How many stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood remain with us? (1 Viewer)

[Henry Gale]

We all have different ideas about "star" and "Golden Age".

All three of the early Lois Lane actors are still with us. Phyllis Coates (my favorite) is 81, Noel Neill is 87 and Joan Alexander will be 90 a week from tomorrow.

 

[dany]

Golden Age of Hollywood most likly started to end when the studios stopped signing the stars to long term contracts.

 

[Brandon_T]

I remember my Mom watching a ton of Doris Day films when I was young, and I see that she started in the late 1940's, but didn't last as long as I thought. Doubt she qualifies for this. Man I thought she was pretty hot though...

 

[Robert Crawford]

Doris Day was part of the Golden Age.

 

[Paul_Scott]

of the stars of Hestons generation (born in the 20's, rose to fame in the 50s) Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, Jerry Lewis, and Doris Day are still left. Also James Garner, though he'll likely always be seen more as a huge figure in the 'small screen' arena though he has some great classics on his resume. Every time their is a passing like this I think of who's left. After Widmark I thought immediately of Douglas and Heston. Sadly I think Paul Newman is in poor health now too and quite frail. Every generation will have 'classic' stars. Redford seemed impeachable when I was a kid, but to my grandmothers generation (who were in their 50s at the time) I'm sure he was looked at the way my generation looks at George Clooney (who I do think will engender the same kinds of musings when he passes...assuming he lives into his 80s).

 

[BarryR]

Definitely Doris Day.

There's also Jane Powell, Gloria DeHaven, Debbie Reynolds, Marsha Hunt...oh yeah, and Elizabeth Taylor!

 

[dany]

Paul Newman
Is reportedly visiting a top cancer specialist, throwing into doubt claims made by his publicists that he's receiving treatment for mild ailments. (March 14, 2008)
Will direct a stage version of John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice And Men at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut in October. (February 2008

 

[TonyD]

are you saying Paul Newman is set to dir a play in Oct?

 

[dany]

I just copy and paste. I think it was from msn.

 

[BarryR]

Other names...Jennifer Jones, Patricia Neal, Lizbeth Scott, Lauren Bacall...

 

[Steve...O]

The Newman cancer reports are fairly widespread now and not just tabloid gossip. That is very sad news. Like Heston, he is known for a rock solid long time marriage and for being popular even with those who have different views. There's a civility within that generation that is quite commendable.

Jane Russell is another who is stil with us. Although not active in movies anymore I read a story within the last 18 months that she was performing for seniors at a retirement community. (I don't believe she's a resident there.) Sadly there's probably a whole generation that only knows her from bra commercials.

 

[BarryR]

There's also Joan Leslie, who appeared in YANKEE DOODLE DANDY, and Ann Rutherford of Andy Hardy fame.

 

[JonZ]

These guys arent alive anymore, but I stumbled across this and though some here would enjoy it.

YouTube - Dean Martin, James Stewart & Orson Welles

 

[dany]

Angela Lansbury

 

[Brent Avery]

Just thought of Eva Marie Saint - who will be 84 this year. Cyd Charisse is 87.

 

[Michael Elliott]

I'm not sure if Gloria Stuart has been mentioned yet but she was born in 1910. Appeared in THE INVISIBLE MAN, THE OLD DARK HOUSE and of course TITANIC. TCM and FMC has been showing a lot of her "B" movies and I'm really starting to enjoy her as an actress.

As for Douglas, it's rather amazing at how much he's been doing the past ten years. New books, new movies and even appearing on quite a few television shows. Not too many of the "golden age" actors are as busy as he is.

 

[BarryR]

Speaking of Cyd Charisse, her hubby Tony Martin, who appeared in his share of movies, is 95--and recently had a singing engagement in Manhattan!

P.S. I mentioned Gloria Stuart earlier.

 

[Steve...O]

This is not a complete list (95 yr young Art Linkletter is a glaring ommission) but this excerpt from this article gives an idea of what notable 85+ year old from the entertainment world are still with us.

"97: Gloria Stuart
96: Karl Malden
94: Rise Stevens, Frances Reid, Tony Martin, Kevin McCarthy, Budd Schulberg; "Professor" Irwin Corey; Norman Lloyd, Harry Morgan.

92: Les Paul, Eli Wallach, Barbara Billingsley.

91: Van Johnson, "Baby" June Havoc, Olivia de Havilland, Kirk Douglas, Ernest Borgnine, Phyllis Diller, and Zsa Zsa Gabor

90: Joan Fontaine, Lena Horne, George Gaynes, Mel Ferrer, John
Forsythe, Allan Arbus, Patty Andrews, Jo Stafford

89: Helen Wagner, Larry Haines, Marjorie Lord, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Betty Garrett, Louis Jourdan, Al Molinaro, producer Dino DeLaurentiis, and dashing Gene Barry,

88: Alan Young, James Mitchell, Sid Melton,

87: Mickey Rooney, Maureen O'Hara, Nanette Fabray, Jayne Meadows, Rose Marie, Ricardo Montalban, Abe Vigoda, Carol Channing, Noel Neill, Irene Dailey, Hugh Downs.

86: Barbara Hale, Jane Russell, Esther Williams, Monty Hall, Cyd Charisse, James Whitmore, Phyllis Thaxter, Deana Durbin, Betty White, Dick Martin, Kathryn Grayson, Steven Hill, Carl Reiner, Gale Storm, Patrick MacNee.

85: Jack Klugman, Bea Arthur, Bill Macy, Blake Edwards, Norman Lear, Sid Caesar, William Schallert, Jackie Cooper, Carl Ballantine, Jean Stapleton, Fyvush Finkel, Ed McMahon, and Liz Smith."

 

[BethHarrison]

Yeah these cancer reports are all over the Australian press today. Not just in the tabloid gossip pages either. I guess it's weird because you always imagine certain people will live forever.

Paul Newman 'dying of lung cancer' | PerthNow

 

[Steve...O]

Reports are becoming more widespread in the US as well. Very sad and hopefully the customary nice things will be said about Mr. Newman while he is still with us so that he can appreciate them. A report on the Fox News website indicates that he's already turned over the entire "Newman's Own" company to charity. What a classy thing to do.

While he has been in semi seclusion recently he did make a public appearance last week with Martha Stewart at a charitable event. The pictures Martha posted of him at this event show how ill he really is.

While he is struggling, let's not forget the pain his wife, Joanne, must be going through. Theirs is one of the most storybook marriages in Hollywood history.