It's easily dome though. Mickey Rooney was mentiond and i forgot about him. perhaps not a great actor, but certainly a great star.
But those 2, Tony Curtis, Maureen O'Hara...Who's left? Even the next generation are starting to rust...Both Eatswood and Hackman are about 79. Christopher Lee is a whopping 86!
In 10 years or so the history of Hollywood will pretty well be just that. History. The Silent stars have gone, the Golden Age stars are all but gone, the TV/rebellious age stars are pensioners.. Ah! Makes us all feel old.
I've started this thread so as to not detract from the tributes to Charlton Heston.
Let's not forget the female stars from that era that remain with us. There is Olivia and her sister Joan Fontaine. Also, Jane Russell and Elenor Parker are still alive.
Karl Malden might be older than Kirk Douglas is still with us.
Robert, I just want to say that I'm not pleased with the way my early comments come across here. I originally said what I did about Kirk Douglas only because it was originally posted as part of the Charlton Heston Tribute Thread, and I too didn't feel it was the place to debate "who is the last great star". I just wanted to be clear on this, because it comes off a tad abrasive here on its own, in a separate thread. I certainly respect Kirk Douglas and have nothing against him. He IS one of the last living legends. Just wanted to make that clear.
2 time Academy Award Winner for Best Actress 1936 and 1937 ( "The Great Ziegfeld, The Good Earth) Luise Rainer is 98. I think the most senior of the Golden Age stars.
Not that many people would remember her from the silent days, but "Baby Peggy" is still around! And let's not forget Anita "Broadway Melody" Page. And though not a film star, theatrical performer Doris Eaton Travis, whose movie credits range from THE VERY IDEA (1929) to MAN IN THE MOON (1999) is nearly 105 years old! And then there's Gloria Stuart, who must be around 97 by now.
Others I just thought of...Shirley Temple, Jane Withers, Jackie Cooper, Dickie Moore, Gloria Jean, Deanna Durbin.
Depends on who you asked. From my perspective, I believe it was from the dawn of the sound films to 1959. In other words, from "The Jazz Singer" until 1959 when the studio system entered its final days before disappearing for good in the 1960s. If you ask somebody else they may say from the 30s thru the 40s.
If one considers character actors some more names can be added. In today's birthday listing in the paper it listed R. G. Armstrong (who I didn't realize was still alive) as being 91 although he's more known for his work in the 60s/70s.
Kay Linaker who was in some Warners/Fox films in the 30s & 40s and later wrote The Blob is 94.
Jane Bryan who was in some Warners flicks in the 30s and gave up a promising career for marriage and later political involvement is in her 90s somewhere.
Barbara Hale was an RKO starlet before becoming Della Street and she is now 86.