Anomalousclub
In 2020, women’s predicted career length was 33.2 years, while men’s was 38 years. However,
38 years does not seem long enough for some actors and actresses, and they prefer to continue
performing as long as they can remain relevant. And a handful of them even continued to work
for more than 80 years.
We at Anomalous appreciate these actors’ dedication because, if they all retired early, who would
portray the lovely grandmothers and grandfathers on screen?
1. Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges, better known as The Dude for his performance in The Big Lebowski, was born in
1949 into a well-known performing family. He made his film debut at the age of one in the film
The Company She Keeps. As a child, bridges also featured on his father’s programs, Sea Hunt
and The Lloyd Bridges Show. Jeff had been acting since he was a toddler, but his big break came in 1971 with the film The Last Picture Show, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best supporting actor. Jeff Bridges has been in 93 films and TV series so far, and it doesn’t seem like he wants to retire anytime soon.
2. Angela Lansbury
Unlike many performers, Angela received her big break in her debut film, Gaslight, which
earned her an Oscar nomination. Lansbury didn’t seem to be satisfied with a nomination, so the
The following year, in 1945, she won a Golden Globe for her performance in The Picture of Dorian
Gray. But it was the TV program Murder, She Wrote in 1984 that made her famous and for which
she garnered Emmy nominations every year the show ran. Angela is currently 96 years old and
has been in 112 films and television episodes since 1944.
3. Cloris Leachman
Cloris had her debut on-screen credit in 1948 on the TV show The Ford Theatre Hour. Cloris
Leachman had numerous popular parts over the following two decades, but her career peaked in
1970 with her portrayal as Phyllis Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Her achievements
did not end there. Leachman earned an Academy Award for best-supporting actress two years
later for her portrayal of Ruth Popper in The Last Picture Show. Cloris’s seven-decade career
came to an end when she died in January 2021 at the age of 94. This Oscar-winning actress has
been in a record of 287 films and television episodes, with Not to Forget being her most recent,
released in 2021.
4. June Lockhart
June was born in 1925, and at the age of eight, she made her professional debut at the
Metropolitan Opera. However, her first film appearance came a few years later in the film A
Christmas Carol. Even at the age of 96, Lockhart maintains her profession. June has been in 172
films and TV episodes to date, and she is most recognized for her portrayal as a TV mother on
the CBS sitcom Lassie.
5. Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins, best known as the infamous Hannibal Lecter in the film Silence of the Lambs,
has been an actor for over 60 years. His first screen appearance was in 1960 in the TV series A
Matter of Degree, he has received six Academy Award nominations and two wins since then. Anthony has appeared in over 140 films and television shows in his 84 years and is currently working on a few new projects.
6. Betty White.
Betty White, the star of The Golden Girls, entertained many generations for 82 years. Her
television career began in 1952 when she starred as the lead actress in her own show Life With
Elizabeth. White has appeared in over 120 films and TV shows and has won five Primetime
Emmys. Betty also set a Guinness World Record in 2013 for the longest TV career for a female
entertainer. Sadly, she died on December 31, 2021, just a few weeks before her 100th birthday.
7. Eva Marie Saint
Eva Marie Saint has appeared in 84 films and television shows throughout her 74-year career,
winning an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. Her first screen appearance was in
the 1947 film A Christmas Carol, but she didn’t become well-known until her role as Edie Doyle
in the 1954 film On the Waterfront. Eva Marie is also well-known for her roles in films such as
North by Northwest, Superman Returns, Nothing in Common, and many more. Saint announced
his retirement in 2018.
8. Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow has been an actor for 70 years and has appeared in over 160 films and television
shows in multiple languages. He made his first film appearance in 1949 and retired in 2018 at
89. Max received two Oscar nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Performance
by an Actor in a Supporting Role over his long and lucrative career.
9. Rita Moreno
An actress, dancer, and singer, Rita Moreno may look back on a 79-year career with pride. Rita
is one of the few artists who have received an EGOT – an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy, and a
Tony. Moreno made her film debut in 1950 with the film So Young, So Bad, and she went on to
have a rather successful career. She is most known for her appearances in the films Popi and
West Side Story and the television shows One Day at a Time and Oz. There are many more
movies Rita is known for, but it would take an eternity to list them all since she has been in over
160 films and TV episodes.
10. Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan has a 60-year career as one of the most popular action film stars. Chan has appeared
in over 140 films and television programs to date. He is well known for his distinct persona,
which combines screwball humor with martial arts. He began his acting career as a child actor at
the age of eight, but years later, he became a successful stuntman for Bruce Lee. Chan came to
stardom in 1978 with the film Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, and he has had other blockbuster
films since then.
11. Barbara Perry
Barbara’s 84-year acting career was one of the longest in history. She made her film debut at the
age of 12 in the film Counsellor at Law in 1933. Perry resigned in 2017 and died two years later
at the age of 97. Barbara featured in over 80 films and television episodes over her career.
12. George Hamilton
George made his debut appearance in the mini-series The Veil in 1958. In his 70-year career as
an actor, Hamilton has won a Golden Globe, had two other Golden Globe nominations and
received two more BAFTA Award nominations. Hamilton has been in over 100 films and television episodes and is now working on new projects.
13. Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell began his career as a kid actor and has worked for over 60 years. His first on-screen
their appearance was in the TV program Dennis the Menace in 1962, but his first major part came a
year later in The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters.Russell had his big break in 1979 when he
portrayed Elvis Presley in the film Elvis, for which he received an Emmy nomination. Kurt has
been in over 100 films and television series and has played several memorable roles.
