# Who is the longest "lived" fictional character **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 16, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587 "2004-03-16T04:38:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/81 "2015-07-27T14:20:07Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’d give that credit to Death, who appears in \*all \*of the books. And, when you think about it, does pretty well in the _other_ longest “lived” stakes… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/82 "2015-07-27T14:28:06Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > \*! \*! \*! \*!Moderators! Save us! Cthulhu F’tharghn! ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/83 "2015-07-27T17:18:06Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > The characters from Doonesbury? > [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Dick Tracy was under the same author/artist for 46 years, but is still going strong today. > [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > Rabbit Angstrom (John Updike), 41 years > Atticus Finch (Harper Lee), 55 years :rolleyes: Ahem: > [@commasense](#): > > Thanks for the replies, but I want to remind folks that back in post #27, I decided to exclude comic strips from consideration in this thread. But as I mentioned there, a similar thread for comic strips might very well be interesting. > > I also think that Harper Lee doesn’t really count, because the essence of the accomplishment I’m celebrating in this thread is a significant body of work created over an extended period of time. Not just publishing two works many years apart. > > Besides, there seems to be some question as to the extent of Lee’s involvement in publishing GSAW. > [@Alessan](#): > > I’d give that credit to Death, who appears in \*all \*of the books. Actually, he doesn’t appear in _Wee Free Men_ and (ironically) _Snuff_. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/84 "2015-07-27T17:40:26Z")
I know this isn’t exactly on point, but I thought it might be of interest: > **[Every Year for the Next 100 Years, Authors Will Write Books That Won't Be...](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/every-year-next-100-years-authors-will-write-books-wont-be-read-until-2114-180952637/?no-ist)** > > Author Margaret Atwood's new book became the first to go into the century-long time capsule project ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/85 "2015-07-27T17:52:57Z")
Inspector Wexford made it to 49 years: 1964 to 2013 Agatha Christie’s Tommy and Tuppence 1922 to 1973: 51 years ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/86 "2015-07-27T17:57:35Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Harry Harrison wrote _Stainless Steel Rat_ books since 1961, the most recent came out in 2010 just before his death. 49 years. > > I still think the adventures of Slippery Jim DiGriz would make a great movie. Or TV series. So do I, obviously…🆒😃 I’ve got nothing as long as most of these great posts, but a couple of series with possibilities are the Honor Harrington series by David Weber (22 years and with several more books promised) and Michael Stearns from Eric Flint’s Ring of Fire (1632) series, only 15 years old but with the next main line book announced for 2017, we can up it to 17 years assured. Mr Weber is 63 and Eric Flint is 68, so they may not have the longevity of some of the others, but we’ll see. And while I know the OP said no comics, Schlock Mercenary has been on-line daily (7 days a week) for over 15 years without missing a day, and for on-line only comics by one author, that could be close to a record. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/87 "2015-07-27T18:06:04Z")
Jack Williamson published science fiction in seven successive decades. His Legion of Space series started as a serial in 1934, and stories appeared at intervals until 1983. Giles Habibula, a Falstaffian lockpick, appeared across the run IIRC, which gives him a “life” of 49 years. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/88 "2015-07-27T19:14:16Z")
As an up and comer, I know Allanon appeared in the first Shannara novel in 1977 and was in stories as recently as 2013, for 36 years (I long ago stopped reading Shannara books so am relying on sparse Wikipedia information). Terry Brooks is only 70 or so with good health could get that number up there. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/89 "2015-07-27T19:36:44Z")
Elric of Melnibone made his first appearance in the story “The Dreaming City” in 1961. His last appearance was in “To Rescue Tanelorn” in 2008. Michael Moorcock is 75 and could well write of him again, but that makes 47 years. Zelazny’s Cowin had about 33 years. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/90 "2015-07-27T19:51:31Z")
