Why do comic actors seem to live longer?

Yes, I know it is a generalization, but look at George Burns and Bob Hope. Both reached their 100s. Milton Berle and Jack Benny also lived quite long lives. As has Mickey Rooney. Dramatic actors and singers don’t seem to live as long. Any theories?

I suppose I would expect it of dancers, but comics?

The old saying “laughter is the best medicine” may have some truth to it. Although recent studies have begun to disprove the “let a smile be your umbrella” theory, I’d tend to think that comics are more able to shrug off the vicissitudes of everyday life.

John Belushi

Chris Farley

I don’t think your generalization would stand up to much scrutiny.

Comedy is also very difficult, a real challenge intellectually. I think all that stimulation keeps you young.

John Candy?

Andy Kaufmann?

Gilda Radner?

Lillian Gish . . . Helen Hayes . . . Lunt and Fontanne . . . Pola Negri . . . Katharine Hepburn . . .

I don’t think you can generalize. In some cases, the long lives may have had a connection with their comedy (Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton lived a long time, but they practiced the type of strenuous physical comedy that required tip top physical condition) and, in others, the short lives could probably be ascribed to the stress of performing (which led them to use drugs).

But it’s hardly true across the board.

Wasn’t Gregory Peck primarily a dramatic actor? He was 87 when he died.

Checking IMDB, I find John Gielgud lived to be 96. Alec Guinnes lived to be 86, although he played a diversity of roles.

But Alec Guiness isn’t totally dead. His spirit still talks with Luke Skywalker.

From across the pond: Eric Morecambe (sp?), Tommy Cooper, Marty Feldman, Graham Chapman, Leonard Rossiter, Richard Beckinsale.

Carrot Top, Tom Green and Gallagher.

It only seems like they’re around longer.

The Marx Brothers all lived to be in their 80s. Henny Youngman was 92 when he died. Moe Horwitz was the oldest of the Stooges, and died of lung cancer at age 77 (I think).

While she was also a fine dramatic actress, Katherine Hepburn’s most notable work are her comedies with Spencer Tracy and she’s STILL around at age 94.

I’ll nitpick a little bit here, only two of the Marx brothers lived into their eighties. Chico Marx was 74 when he died, Harpo was 76, Zeppo was 78.
Groucho was 87 and Gummo 85, for the record.

Don’t hate me because I just did a report on the Marx brothers…

Okay, so now we know about Groucho, Chico, Harpo, Zeppo, and Gummo – but what about Karl?

Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison, Bill Bixby…

On the other hand, John Gielgud and Katherine Hepburn.