Hard to believe! 5 stars who lived to 100
Gloria Stuart and Kirk Douglas (collage: RBC-Ukraine)
Not everyone is destined to reach the age of 100, but these celebrities managed to do so. They left a bright mark on world culture and proved that activity, a love for life, and a sense of humor can be the key to longevity.
Norman Lear
The renowned screenwriter and producer, who passed away in December 2023 at the age of 101, repeatedly emphasized that his beloved work was his source of energy.
"Some people run. I don't run. I wake up and do the things that please me. That's my present to myself. That's my prayer. That's everything," he told USA Today when celebrating his 100th birthday in 2022.
"When I go to sleep at night, I have something that I'm thinking. Among other things, it's about something I'm doing tomorrow," he admitted in an interview with the Los Angeles Times back in 2020.
Norman Lear (photo: Wikipedia)
Olivia de Havilland
The "Gone with the Wind" star passed away in July 2020 at the age of 104. She joked that the secret of her longevity was in the "3L": love, laughter, and light.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, the actress admitted that she solved The New York Times crossword every day to keep her mind sharp.
Still from the talk show "60 Minutes"
Kirk Douglas
The legendary actor, known for his roles in "Spartacus" and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," lived to be 103 and passed away in February 2020.
"Humor helps longevity," he wrote in his essay.
"Try to think of others, try to help them. You will be amazed how that lessens your depression. That satisfaction is priceless. The greatest dividend to old age is the discovery of the true meaning of love," the actor added.
Still from the film "Greed"
Gloria Stuart
The actress who played the elderly Rose in "Titanic" lived to celebrate her 100th birthday in July 2010 but passed away just two months later.
"I was motivated back then (in the 1930s), and I'm motivated now," the actress admitted in her memoir "I Just Kept Hoping."
After Stuart's death, her daughter noted that her mother "didn't believe in illness" and just ignored it. And perhaps that is what helped her stay strong for so long.
Still from the series "A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss"
Eva Marie Saint
The Oscar winner for "On the Waterfront" remains Hollywood's oldest living actress. In July 2025, she turned 101.
"I continue to take walks out in the fresh air, like watching baseball—especially the Los Angeles Dodgers, and enjoy time with my family and friends. A good life," she told People ahead of her 100th birthday.
Still from the film "Don't Bother to Knock"
Earlier, we wrote about 5 actors who became famous thanks to supporting roles.
