatre. In 2015, he appeared in the reality show “Celebrity Apprentice,” and in 2016, he became a helicopter pilot.
Max Baer Jr. – Born in 1937
Not to be confused with his father, Max Baer Sr., a professional boxer, Max Baer Jr. is an actor, comedian, and director best known for playing Jethro Bodine in the sitcom “The Beverly Hillbillies” that ran from 1962 to 1971. He began his professional career in 1960 and made minor appearances in series like “Maverick” and “Cheyenne.”
Following the end of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” Baer Jr. wrote and produced “Macon County Line” in 1974, which was a critical and commercial success. He is recognized as one of the first to use the name of a song as the name and plot of a movie.
Paul Hogan – Born in 1939
Paul Hogan is an actor and comedian whose most famous work is playing Michael “Crocodile” Dundee in the 1986 movie “Crocodile Dundee,” which was a commercial success. The following year, he won a Golden Globe Award for his performance. He began his career in 1971 by appearing in a talent show, “New Faces,” followed by his comedy sketch program, “The Paul Hogan Show,” which ran from 1973 o 1984. In 1973, he won TV Week Logie Award.
Hogan also appeared in advertisements for Winfield, Foster’s Lager, and the Australian tourism industry. In 1985 he appeared in “Anzacs” alongside many other very popular actors of that time.
George Hamilton – Born in 1939
George Hamilton is known for his elegant style, suntan, and for appearing in various Ritz Crackers commercials. Still, he is a very prolific actor who has starred in over 110 movies and television series. He began his career in 1952, but it wasn’t until 1959 that he appeared in his first movie “Crime and Punishment U.S.A.” for which he won a Golden Globe.
In 1960, he starred in “Where the Boys Are,” which was a hit, and he has appeared in several other movies like “Home from the Hill,” “The Godfather Part III,” “Love at First Bite,” “8 Heads in a Duffel Bag,” and “The Congressman.”
Sandie Shaw – Born in 1947
Sandie Shaw was one of the most successful female British singers in the ’60s, and during that period, the singles “There’s Always Something to Remind Me,” “Long Live Love,” and “Puppet on a String” became the U.K. number one singles. The latter won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1967.
Shaw began her career in 1964, and she appeared in various popular Television programs performing barefoot, which endeared her to the public audience. In 1968, she started a fashion label and sold her clothing and jewelry, and that same year, she hosted her T.V. show “The Sandie Shaw Supplement.” In 2013, she retired, and in 2017, she was awarded an M.B.E.
Richard Chamberlain – Born in 1934
Richard Chamberlain is an actor and singer who became a teen idol when he starred in the series “Dr. Kildare” from 1961 to 1966. After that, he appeared in other series like “Shōgun” and “The Thorn Birds” and also starred as Jason Bourne in the 1988 movie “The Bourne Identity.”
Chamberlain had some singing ability, and his song “Three Stars Will Shine Tonight” reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. He also appeared in theatre productions like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “My Fair Lady,” and “The Sound of Music,” and in 1969, he became the first American to play the title role in “Hamlet” since John Barrymore did in 1925.
Christopher Walken – Born in 1943
Christopher Walken is a very recognizable face in Hollywood, as he has starred in numerous movies and television series since he began his career in 1952. His films have grossed over $1.6 billion in the United States, and he has received an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
The movie “The Deer Hunter,” which was released in 1978, pushed Walken to a broader audience, and he has gone on to appear in films like “The Dead Zone,” “King of New York,” “Sleepy Hollow,” and “Percy,” which cut across various genres. He is also a stage actor and has appeared in multiple Shakespeare plays.
Marla Gibbs – Born in 1931
Fans of the popular series “The Jeffersons” can surely remember Marla Gibbs, as she portrayed Florence Johnston from 1975 to 1985, a role that earned her five Primetime Emmy Award nominations. She began her career in the early ’70s by appearing in movies like “Black Belt Jones” and “Preacher Man.”
After the cancelation of “The Jeffersons,” Gibbs was cast as Mary Jenkins in the N.B.C. sitcom “227,” for which she was also the co-producer. In 2021, she bagged the role of Olivia Price in the drama series, “Days of Our Lives,” and that same year, she was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Billy Dee Williams – Born in 1937
Billy Dee Williams made his movie debut in 1959 with the movie “The Last Angry Man,” but it wasn’t until 1971 that he gained national attention by starring in “Brian’s Song,” for which he received an Emmy nomination. His most famous movie role was that of Lando Calrissian in the 1980 movie “The Empire Strikes Back.”
In 1985, Williams was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk. He is credited with over sixty appearances in television series, with his most recognized being in “General Hospital” and “Gideon’s Crossing.” He is also a painter whose works have sold for an average of $50k.
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