10 over-60s action stars who still have it
They’re the stars some of us grew up watching on the big screen, and they’re proving you don’t need to be in your 20s and 30s to become and remain popular in Hollywood. Here are 10 action stars over 60 who are still dominating the film industry in 2016.
1. Liam Neeson
Neeson rose to fame in 1993 with the lead role in Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, but these days he’s better known as the tough, vengeful ex-CIA agent Bryan Mills in the Taken franchise. At 63, Neeson shows no signs of slowing down, due to appear in three films this year.
2. Harrison Ford
It’s hard to believe that the man behind Indiana Jones and Star Wars’ Han Solo is 73 years old. The two franchises shot Ford to stardom in the late 70s and early 80s, and he continues to be active in both film series. The latest Star Wars instalment was released in December and he’s already in talks for a 5th Indiana Jones movie, scheduled to air in 2019 when Ford will be turning 77.
3. Morgan Freeman
He’s well known for playing God – literally – in several films, but Freeman, now 78 years old, has always had a strong presence in the action genre. Some of his most successful action films include Seven, Deep Impact, The Dark Knight Trilogy and Lucy. He will star in four movies in 2016.
4. Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan is synonymous with action films. The 61-year-old began working in the film industry in the 1960s and has since appeared in over 150 movies, including Rush Hour, Shanghai Knights and starred alongside Jaden Smith in the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid.
5. Clint Eastwood
At 85, Eastwood is the oldest actor on our list, but he’s also arguably the most successful action star of all time. He broke onto the scene starring in spaghetti westerns in the 1960s and rose to prominence in the Dirty Harry films, where he plays the titular character. These days, Eastwood opts to be behind the camera, most recently directing the upcoming film Sully.
6. Michael Keaton
Though he started out his career as a comedic actor in Night Shift and Beetlejuice, Keaton, 64, is best known for his portrayal of Batman in Batman and Batman Returns. More recent action roles include RoboCop and Need for Speed.
7. Sylvester Stallone
Stallone’s action career spans four decades, beginning in 1976 with the first instalment of the Rocky franchise and continuing with the Rambo series, which ran until 2008. In 2015, Stallone, aged 69, reprised his role as Rocky Balboa in the Oscar-nominated Creed.
8. Samuel L. Jackson
Jackson, 67, is just as active in the action genre as ever. His partnership with Quentin Tarantino has seen him star in such films as Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight. He continues to grow his catalogue with a nine-film Marvel Comics deal as the character Nick Fury. In 2017 he will star in the second instalment of the rebooted King Kong franchise.
9. Bruce Willis
Starting out with a career on television, it wasn’t until 1988’s Die Hard that Willis established himself as a serious player in the action genre. Since then, the 61-year-old has starred in blockbuster films like Pulp Fiction, Armageddon, Sin City and has four more action movies lined up this year.
10. Denzel Washington
Washington began his career at the age of 20, and now at 61, continues to dominate the film industry with three Golden Globes, two Oscars and a Tony award. Many of his recent films have been action hits, such as The Taking of Pelham 123, Flight, the action comedy 2 Guns and The Equalizer. He will star in the upcoming remake of The Magnificent Seven, due to be released in September.
Related links:
What we know about the next Indiana Jones film
5 movies you won’t want to miss in 2016
7 celebrities prove you just get better with age