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50 Most Famous Actors Over 70

50 Most Famous Actors Over 70

The recent death of Burt Reynolds served as a painful reminder that many of our finest and most beloved actors are now in their twilight years. While younger actors who are currently active may draw more attention, many older actors continue to attract the public’s interest because of their storied careers and larger-than-life personas.

In order to identify the 50 most famous actors over 70, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed thousands of older actors. We looked at the popularity of each actor’s work in film and television, as well the popularity of each actor’s Wikipedia Page over the past two years.

Click here to see the 50 most famous actors over 70.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

Source: Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com

50. Harvey Keitel
> Age: 79
> Known for: Reservoir Dogs, Bad Lieutenant, The Grand Budapest Hotel
> Acting credits: 154
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,010,930

Source: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

49. Dolly Parton
> Age: 72
> Known for: The Porter Wagoner Show, Dolly, Dolly
> Acting credits: 37
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,770,326

Source: JStone / Shutterstock.com

48. Jon Voight
> Age: 79
> Known for: Anaconda, Midnight Cowboy, Transformers
> Acting credits: 98
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,710,703

Source: Ben Gabbe / Getty Images

47. Mia Farrow
> Age: 73
> Known for: Rosemary’s Baby, Crimes and Misdemeanors, The Purple Rose of Cairo
> Acting credits: 59
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,419,434

Source: Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

46. Julie Andrews
> Age: 82
> Known for: The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Victor Victoria
> Acting credits: 44
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,438,634

Source: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images

45. William Shatner
> Age: 87
> Known for: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
> Acting credits: 238
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,374,830

Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

44. Tim Curry
> Age: 72
> Known for: Congo, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clue
> Acting credits: 229
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,673,475

Source: Krista Kennell / Shutterstock.com

43. Martin Sheen
> Age: 78
> Known for: The Departed, Badlands, Apocalypse Now
> Acting credits: 225
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,233,608

Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty Images

42. Barbra Streisand
> Age: 76
> Known for: Funny Girl, Yentl, The Mirror Has Two Faces
> Acting credits: 24
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,933,328

Source: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

41. Donald Sutherland
> Age: 83
> Known for: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Pride & Prejudice, M*A*S*H
> Acting credits: 188
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,891,787

Source: Tim P. Whitby / Getty Images

40. Judi Dench
> Age: 83
> Known for: Skyfall, Notes on a Scandal, Philomena
> Acting credits: 123
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,009,513

Source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

39. Tom Selleck
> Age: 73
> Known for: Blue Bloods, Magnum, P.I., In & Out
> Acting credits: 83
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,961,752

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

38. Steve Martin
> Age: 73
> Known for: Roxanne, L.A. Story, The Jerk
> Acting credits: 64
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,058,010

Source: Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

37. James Caan
> Age: 78
> Known for: Misery, The Godfather, Rollerball
> Acting credits: 131
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,338,394

Source: Scott Barbour / Getty Images

36. Goldie Hawn
> Age: 72
> Known for: Overboard, The First Wives Club, Private Benjamin
> Acting credits: 34
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,957,886

Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

35. Dick Van Dyke
> Age: 92
> Known for: Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Dick Van Dyke Show
> Acting credits: 79
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 3,263,391

Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images

34. Diane Keaton
> Age: 72
> Known for: Annie Hall, Something’s Gotta Give, The Godfather
> Acting credits: 68
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,224,851

Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

33. Danny DeVito
> Age: 73
> Known for: Matilda, Throw Momma from the Train, Batman Returns
> Acting credits: 132
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,369,657

Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images

32. Sam Elliott
> Age: 74
> Known for: Road House, The Big Lebowski, We Were Soldiers
> Acting credits: 99
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,822,425

Source: Tim Boyle / Getty Images

31. Gene Hackman
> Age: 88
> Known for: The French Connection, Mississippi Burning, Unforgiven
> Acting credits: 100
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,470,580

Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images

30. Christopher Lloyd
> Age: 79
> Known for: Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Addams Family Values
> Acting credits: 224
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,498,920

Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images

29. Susan Sarandon
> Age: 71
> Known for: Thelma & Louise, Dead Man Walking, Stepmom
> Acting credits: 152
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,293,542

Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

28. Helen Mirren
> Age: 73
> Known for: RED, The Queen, Woman in Gold
> Acting credits: 131
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,379,912

Source: Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images

27. Sam Neill
> Age: 70
> Known for: Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III
> Acting credits: 132
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,764,185

Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

26. Robert Duvall
> Age: 87
> Known for: Tender Mercies, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather
> Acting credits: 143
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,469,246

Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images

25. Christopher Plummer
> Age: 88
> Known for: The Sound of Music, The Insider, All the Money in the World
> Acting credits: 213
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,504,795

Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images

24. Robert Redford
> Age: 82
> Known for: The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President’s Men
> Acting credits: 78
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,695,288

Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

23. Ben Kingsley
> Age: 74
> Known for: Gandhi, Sexy Beast, Schindler’s List
> Acting credits: 141
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,434,220

Source: Jason Merritt / Getty Images

22. Sally Field
> Age: 71
> Known for: Forrest Gump, Steel Magnolias, Lincoln
> Acting credits: 65
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 3,358,157

Source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

21. Dustin Hoffman
> Age: 81
> Known for: Tootsie, Rain Man, Midnight Cowboy
> Acting credits: 84
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,725,101

