Hollywood has always been home to larger-than-life personalities, but some classic stars truly stood the test of time in the most literal way. A surprising number of Golden Age actors and entertainers lived well past their 100th birthdays, leaving behind legacies that stretched across entire centuries.
From Oscar winners to comedy legends, these remarkable individuals proved that talent and longevity can go hand in hand. Their stories remind us that a life spent doing what you love might just be the greatest gift of all.
1. Kirk Douglas
Few stars burned as brightly as Kirk Douglas, the son of illiterate immigrants who became one of Hollywood’s most powerful leading men. Known for his iron jaw and intense performances in films like SpartacusPaths of Glory and , Douglas never stopped fighting for what he believed in.
He survived a helicopter crash in 1991 and a stroke in 1996, yet kept writing books and giving speeches well into his late 90s.
He passed away on February 5, 2020, at the extraordinary age of 103.
2. Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland was the last surviving star of Gone with the Wind, a film that helped define an entire era of American cinema. She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress and famously took on the Hollywood studio system in a landmark legal battle that changed the industry forever.
Her courage both on and off screen made her a true icon.
Born on July 1, 1916, she passed away on July 26, 2020, at the remarkable age of 104.
3. George Burns
George Burns was the kind of comedian who got funnier with age. He started in vaudeville as a child and was still cracking jokes on television well into his 90s.
His deadpan wit and perfect comic timing earned him an Academy Award for The Sunshine Boys in 1975, when he was nearly 80 years old.
Burns was famously still signing contracts for future birthday appearances at 99. He passed away on March 9, 1996, just weeks after turning 100.
4. Bob Hope
Bob Hope entertained American troops during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War, making him one of the most beloved entertainers in U.S. military history. His quick wit and easy charm translated just as well on the big screen as they did in front of thousands of soldiers overseas.
Hope celebrated his 100th birthday with a star-studded television special. He passed away on July 27, 2003, leaving behind an unmatched legacy of laughter and service.
5. Norman Lloyd
Norman Lloyd holds a truly astonishing record: he worked in Hollywood for over eight decades, collaborating with legends like Alfred Hitchcock and Charlie Chaplin. He is perhaps best remembered for his terrifying villain role in Hitchcock’s Saboteur (1942), where he dangled from the Statue of Liberty in one of cinema’s most unforgettable scenes.
Lloyd stayed active in film and television well into his 90s. He passed away on May 11, 2021, at the age of 106, one of the oldest actors in Hollywood history.
6. Eva Marie Saint
Eva Marie Saint won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her very first film role in On the Waterfront (1954), starring opposite Marlon Brando. That electrifying debut launched a career that spanned seven decades, including her iconic role in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest alongside Cary Grant.
Born on July 4, 1924, Saint celebrated her 101st birthday in 2025 and remains one of the last living links to Hollywood’s Golden Age, still sharp and gracious in every public appearance.
7. June Lockhart
Most people remember June Lockhart as the warm, dependable mom from Lassie and Lost in Space, but her career stretches back to Broadway and the Golden Age of Hollywood. She came from a theatrical family and made her film debut as a child, setting the stage for a lifetime in show business.
Lockhart celebrated her 100th birthday on June 25, 2025, making her one of the rare living centenarians with ties to classic Hollywood. Her longevity and spirit continue to inspire fans worldwide.
8. Gloria Stuart
Gloria Stuart had one of the most unusual career arcs in Hollywood history. She was a popular actress in 1930s films, then largely stepped away from the screen for decades to pursue painting.
Then, at age 87, she made a stunning comeback in James Cameron’s Titanic (1997) and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Born on July 4, 1910, she passed away on September 26, 2010, at the age of 100, having witnessed nearly a century of cinematic history.
9. Bruce Bennett
Before he was Bruce Bennett the actor, he was Herman Brix the Olympic athlete, winning a silver medal in the shot put at the 1928 Olympics. He later transitioned to Hollywood, playing Tarzan and appearing in dozens of films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, including the film noir classic The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948).
