Celebrity Seniors Who Prove Age is Just a Number

Despite the fact that some youngsters consider anyone over the age of 30 to be “old,” some of their favorite actors, actresses, singers, and other celebrities are well over the age of 55. And in fact, some of those senior citizens are considered among the sexiest people on the planet!

There’s no doubt that we love our celebrities. They grace the covers of magazines at the check-out counter, fill the pages of TMZ and make it onto national and local news. Many of us enjoy what they do; for instance, there were 5.5 million moviegoers among the 60 and older crowd in 2019, according to Statista. But we also love to learn about their personal lives, as evidenced by the 56 million visits to tabloid website TMZ during the first three months of 2022[1].

Perhaps we want to see that they really are just like us (albeit with a great deal more money than most of us, and surely more fame than the average person could dream of having). Maybe we want to hear the stories of how they are struggling with day-to-day issues, family problems, and the like, right alongside their victories and beautiful moments – just like anyone else.

And just like anyone else, these celebrities can suffer from falls, accidents, medical emergencies, and more. And unfortunately, as is the case for many seniors, those falls can lead to serious injury or death.

For instance, Leonard Cohen – perhaps best known for his haunting rendition of “Hallelujah” – suffered a fall at home in the middle of the night. Believing he was fine, he went to bed and passed away in his sleep at the age of 82[2]. The same thing happened to Roger Ailes, the former chief of Fox News, who suffered a fall at his home and died eight days later at the age of 77[3]. And the beloved Bob Saget, best known for his role on Full House, passed away suddenly in January 2022 after suffering a head injury and dying in his sleep. He was only 65 years old[4].

Celebrity Seniors – Just Like Us?

Do celebrities live truly “charmed lives,” or are they just like us? Let’s take a brief look at their lives, their accomplishments, and in some cases, their challenges.

George Clooney

Of course this gray-haired dashing devil would be at the top of the celebrity list. In 2022, George turned 61 years old. To put his appeal in perspective, remember that he was named Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine – twice. But George is not just a pretty face, as evidenced by the lengthy list of charities and advocacy groups he has been involved with over the decades. He’s still a powerhouse in the movie world and has finally settled down after years of bachelorhood – and his twins turned five this year.

George has had a few motorcycle accidents, one of which was rather severe. His crash in 2018 sent him flying over the handlebars of his motorcycle after colliding with a vehicle at about 75 miles per hour. He was treated in the hospital for a few days and released to physical therapy. George has told numerous media outlets that he was “waiting for my switch to turn off.”

Though George was lucky in that numerous people witnessed the accident and the driver who hit him immediately called for emergency services, if that accident had happened elsewhere, he might not have been so lucky. That’s yet another good argument for a medical alert device, especially one that has GPS to pinpoint your location if you are unable to speak to the response agents.

Brad Pitt

Also a two-time winner of the Sexiest Man Alive title, Brad Pitt – who will turn 59 in 2022 – gives his close friend George Clooney quite the competition. A tabloid staple as half of “Brangelina” for years, he later became tabloid fodder for problematic issues, including alcohol abuse. Fortunately, he is in recovery and has been outspoken about the damage alcohol did to his relationships[5].

Like many other fine elder statesmen on this list, Brad has enjoyed a career renaissance since he entered his 50s. There’s no better evidence of that than winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2020.

Richard Gere

Another two-time Sexiest Man Alive winner, Richard Gere will be 73 in the fall of 2022. Though Richard played iconic roles in hit movies like Pretty Woman and An Officer and a Gentleman, he has turned his attention to social causes in recent years. He’s also welcomed two children over the last five years, proving that when it comes to fatherhood, age truly is just a number.

Johnny Depp

Let’s keep the Sexiest Man Alive theme going with the last of the four two-time winners – Johnny Depp, who just turned 59 in the summer of 2022. Yes, he’s blanketed in controversy right now after a very public dispute and trial with his ex-wife Amber Heard. But there’s no doubt he’s had a fascinating career, including bringing  Captain Jack Sparrow to life in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

Dame Helen Mirren

No list of celebrity seniors would be complete without mention of the lovely Helen Mirren. She will turn 77 during the summer of 2020, and she’s going just as strong in the movie and television industry as she was 30 years ago. In 2021, she received the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award. Her work covers a wide range of characters, including work in the Fast and Furious films, a superhero film called Shazam! Fury of the Gods and the upcoming film Golda, where she portrays Golda Meir, a former prime minister of Israel.