Source: Jason Merritt / Getty Images

20. Christopher Walken
> Age: 75
> Known for: The Deer Hunter, Catch Me If You Can, Hairspray
> Acting credits: 133
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,120,622

Source: Steve Grayson / Getty Images

19. Joe Pesci
> Age: 75
> Known for: Goodfellas, Raging Bull, My Cousin Vinny
> Acting credits: 39
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,812,613

Source: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

18. Michael Caine
> Age: 85
> Known for: Alfie, The Ipcress File, The Dark Knight
> Acting credits: 170
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,931,395

Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

17. Kirk Douglas
> Age: 101
> Known for: Spartacus, Paths of Glory, The Bad and the Beautiful
> Acting credits: 93
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 3,833,922

Source: Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images

16. Tommy Lee Jones
> Age: 71
> Known for: The Fugitive, No Country for Old Men, Men in Black
> Acting credits: 83
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,578,697

Source: Michael Kovac / Getty Images

15. Patrick Stewart
> Age: 78
> Known for: Logan, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection
> Acting credits: 151
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,034,784

Source: Jason Kempin / Getty Images

14. Jane Fonda
> Age: 80
> Known for: Klute, Barbarella, Coming Home
> Acting credits: 57
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 4,651,123

Source: Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images

13. Cher
> Age: 72
> Known for: Moonstruck, Burlesque, Mask
> Acting credits: 33
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 4,995,126

Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty Images

12. Michael Douglas
> Age: 73
> Known for: Wonder Boys, Wall Street, Basic Instinct
> Acting credits: 60
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 3,254,747

Source: Clive Brunskill / Getty Images

11. Sean Connery
> Age: 88
> Known for: The Hunter for Red October, The Untouchables, Goldfinger
> Acting credits: 93
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 3,504,096

Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

10. Anthony Hopkins
> Age: 80
> Known for: The Silence of the Lambs, Remains of the Day, Hitchcock
> Acting credits: 133
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,514,352

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

9. Jack Nicholson
> Age: 81
> Known for: Chinatown, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Departed
> Acting credits: 77
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 2,931,525

Source: Tristan Fewings / Getty Images

8. Ian McKellen
> Age: 79
> Known for: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Gods and Monsters
> Acting credits: 115
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 1,957,544

Source: Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images

7. Clint Eastwood
> Age: 88
> Known for: Gran Torino, Dirty Harry, Unforgiven
> Acting credits: 71
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 5,662,452

Source: Cindy Ord / Getty Images

6. Al Pacino
> Age: 78
> Known for: Serpico, Scarface, The Godfather
> Acting credits: 58
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 3,646,344

Source: Jason Merritt / Getty Images

5. Arnold Schwarzenegger
> Age: 71
> Known for: Predator, Terminator 2, True Lies
> Acting credits: 71
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 5,941,810

Source: Ian Gavan / Getty Images

4. Harrison Ford
> Age: 76
> Known for: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, The Fugitive
> Acting credits: 80
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 4,340,630

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

3. Morgan Freeman
> Age: 81
> Known for: The Shawshank Redemption, Invictus, Driving Miss Daisy
> Acting credits: 123
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 4,199,758

Source: Steve Jennings / Getty Images

2. Sylvester Stallone
> Age: 72
> Known for: Rocky, Rambo, Creed
> Acting credits: 82
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 8,512,368

Source: Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com

1. Robert De Niro
> Age: 75
> Known for: Raging Bull, The Godfather, Taxi Driver
> Acting credits: 116
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 3,796,437

Detailed findings

Considering the extensive careers of many of these actors, it is unsurprising that they are so famous. Twenty-three of the 50 actors on our list have more than 100 acting credits in film and television, according to the Internet Movie Database.

The most prolific actors are William Shatner, Tim Curry, and Martin Sheen – each has racked up at least 225 credits, thanks in large part to their well-known work in television. On the opposite side of the spectrum is Barbra Streisand. Though she only has 24 acting credits, some were hugely successful movies, like “Funny Girl” and “Meet the Fockers.” Of course, Streisand is also hugely famous from her singing career.

The majority of actors on our list are currently in their 70s. “Jurassic Park” star Sam Neill is the most recent actor to join the septuagenarian club. Kirk Douglas is the only actor on the list to live for more than a century, after turning 101 on Dec. 9.

Douglas worked into his 90s, with his last acting credit for the 2008 TV movie, “Empire State Building Murders.” Many of the other featured actors seem to refuse to let aging stand between them and their craft. Clint Eastwood, at 88, and Robert Duvall, at 87, for example, continue to act in and direct feature films.

Methodology

To identify the most famous actors over 70, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 5,000 top ranked actors 70 years old and over on IMDb’s STARmeter. This ranking is a weekly measure of popularity based on user behavior on the Internet Movie Database.

We created an index based on two metrics of fame: the popularity of the films and television shows each actor has appeared in and the popularity of the actor’s Wikipedia page. The number of user votes a film or television episode received on IMDb was used as a proxy for a given actor’s popularity. An actor’s total popularity was determined by the sum of the votes received for all the films and television programs for which the actor is credited. Actors were only given credit for episodes of television series in which they appeared. IMDb vote counts for actors in starring roles were given full weight in the index; IMDb vote counts for actors in non-starring roles were given half weight in the index. We combined this with the number of page views the actor’s Wikipedia page received over the past two years. Total acting credits came from IMDb.

Certain actors over 70 whose primary fame came from endeavors outside of film or television – such as Paul McCartney and Tina Turner – were removed from consideration.

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