Originally Posted By DAR The Fox News 411 page had a story of who's left among the old Hollywood and entertainment guard. Here's the story: Real movie stars are a dying breed. With the deaths in the last couple of weeks of legends like Richard Widmark, Charlton Heston and director Jules Dassin, it seems like a good time to take a look at who’s left from genuine Hollywood. The plus-85 crowd includes Gloria Stuart who was nominated for an Oscar for “Titanic†a decade ago. Stuart is 97. In descending order comes award winner Karl Malden, 96; opera star/actress Rise Stevens, 94; “Days of our Lives†matriarch Frances Reid, 94; Song and dance man Tony Martin, who’s still performing at 94; and a bunch more 94 year olds — Kevin McCarthy (whose sister was the late legendary writer Mary McCarthy); playwright Budd Schulberg; “Professor†Irwin Corey; “St. Elsewhere†star Norman Lloyd; and “Dragnet†and “MASH†good guy Harry Morgan. Here in New York, guitar great Les Paul is still gigging at 92. Also 92: the great Eli Wallach (his wife, actress Anne Jackson, is a decade younger); and “Leave It to Beaver†mom Barbara Billingsley. Some true Hollywood stars are 91 right now. Van Johnson lives in New York but has refused to give interviews for about 20 years. Friends say he’s very deaf. “Baby†June Havoc, who with her mother and sister inspired the musical hit “Gypsy†is also 91. (The musical’s director, Arthur Laurents, is only 90.) Olivia de Havilland is 91 and her sister Joan Fontaine, is a year younger. Kirk Douglas, Ernest Borgnine, Phyllis Diller and Zsa Zsa Gabor are all 91. There’s a big group that’s just rounded 90: Lena Horne, George Gaynes (of "Punky Brewster" and "Police Academy" fame), Mel Ferrer, John Forsythe, Allan Arbus (the shrink from "MASH" and ex-husband of famed photographer Diane Arbus), and two great singers: Patty Andrews of the Andrews Sisters, and the wonderful Jo Stafford, whose “You Belong to Me†(“see the pyramids along the Nileâ€) is a classic. In the 89-year-old category, two soap opera stars: Helen Wagner (“As the World Turnsâ€) and Larry Haines (“Search for Tomorrowâ€). Danny Thomas' TV wife Marjorie Lord, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Betty Garrett, Louis Jourdan, “Happy Days†and “Odd Couple†star Al Molinaro, producer Dino De Laurentiis, and dashing Gene Barry, who had a cameo at the end of “War of the Worlds,†as an ode to his original role. Who’s 88? “Mister Ed†buddy Wilbur, Alan Young; “All My Children†star James Mitchell; and one of my favorite character actors, Sid Melton, who played Danny Thomas’ press agent on “Make Room for Daddy.†In the 87 group, some of Hollywood’s greats: Mickey Rooney, Maureen O’Hara, Nanette Fabray, Jayne Meadows, Rose Marie (Sally, the first TV career woman, from “Dick Van Dykeâ€), Ricardo Montalban, perennially joked about Abe Vigoda, Carol Channing, Noel Neill (Lois Lane, to you), Irene Dailey (of the late soap “Another Worldâ€), and Mr. Longevity himself, Hugh Downs. And then there are the youngsters: 86 years young includes Barbara Hale of “Perry Mason†fame, Jane Russell, Esther Williams, Monty Hall, Cyd Charisse (still married to the aforementioned Tony Martin), James Whitmore, Phyllis Thaxter, Deana Durbin, Betty White, Dick Martin, Kathryn Grayson, Steven Hill (the original “Law & Order†DA), Carl Reiner, Gale Storm (“My Little Margie) and Patrick MacNee (of “The Avengersâ€). Finally, celebrating their 85th birthdays: Jack Klugman, Bea Arthur, her TV husband Bill Macy, director Blake Edwards, Norman Lear, comedy pioneer Sid Caesar, Patty Duke’s dad William Schallert, Jackie Cooper, comic Carl Ballantine, Jean Stapleton, Fyvush Finkel, Ed McMahon, and, unbelievably, our pal Liz Smith. And to think: Doris Day is only 84. The Academy can still give her an honorary Oscar!
Originally Posted By hightp Like DLandJB, I met Mr Heston in 1995 for his book signing of 'In the Arena' and he was extremly nice. His only had 90 minutes for his mall visit, but when he saw the crowd he announced to those gathered, 'Since you were all kind enough to buy my book, I will not leave until I've met everyone'. I was only there about an hour, but I had heard he stayed something like 2 hours past his allotted time.
Originally Posted By jasmine7 Wow, I had no clue George Gaynes was as old as that! I guess he's just imprinted in my mind as he was in Police Academy & Punky Brewster.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo Karl Malden is 96?!?!? A lot of those ages surprised me. I don't get older, it's so weird when other people do.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 DAR, thank you for the list! My mom turned 84 last Saturday and no one can believe her age as she seems much younger. 80 is the new 70 I've seen several "clips" of Charlton Heston now and he was really a presence wasn't he?
Originally Posted By brotherdave One of the greatest movie lines ever: "Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!" R.I.P., Mr. Heston
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Another Jo Stafford classic- "Long Ago And Far Away". A truly great song from the WWII era.