Lee Falk started doing the comic strips _The Phantom_ and _Mandfrake the Magician_ in 1936. He was still doing both in 1999. That’s a span of 63 years for each character (they’re still continuing today, but Falk died in 1999) ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/91 "2015-07-27T20:22:15Z")
If Stan Lee wrote a new Captain America, it would be 75 years, and it’s not a comic strip, it’s a comic book; loophole!! Plus the slightly inconvenient fact it will never happen. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/92 "2015-07-27T20:24:29Z")
Sherlock Holmes first appeared in 1887, but it seems there’s a new movie or TV show about him every couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/93 "2015-07-27T20:28:28Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Sherlock Holmes first appeared in 1887, but it seems there’s a new movie or TV show about him every couple of years. Yeah, but unless Sir Arthur is doing it from beyond the grave (something he would’ve loved), the new Sherlock Holmes things don’t fit the OP’s requirements. Of course, neither does Lee Falk doing the Phantom, since it’s a comic strip. But I figured 63 years was worth a mention, regardless of medium. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/94 "2015-07-27T22:35:26Z")
This thread seems fairly catholic / eclectic about “real / fictitious”, " author’s / creation’s" dates – so I’ll nominate a favourite of mine, Richmal Crompton’s naughty-schoolboy (anti)-hero William Brown. In his creator’s “universe”, William managed to stay at the same age of 11 / 12 years old, from approximately 1923 (publication of the first book of short stories of his exploits) to approximately 1963. Not only William, but his friends / partners-in-crime, and his family, miraculously stayed at the the same age throughout – while horrific stuff, not least World War II, unfolded all around them – through dozens of books of humorous short stories about the doings of William and his chums. Delightful stuff, which I would in no way have otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/95 "2015-07-27T23:58:48Z")
If we’re ignoring the “same author” restriction, then there are still stories being written about Gilgamesh, who apparently has managed to find the immortality he sought. And now that we’ve found the champion of that interpretation, we can go back to not ignoring that restriction. And the Ed McBain/Evan Hunter situation is further complicated by the fact that they’ve co-authored a book together: _Candyland_, IIRC (checks the all-wise Google: Yup). ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/96 "2015-07-28T00:16:59Z")
Donald Westlake, writing as Richard Stark, first introduced his character Parker (no first name) in a magazine in 1959. He took a long break after writing 20 odd novels but restarted in 1997 (with _Comeback_, ha). The last one was released just before he died in 2008. So that’s 49 years. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/97 "2015-07-29T05:52:39Z")
Louis Wu could be a contender - he first showed up in Known Space in 1968 and last appeared in 2012, but Niven’s still writing, isn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/98 "2015-07-29T13:16:43Z")
My search function isn’t working, and I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned above, but in case it hasn’t, Arthur Henry Ward (Sax Rohmer) wrote the first Fu Manchu story in 1912, and was still writing him in 1959, the year of his death, 48 years later (one Fu Manchu book was published posthumously in 1973, but that shouldn’t be added to the total. If it was, that’d be a span of 61 years). There have been numerous Fu Manchu books since, but Rohmer’s widow and his friend Cay Van Ash, too. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/99 "2015-07-29T16:05:49Z")
Donald Westlake’s _Parker_ first appeared in 1962 and last in 2008. 46 Years is pretty good. I actually looked up Westlake to see about Dortmunder, but he was only 39 years. ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587/100 "2015-07-29T16:19:47Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Tarl Cabot of the \*Gor \*series, which were published pretty much annually (with a couple of large gaps) from 1966 to 2013, a span of 47 years. Although I’ll admit I haven’t read the later ones and can’t swear that Tarl Cabot was in them. He was certainly in some of the later ones, such as _Kur of Gor_ of which I’ve seen an excerpt online, but the most recent books I’ve not kept up with at all and know of only thanks to Wikipedia, really. John Norman dropped off my radar for a great many years, and I see from the article that there was a 13-year hiatus in his publishing history - along with the titles of a number of books I’ve certainly never seen on the shelves. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-longest-lived-fictional-character/234587.md?page=6)