As of October 19, 2016 there is only one living actor that I know of who appeared in a movie from the 1910s: Fay McKenzie, who appeared in the 1918 movie “Station Content” as a baby. Now that we’re moving out of the 1910s, I was starting to wonder who were the last actors to appear in a movie from the 1890s and 1900s.
After a bit of research, these two are the latest actors that I could find for each decade: 1890s: Harold Smith VIII (1889-1975), appeared in the 1898 movie “Santa Clause”. 1900s: Barbara Hepworth (1904-1997), appeared in “Rescued by Rover” in 1905 and in “The Dog Outwits the Kidnapper” in 1908. Did anyone live longer than these two :dubious: ?
As an update,
1910s: Don Marion Davis (b. 1917) is the last former actor to appear in a movie during the 1910s, having been in 3 shorts made in 1919. He is preceded by Fay McKenzie (1918-2019), who is mentioned above as appearing in an 1918 movie. Interestingly, her film career lasted a full 100 years, having made her last filmed appearance in a project in 2018. This surely has to be one of the longest known careers in this field.
1900s: I have still not found another performer from this decade that has outlived Barbara Hepworth (1904-1997) who appeared in two shorts between 1905-08.
1890s: I have found an actor named Colin Williamson (1887-1976) who appeared in 3 shorts made in 1898. He is the latest surviving actor from this decade I know of right now.
Let’s move this to Cafe Society.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
ironically a Reddit TIL started just an hour ago on Fay.
Norman Lloyd is 105 and still acting. Best known for St. Elsewhere and Dead Poets Society. He did not act until the 1930s.