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Golden Oldies: 5 of the Oldest Celebrities in the World

Photo Credit: Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images
Photo Credit: Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images

If there’s one thing that’s constant in this ever-changing world, it’s these iconic celebrities. They’ve been around for as long as we can remember, and we can’t imagine Hollywood without them. Here, we take a look at the careers of some of the oldest celebrities and examine the brilliant contributions they’ve made over the decades. Keep reading to learn more.

Eva Marie Saint – 100 years old

Portrait of Eva Marie Saint + Eva Marie Saint standing among a group of people
Eva Marie Saint – 1945 and 1990. (Photo Credit: 1. John Springer Collection / Getty Images 2. Alan Light / Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0)

Eva Marie Saint is one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, and she’s the oldest living Academy Award winner. She was born on July 4, 1924, and began her career in television and radio in the late 1940s.

Her most notable role came in 1954’s On the Waterfront, in which she starred opposite Marlon Brando. Saint’s performance in this film earned her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at the 27th Academy Awards. She also starred in Alfred Hitchcock‘s North by Northwest (1959) with Carey Grant and James Mason.

Saint celebrated her 100th birthday in 2024, marking a significant milestone for any person, let alone a celebrity!

Jimmy Carter – 99 years

Presidential portrait of Jimmy Carter + Jimmy Carter smiling
Jimmy Carter – 1978 and 2014. (Photo Credit: 1. Department of Defense / Department of the Navy / Naval Photographic Center / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain 2. and Lauren Gerson / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Although technically not a celebrity, Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, is known throughout the world. Born on October 1, 1924, Carter remained active in public life up until recently, enjoying hobbies that included painting, woodworking and winemaking.

In February 2023, the Carter Center, the not-for-profit organization he founded in 1982, revealed that “after a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention.”

At present, he’s enjoying visits with family, with his grandson, Josh, telling the media that “it’s clear we’re in the final chapter.”

Dick Van Dyke – 98 years

Portrait of Dick Van Dyke + Dick Van Dyke standing on a red carpet
Dick Van Dyke – 1960 and 2017. (Photo Credit: 1. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images 2. Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic / Getty Images)

In an amazing career spanning seven decades, actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke has made his mark in film, television and stage.

From beloved movies like Mary Poppins (1964) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), to TV shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-66) and The Carol Burnett Show (1967-78), Van Dyke has proven himself a legend. In fact, he’s actually received a Disney Legends Award, as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Today, Van Dyke is frequently spotted out and about, helping out those less fortunate. He also recently revealed how he stays fit, saying he works out three times a week, in order to keep his muscles flexible.

June Lockhart – 99 years

Portrait of June Lockhart + John Lockhart standing on a red carpet
June Lockhart – 1948 and 2009. (Photo Credit: 1. Bettmann / Getty Images 2. Mathew Imaging / NASA / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

June Lockhart was born on June 25, 1925, and is best known for playing mother roles in the 1950s and ’60s. She played Ruth Martin, the mother of Timmy, in Lassie (1954-73), and Dr. Maureen Robinson in Lost in Space (1965-68).

Lockhart made a cameo appearance in the 1998 film adaptation of Lost in Space, which was based on the original television series.

David Attenborough – 98 years

David Attenborough feeding a lemur + David Attenborough standing in a crowd of spectators
David Attenborough – 1961 vs. 2024. (Photo Credit: 1. Edward Miller / Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images 2. Karwai Tang / WireImage / Getty Images)

While he may not be a Hollywood star, David Attenborough is still a star in our eyes, as he has made quite the name for himself in the world of natural science and exploration. He was born on May 8, 1926, and as a child was always fascinated with nature.

After attending university and earning a degree in natural sciences, he turned this fascination into a career spanning over 70 years. Rightfully so, Attenborough was knighted in 1985 by Queen Elizabeth II.

More from us: Angela Lansbury’s Long Life Was Just As Incredible As Her Famous Career

Attenborough has become the quintessential face and voice of nature documentaries, personally going on explorations around the world to provide detailed information to audiences interested in the science of nature.

Madeline Hiltz

Madeline Hiltz is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News