Not many people can claim to be both an Olympic medalist and a Hollywood film star. Bennett passed away on October 24, 2007, at age 100.
10. Doris Eaton Travis
Doris Eaton Travis began her career as a Ziegfeld Follies dancer at the age of 14, performing on Broadway during the Jazz Age. She later appeared in early Hollywood films before stepping away from entertainment to run a dance studio for decades.
What makes her story even more incredible is that at age 97, she returned to the stage to perform one last time.
Born on March 14, 1904, she passed away on May 11, 2010, at the impressive age of 106.
11. Connie Sawyer
Connie Sawyer was the kind of actress who never had the biggest role but always stole every scene she was in. With a razor-sharp comedic instinct, she appeared in films and TV shows spanning eight decades, from early Hollywood productions all the way to modern hits like Pineapple Express (2008) and the TV series Mike and Molly.
Born on November 27, 1912, she passed away on January 21, 2018, at the astounding age of 105, still remembered for her unstoppable energy and quick humor.
12. Luise Rainer
Luise Rainer made history by winning back-to-back Academy Awards for Best Actress in 1937 and 1938, a feat that had never been done before. The Austrian-born actress was one of the brightest stars of MGM’s Golden Age, yet she famously walked away from her contract at the peak of her fame, refusing to be controlled by the studio system.
Born on January 12, 1910, Rainer passed away on December 30, 2014, just two weeks shy of her 105th birthday, at the age of 104.
13. Mary Carlisle
Mary Carlisle was a fresh-faced ingenue of 1930s Hollywood, appearing alongside stars like Bing Crosby and W.C. Fields at the height of the studio era.
After retiring from acting in the early 1940s, she ran the Elizabeth Arden salon in Beverly Hills for many years, staying quietly connected to the Hollywood world she once dazzled.
Born on February 3, 1914, she passed away on August 1, 2018, at the age of 104, one of the last surviving actresses from Hollywood’s pre-war golden era.
14. Nehemiah Persoff
Nehemiah Persoff was a classically trained actor whose intense, expressive performances made him one of Hollywood’s most sought-after character actors from the 1950s through the 1980s. He appeared in films like Some Like It Hot (1959) and worked alongside legends including Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis.
After retiring from acting, Persoff became a celebrated watercolor artist, showing the world that creative passion never has to slow down. He passed away on April 5, 2022, at the age of 102.
15. Frank M. Thomas
Frank M. Thomas was a reliable and respected presence in early Hollywood, building a steady career as a character actor during the 1930s and 1940s.
While he never achieved the headline fame of the era’s biggest stars, his consistent work across dozens of films made him a true professional of the Golden Age studio system.
Born on July 13, 1889, Thomas lived to see nearly the entire 20th century unfold before his eyes. He passed away on November 25, 1999, at the age of 100.
16. Helen Burns
Helen Burns built a long and steady career as a character actress during Hollywood’s Golden Age, appearing in a wide range of films and television productions over several decades. While not a household name, she was the kind of dependable talent that directors and producers consistently returned to, knowing she would deliver a memorable performance every time.
Born on July 1, 1916, Burns passed away on February 23, 2018, at the age of 101, a quiet but enduring figure in classic Hollywood history.
17. Mark Platt
Mark Platt was a gifted dancer and actor who brought his stage training to Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s, appearing in a number of musicals and theatrical productions. His background in ballet and Broadway gave his screen performances a polished elegance that set him apart from many of his contemporaries in the film industry.
Born on December 13, 1913, Platt passed away on March 29, 2014, at the age of 100, leaving behind a graceful legacy rooted in movement and artistry.
18. Herb Jeffries
Herb Jeffries broke barriers as the first Black singing cowboy in Hollywood history, starring in a series of all-Black Western films during the late 1930s that gave African American audiences heroes they could cheer for on the big screen. Beyond film, he was a celebrated jazz vocalist who recorded with Duke Ellington and performed for audiences around the world.
Born on September 24, 1913, Jeffries passed away on May 25, 2014, at age 100, a true trailblazer in American entertainment history.