lively older series performers - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jamesanthony · 12-02-2004, 09:33 PM

Let's hear it for older performers! (50 plus). Who are/were some actors who even though they were past 50 still had a lot of energy in their performances:

Isabel Sanford in The Jeffersons- I would have never thought that she was in her 60s when that show was running- she had an awful lot of zest evn up to the last season- she was 68 when it ended;

Lucille Ball in Here's Lucy- she was 63 when it ended and except for a season when she broke her leg and was in bed or in a cast, she had a lot of energy. She also had good legs;

Jerry Orbach in Law and Order- I think he's about 70 now but he was playing a homocide cop and had the energy of a 40 year old. Quite frankly he doesn't look his age.

Tony Randall in Odd Couple- he was 50 when that show started but had the energy and charisma of a man 20 years younger than that

Who are some others?

bschmale1113 · 12-03-2004, 12:41 AM

Doris Roberts & Peter Boyle from Everybody Loves Raymond & The Cast of the Golden Girls

James · 12-03-2004, 01:56 AM

How about Rosetta LeNoire, who played Grandma Estelle Winslow on Family Matters? She was born in 1911, the show ran from 1989-98, making her between the ages of 78 and 87 on the show.

Honorable mention would go to Will Geer (1902-78), Ellen Corby (1911-99), Helen Kleeb (1907-2003), and Mary Jackson (1910-), who played grandparents Zeb and Esther Walton and the Baldwin ladies next door and were all at least 61 when The Waltons started in 1972.

spunkygirl · 12-03-2004, 02:45 AM

William Daniels on Boy Meets World was 67 when he joined the show.

Katherine Helmond was 55 when she joined Who's the Boss?

Rebecca Schull not sure of her exact age, but I'm pretty sure she was in her 50's or 60's when she joined Wings

James · 12-03-2004, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lola Dane
Katherine Helmond was 55 when she joined Who's the Boss?

... and 61 when she joined Coach as Doris Sherman, owner of the Orlando Breakers, during the last two seasons. (Wasn't she in the 1994-95 season finale on that cruise ship? That would have made her 60 if so since she was born 7/5/34.)

snl75 · 12-03-2004, 03:18 PM

not an actor but don pardo is still annoncing snl and he will be 87 in feb. also orson bean from dr quinn not sure how old he is now but from what ive seen in interviewis he seemes hipper than some of us here at so

ThirteenInchEscape · 12-03-2004, 03:26 PM

Don Knotts was 55 as Ralph Furley

James · 12-04-2004, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by snl75
also orson bean from dr quinn not sure how old he is now but from what ive seen in interviewis he seemes hipper than some of us here at so

According to our friends at imdb.com Orson Bean was born in 1928 and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman ran from 1993-98, putting him in the 65-70 age range while on the show. He is currently married to Alley Mills, best known for her role as Norma Arnold on The Wonder Years.

spunkygirl · 12-04-2004, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by James
According to our friends at imdb.com Orson Bean was born in 1928 and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman ran from 1993-98, putting him in the 65-70 age range while on the show. He is currently married to Alley Mills, best known for her role as Norma Arnold on The Wonder Years.

I don't know where I got the idea that Orson Bean had passed away

Dr. Quinn actually ran from 1992-1998

PZelda · 12-04-2004, 02:11 AM

I believe Harvey Korman was 50 on the nose when The Carol Burnett Show debuted in 1967. I believe he left TCBS 10 years later, in the spring of 1977 (at the end of their 10th season; the following fall, for the 1977-78 season, was TCBS' final season). He was 60 on the nose by then.

Betty, Rue and Carol all starred on the first two seasons of Mama's Family when it was on NBC.

Vicki doesn't have a steady acting gig, but she does guest on TV programs every now and then and she is 55 (56 in March).

db108108 · 12-10-2004, 06:25 PM

Carol Burnett news- she'll be on the 35th anniversary episode of All My Children this January.

Joker85 · 12-10-2004, 10:26 PM

Actually, I think Korman was born in 27, making him 40 when the show began and 50 when he left. Still impressive however when you think of all the crazy things he had to do on that show. What's even more impressive is he can still do some of them today in his 70s. As for others:

Richard Mulligan was in his 50s when during Empty Nests run
the entire cast of the The Golden Girls.

Flying Dutchman · 12-12-2004, 08:48 PM

John ritter 8 simple rules, unless you want the ones still alive.

Penny Lane · 12-12-2004, 09:03 PM

I am 50 + and I resent the term
"Older performers"!