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen started her career as a stand-up comedian and later became one of the most-watched television hosts in history[6]. Over the years she has racked up a whopping 30 Emmys, 20 People’s Choice Awards (which happens to be more than anybody else)[7], and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2018, she was named the 15^th highest-paid entertainer in the world. This year, at the age of 64, she said goodbye to her long-running talk show Ellen and plans to focus on her philanthropic efforts while she decides what to do next.

She’s married to Portia de Rossi, who turned 49 this year. In early 2021, Portia began to suffer from sudden abdominal discomfort. In what must have been a terrifying moment, Ellen found her wife on the floor, struggling with increasing pain. A trip to the emergency room turned into a hospital stay and emergency surgery for appendicitis. Portia has since fully recovered[8].

Portia’s story has a happy ending because Ellen got her to the hospital in time. But for many older adults, getting help fast is not always easy. That’s why an Alert1 Medical Alert is an excellent idea. It helps ensure that no matter what happens, you can get the help you need. Our Command Center is literally a single touch away.

Denzel Washington

As one of the most popular and well-known actors today, Denzel Washington’s star still shines bright at the age of 67[9]. In fact, in 2020 he was named the greatest actor of the 21^st century by The New York Times[10]. That’s the kind of star power you come to expect from a person who is instantly recognizable, not only for their movie roles but for their charity work as well. He’s quite active with the Boys & Girls Club of America, serving as their National Spokesman. And in 2022, he proved that his career is still going strong with an Academy Award nomination for The Tragedy of Macbeth.

Tony Bennett

We’ve been talking about actors, but they aren’t the only beloved celebrities out there. Enter the incomparable Tony Bennett, who will turn 96 this year. His long career began when he came back from military service after World War II. His first number-one hit was in 1951. Since then, he’s topped the charts with his powerful voice, sold over 50 million records worldwide, and has 19 Grammy Awards on his shelf. In 2021, at the age of 95 year, he released the acclaimed album Love for Sale with Lady Gaga, making him the oldest person in the world to release an album of all new material.[11]

But behind the scenes, Tony was dealing with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Tony announced his health struggles in an AARP article and since then has retired from the spotlight – though his family says he can still remember all the lyrics to his songs.

Those with Alzheimer’s or dementia can benefit from a medical alert device. This is especially true if the device has fall detection, which can alert the Command Center to a fall even if you can’t. It’s also helpful to get a medical alert with GPS, which can help emergency services track your location and get to you quickly – this might be especially important for those who are prone to wandering.

Jeff Bridges

If you aren’t sure who this guy is, perhaps you know “The Dude” – the famously laid back character he played to perfection in The Big Lebowski. This Dude will turn 73 near the end of 2022. He’s had a remarkably consistent career, garnering seven Academy Award nominations and winning Best Actor for his role in Crazy Heart. Jeff’s fans were surprised and worried when he announced in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma and had undergone chemotherapy. By September of 2021, his cancer was in remission.

Cancer treatment can be tough on anyone, leading to a variety of side effects that can sometimes be just as threatening as the cancer itself. When you are facing any medical challenge, it’s comforting to have medical alert technology on hand at all times. Wear that medical alert watch, wristband, or pendant day and night, just in case you need to call for assistance at the touch of a button.

Tom Hanks

Known for being one of the most engaging and friendly actors in the business, Tom Hanks turns 66 this year. To say he’s still going strong is an understatement. He has starred in some of the most memorable films in modern history, including Apollo 13, Forrest Gump, and Sleepless in Seattle – oh, and he was also the voice of Woody in the wildly popular Toy Story films. He is the recipient of two Academy Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

But none of that mattered much in March 2020, when Tom and his wife Rita Wilson contracted COVID-19 while traveling in Australia[12]. He described the ordeal to TIME Magazine, saying that he suffered from crippling body aches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. He was also quite concerned because he has Type 2 diabetes and a stent in his heart. Fortunately, he and his wife both made a full recovery.

Older adults often have at least one chronic medical condition, possibly more, that can lead to serious complications if they get the coronavirus or flu. That’s another good reason why you should carry a button alarm at all times. If you ever find it difficult to breathe, press the button and help will be on the line in seconds. You don’t have to be a celebrity to get quality help quickly!

As always, Alert1 wishes you good health, safety, and peace of mind!