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Has anyone else found stardom in their 70s?


I find it amazing that Katie Johnson was hardly noticeable in her other film appearances. But then she becomes an overnight star at the age of 77 after making 'The Ladykillers.' She is excellent as the dithery, dotty and yet, strangely enough, precise Mrs Wilberforce. And to think she nearly missed out on the part for being thought too frail. Can you think of anybody else who had to wait till their 70s to gain stardom?

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Depending on how you define 'gain stardom' some possibilities are

Richard Farnsworth
Gloria Stewart
John Houseman
Edmund Gwenn
Peggy Ashcroft
Josephine Hull
Margaret Rutherford
Chief Dan George

A lot of the above were prominent stage actors before their late in life film stardom.

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Thank you for that fine list of film players who found stardom in their 70s. I was thinking of those actors/actresses who gained leading roles and reached their fame zenith in their 70s. From your list I think that can well include Margaret Rutherford who had just started her Miss Marple fame at that stage of life. Also Edmund Gwenn must have been quite old when he gained his defining Father Christmas role which he was born to play. I shall enjoy checking out the rest of the film players on your list as regards my OP question. Thanks.

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Gloria Stuart (not Stewart) was a movie star in the 1930's. She simply dropped out of the business for 30 years before returning in the 1970's.

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I see that Gloria Stuart had perhaps her most memorable film role at the age of 87 in 'Titanic.' That certainly makes her a candidate for achieving late stardom.

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Margaret Rutherford had been a film star since making Blithe Spirit in 1945, well before she reached her 60s.

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Clara Peller was 81, an unknown retired manicurist in Chicago, who became an overnight sensation when she appeared in the "Where's the beef?" advertising campaign for Wendy's early in 1984. It instantly became a catchphrase across the entire nation.

Ms Peller even made an cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live on April 14, 1984.



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Thanks for pointing out Clara Peller. I hadn't heard of her I must admit. But I see that she that she had two film roles and a role in a TV series around about the same time. Late stardom indeed.

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I know this is an old post but may I add Buster Merryfield who played Uncle Albert in Only Fools and Horses.

The Long Walk stops every year, just once.

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Good choice. I don't think that Buster Merryfield went into acting until he finally retired from his day-job in banking.

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Anne Ramsey - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001649/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm (Oscar nominated for Throw Momma from The Train)

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Thanks for giving me Anne Ramsey. I was able to use her as an example just now for character actors being known for just one role on another thread.

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