Seriously I know what you mean! Redd Foxx comes to mind. He was absolutely hilarious! As was
Carroll O'Connor, Bob Newhart,etc. And whoever mentioned Jerry Orbach...........I love that guy! He's awesome!

Let's just say "older and wiser"? Yeah!

vze3t9q9 · 12-19-2004, 09:23 PM

Mason Adams-- I still hear his voice for Smuckers jellies and Jams. He must be 80 something.

12-02-2004, 09:33 PM	#1
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	lively older series performers Let's hear it for older performers! (50 plus). Who are/were some actors who even though they were past 50 still had a lot of energy in their performances: Isabel Sanford in The Jeffersons- I would have never thought that she was in her 60s when that show was running- she had an awful lot of zest evn up to the last season- she was 68 when it ended; Lucille Ball in Here's Lucy- she was 63 when it ended and except for a season when she broke her leg and was in bed or in a cast, she had a lot of energy. She also had good legs; Jerry Orbach in Law and Order- I think he's about 70 now but he was playing a homocide cop and had the energy of a 40 year old. Quite frankly he doesn't look his age. Tony Randall in Odd Couple- he was 50 when that show started but had the energy and charisma of a man 20 years younger than that Who are some others?

12-03-2004, 03:26 PM	#7
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	Don Knotts was 55 as Ralph Furley
	__________________ *Member of the "God Lilith is so ing Cool" Fanclub* Freedom of Thought

12-04-2004, 02:11 AM	#10
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	I believe Harvey Korman was 50 on the nose when The Carol Burnett Show debuted in 1967. I believe he left TCBS 10 years later, in the spring of 1977 (at the end of their 10th season; the following fall, for the 1977-78 season, was TCBS' final season). He was 60 on the nose by then. Betty, Rue and Carol all starred on the first two seasons of Mama's Family when it was on NBC. Vicki doesn't have a steady acting gig, but she does guest on TV programs every now and then and she is 55 (56 in March).
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch!

12-12-2004, 08:48 PM	#13
Flying Dutchman Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2004 Location: New York Posts: 1,266	RE: TV performers over 50 John ritter 8 simple rules, unless you want the ones still alive.

12-12-2004, 09:03 PM	#14
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,308	I am 50 + and I resent the term "Older performers"! Seriously I know what you mean! Redd Foxx comes to mind. He was absolutely hilarious! As was Carroll O'Connor, Bob Newhart,etc. And whoever mentioned Jerry Orbach...........I love that guy! He's awesome! Let's just say "older and wiser"? Yeah!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

12-03-2004, 12:41 AM	#2
bschmale1113 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 05, 2004 Location: Stirling NJ Posts: 440	Doris Roberts & Peter Boyle from Everybody Loves Raymond & The Cast of the Golden Girls

12-03-2004, 01:56 AM	#3
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	How about Rosetta LeNoire, who played Grandma Estelle Winslow on Family Matters? She was born in 1911, the show ran from 1989-98, making her between the ages of 78 and 87 on the show. Honorable mention would go to Will Geer (1902-78), Ellen Corby (1911-99), Helen Kleeb (1907-2003), and Mary Jackson (1910-), who played grandparents Zeb and Esther Walton and the Baldwin ladies next door and were all at least 61 when The Waltons started in 1972.

12-03-2004, 02:45 AM	#4
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	William Daniels on Boy Meets World was 67 when he joined the show. Katherine Helmond was 55 when she joined Who's the Boss? Rebecca Schull not sure of her exact age, but I'm pretty sure she was in her 50's or 60's when she joined Wings

12-03-2004, 03:18 PM	#6
snl75 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2004 Location: in the formen basement watching snl Posts: 1,377	not an actor but don pardo is still annoncing snl and he will be 87 in feb. also orson bean from dr quinn not sure how old he is now but from what ive seen in interviewis he seemes hipper than some of us here at so

12-10-2004, 06:25 PM	#11
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	Carol Burnett news- she'll be on the 35th anniversary episode of All My Children this January.

12-10-2004, 10:26 PM	#12
Joker85 Back in St. Olaf... Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 18, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 481	Actually, I think Korman was born in 27, making him 40 when the show began and 50 when he left. Still impressive however when you think of all the crazy things he had to do on that show. What's even more impressive is he can still do some of them today in his 70s. As for others: Richard Mulligan was in his 50s when during Empty Nests run the entire cast of the The Golden Girls.

12-19-2004, 09:23 PM	#15
vze3t9q9 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 31, 2003 Location: ROCKCOVE Posts: 548	Mason Adams-- I still hear his voice for Smuckers jellies and Jams. He must be 80 something.