# Actors still relevant in the public eye today who have the longest career being relevant **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** actor-characters\ **Created:** [April 11, 2023, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527 "2023-04-11T17:29:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/21 "2023-04-11T18:41:01Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > It is a shame we just lost **Angela Lansbury** as she goes back to _Gaslight_ in 1944. > [@Pavelb1](#): > > Yeah, if Christopher Lee hadn’t passed he’d be playing some Marvel villain right now I’m sure. Sneaky ol bastard. Dean Stockwell, too. First role in 1945, title role in _The Boy With Green Hair_ in '48, last role in 2015. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/22 "2023-04-11T18:47:24Z")
I thought of him the other day when he featured in a Columbo episode. Well after _The Boy With Green Hair_ and well before Quantum Leap and _The Player_ ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/23 "2023-04-11T18:51:19Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > I thought of him the other day when he featured in a Columbo episode. An exceptionally long career, and I loved Stockwell’s work, but it was punctuated by long stretches in which he either had stepped away from acting (the late '60s), or was doing guest roles on TV shows (most of the 1970s), so I’m not sure how consistently he met your criteria in your OP of being consistently relevant and visible. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/24 "2023-04-11T18:55:36Z")
Yeah its probably a personal thing. I wasnt like a huge fan or anything, but i noted him when i saw him. Just thought of one that, even by the narrow standards I set, beats Devito by a fair hunk Kurt Russell. Probably came to public eye the earliest with stuff like _The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes_ (Though of course can be seen in fare like Gilligans Island) and is still going strong. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/25 "2023-04-11T19:08:50Z")
Not the longest, but I was impressed to see Christopher Lloyd in an episode of The Mandalorian last night at age 84. And he got shot and lived. Also didn’t realize his first movie was One Flew Over the Cukoo’s Nest in 1975. He got a late start. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/26 "2023-04-11T19:09:00Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > I thought of him the other day when he featured in a Columbo episode. Well after _The Boy With Green Hair_ and well before Quantum Leap and _The Player_ I was trying to think of child actors who continued into adulthood, and remembered Stockwell. Ke Huy Quan could be an answer to this thread in 40 years or so, though he probably doesn’t meet the consistently visible part. > [@Pavelb1](#): > > Kurt Russell. Probably came to public eye the earliest with stuff like _The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes_ (Though of course can be seen in fare like Gilligans Island) and is still going strong. I should have thought of him. He kicked Elvis Presley in the shin in _It Happened at the World’s Fair_ in '63, then played Elvis as an adult (twice, if you include voice work). ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/27 "2023-04-11T19:28:47Z")
Helen Mirren, first acting credit I see is 1967 and she’s been in everything from Shakespeare to Fast and Furious movies. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/28 "2023-04-11T20:46:04Z")
Donald Sutherland (87) probably first rose to relevance in the mid-60s, and has several projects coming out this year. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/29 "2023-04-11T21:50:26Z")
I know we just lost her, but doesn’t Betty White’s TV/radio/movie career go back to the 1760s? I mean, she entertained the troops at Valley Forge, right? The woman never took a day off. I believe her Lithium batteries just couldn’t hold a charge any longer. What a loss! ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/30 "2023-04-11T22:00:47Z")
> **[James Hong - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0393222/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1)** > > James Hong. Actor: Everything Everywhere All at Once. James Hong was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He studied civil engineering at the University of Minnesota, but at some point along the way became interested in acting. He graduated from the... Credits going back to 1954, first credited in 1955, and still going! From one perspective, if actors are still working, they are “relevant.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/31 "2023-04-11T22:25:21Z")
Didn’t start as far back as some but I would argue Anthony Hopkins is currently more relevant than many mentioned. His first movie role was a big one in _Lion in Winter_ 1968 acting with O’Toole and Hepburn. In 2021 he was the oldest Oscar nominee and winner for best actor. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/32 "2023-04-12T00:12:58Z")
Bruce Dern shared the stage with Paul Newman and the screen with John Wayne. Dude was in Tarantino’s _Once Upon A Time In Hollywood_ in 2019. You know how many roles he has had _since_ then? TWENTY! And he’s got three more currently in post-production, and two more filming!! From Dern’s Wikipedia page: “If you think I’m gonna retire so [Jimmy fucking Caan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Caan) can get another part from me, you’re dead wrong. Because I’m gonna go till I’m 100. My goal is to do stuff with older characters that people never got the chance to do, because they never lived long enough… And because I don’t have anything else I can do." ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/33 "2023-04-12T00:32:00Z")
Right on, Mr. Dern! ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/34 "2023-04-12T01:51:07Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > _I think Michael Caine has been active and relevant since the 1950s._ Glad you mentioned him, as he was the first who came to my mind. He may at this point be “retired,” but I’m sure he would gladly step in front of a camera again for the right role. He had a stretch of bad movies for a while there, so his relevance during that period might be questioned by some, but the fact is, he was still being sought after for starring roles, was still a “name,” and was still making good money at it. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/35 "2023-04-12T02:13:10Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > From one perspective, if actors are still working, they are “relevant.” He put on a terrific performance in the movie that just won Best Picture. That’s very relevant indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/36 "2023-04-12T02:16:24Z")
Removing my entry because I skipped over **Dropo** , who mentioned him first! ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/37 "2023-04-12T03:37:12Z")
Were we to give points for consistency…though his career is a lot shorter then many mentioned here…Harrison Ford would be right up there. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/38 "2023-04-12T19:05:16Z")
[Harrison Ford](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001230/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_4_nm_4_q_harrison%2520ford)’s career goes back to the silents! He was in the 1923 version of _Vanity Fair_! Oh, wait… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/39 "2023-04-12T19:16:29Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > **Clint Eastwood** not a bad choice and does goes back further. His acting has been limited over the last 2 decades though. There aren’t many roles for 80+ year old tough guys. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527/40 "2023-04-12T20:01:29Z")
I was watching an Outer Limits episode recently - the one where the Chinese develop plastic face-changing technology and are trying to infiltrate the US government - and I recognized one of the Chinese agents as James Hong! (I think I even blurted out “Holy crap that’s James Hong!”) That was probably 1964 or 65 ish. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-still-relevant-in-the-public-eye-today-who-have-the-longest-career-being-relevant/982527.md?page=3)