Which actor/actress has had the longest movie career?

Cafe Society
1

I rented Night at the Museum this week and was delighted to see venerable Mickey Rooney in a nice minor part with Dick Van Dyke.

Hmm, I wondered. Just how long has this guy been working?

So I checked IMDB and discovered he’s been in the biz 81 years.
His first role in 1926 was listed as “a midget” and his second in 1927 was listed as uncredited, but he made four other films in 1927 as Mickey McGuire.

In fact, he made 100 films before the end of 1937; he has 304 movie and TV roles in his main IMDB listing, and has another film (Bamboo Shark) in post-production.

His bio says he was born in 1920.

With movie experts like Eve and many others on this board, I’m sure somebody has the definitive answer to this one. Who’s first?

2

**Jackie Coogan [/B[ might not be the longest, but he started out in 1917 and appeared in his last the year he died, 1984, for a total of 67 years. He co-starred as the titular “The Kid” in 1921 with Charlie Chaplin:

3

Well, you got Lillian Gish.

First movie: 1912
Last movie: 1987

4

Curt Bois seems to have a year on Mickey Rooney.

First movie: 1907
Last movie: 1989

5

If you believe Milton Berle (the IMDB does not back him up, but his claim can’t be definitively proven or disproven), his first appearance onscreen was in Tillie’s Punctured Romance in 1914. His last credit was in 2002, so that’s 88 years.

It’s hard to beat Rooney, since he started so young. But there is Charles Lane: First film: 1930
Most recent credit: 2006
76 years.

Moe Howard of the Three Stooges made his first film in 1909. His last was in 1973 for 64 years.

6

Except that Mickey is still working. He has two movies coming out this year.

Gloria Stewart and Anna Lee both worked for over 60 years.

Sir John Gielgud’s first movie came out in 1924; his last, 2000.

7

We should delete 10 years from Mickey’s career, for Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

8

Amazing. I watched that movie last night and had the same thought. I sat down at my computer this morning to ask the question only to find you had beaten me to it. I’ve had many instances of people beating me to a reply or answer, but this is the first time someone beat me to a question!

What about the actress who played the old woman in Titanic? It seems to me they made a big deal about how long she had been in movies, or was it just how long since her previous one?

9

This surprises me. In Night I thought they gave him lines that were easily remembered and seemed like they were delivered quickly before he forgot them. I was thinking Alzheimer’s city.
Loved the movie and the fact that Mickey was in it though…he’s definitely on my list to check for on whosaliveandwhosdead.com

10

See Fiver’s post regarding Gloria Stewart.

11

Director Blake Edwards was also responsible. Let’s say five.

12

Ouch! You guys play hardball.

OK, balance with: Mel Blanc … Voice of Holly’s drunk visitor (uncredited)

and trim Mr. Rooney down only by 3