A Look At 13 Legendary Celebrities In Their 70s - Then And Now
Some artists remain important through decades thanks to their talent and their ability to stay relevant.
Some careers don’t just stretch across decades, they reinvent themselves in real time. This is what makes “Then and Now” celebrity photos so addictive, especially when the people in question are already legends by the time they hit their 70s.
In this lineup, you get Ben Kingsley heading toward his Gandhi era, Diana Ross riding the early Supremes wave, Dolly Parton breaking through as a solo force, and Goldie Hawn still a professional dancer before Laugh-In flips her into a household name. Then it keeps escalating: Harrison Ford is fresh off Star Wars momentum, Helen Mirren is grinding with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Samuel L. Jackson is still years away from becoming a late-life icon, and Steve Martin is just getting his Hollywood start.
And the wild part is how “then” looks almost like a different person entirely.
1. Ben Kingsley: Then
At the age of 37, Ben Kingsley was still two years away from playing the iconic role of Mahatma Gandhi in the 1982 film Gandhi, for which he was awarded an Academy Award. He had already built an impressive collection of roles from British TV shows and London theatre productions.
Doug McKenzie/Getty ImagesBen Kingsley: Now
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney2. Diana Ross: Then
In 1964, Diana Ross was only 20 years old and already at the start of her group, The Supremes' reign of success. That same year, their first major hit single, "Where Did Our Love Go," was released.
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Diana Ross: Now
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3. Dolly Parton: Then
In the late 1960s, when she was in her 20s, Dolly Parton began appearing on Porter Wagoner's country music variety show as a featured singer. In 1973, she experienced her first major success as a solo artist with the single "Jolene."
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Dolly Parton: Now
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4. Goldie Hawn: Then
At 19 years of age in 1964, Goldie Hawn was employed as a professional dancer and had not yet fully ventured into the world of acting. It wasn't until four years later that she would be cast in the show that made her a household name: Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.
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Goldie Hawn: Now
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5. Harrison Ford: Then
In 1978, Harrison Ford, at the age of 36, had recently become a movie star due to the success of Star Wars, which was released in 1977.
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Harrison Ford: Now
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6. Helen Mirren: Then
In 1969, Helen Mirren, a 24-year-old theater performer, was part of the Royal Shakespeare Company and performed as many of the playwright's famous heroines.
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Helen Mirren: Now
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It’s similar to the sibling-debt debate, where OP wonders if they should ask for repayment.
7. Samuel L. Jackson: Then
In this photograph taken of Samuel L. Jackson in 1992, he was 44 years old and only a few years away from becoming well-known for his roles in films such as Coming to America and Do the Right Thing—fame that came to him quite late in life.
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Samuel L. Jackson: Now
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8. Steve Martin: Then
At the age of 25, Steve Martin made his first appearance in the Hollywood industry as a writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and soon began to gain recognition for his stand-up comedy acts.
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Steve Martin: Now
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9. Stevie Wonder: Then
In the 1970s, the young Stevie Wonder released classic songs such as "Superstition" in 1972 when he was in his twenties.
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Stevie Wonder: Now
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10. Susan Sarandon: Then
At the 1979 Tony Awards, Susan Sarandon, aged 33, was already well-known for her appearances in films such as The Front Page, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Pretty Baby.
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Susan Sarandon: Now
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11. Ted Danson: Then
The comedy show "Cheers" first aired in 1982, making Ted Danson, who was 39 at the time, a household name by 1986. His portrayal of Sam Malone earned him two Emmy Awards.
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Ted Danson: Now
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12. Tim Curry: Then
When the movie adaptation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show was released in 1975, Tim Curry was featured in his first film role, playing the iconic character of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. This was a breakthrough moment for the actor, who was only 29 years old at the time.
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Tim Curry: Now
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13. Tom Selleck: Then
When Tom Selleck was 35 years old, his television series Magnum, P.I. debuted in 1980, and he finally achieved stardom. He played the role until 1986.
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Tom Selleck: Now
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Meanwhile, Dolly Parton was turning Porter Wagoner’s variety show into a launchpad, but Goldie Hawn was still clocking in as a dancer before Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In made her impossible to ignore.
Then Harrison Ford’s Star Wars spark hit in 1977, and Helen Mirren was already stacking stage work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, so “fame” looked different depending on who you were.
By the time Samuel L. Jackson’s 1992 photo was being taken and Steve Martin was writing his way into Hollywood, it was basically a reminder that these “70s legends” did not arrive all at once.
These celebrities also have a knack for choosing interesting projects that keep them in the public eye. They often take on roles that challenge them, enabling them to hone their craft and showcase their immense talent.
They may also be involved with projects that are more than just acting, such as producing, directing, or writing, which helps to keep them relevant and engaged with their fans. The longevity of these actors is also a testament to their strong work ethic and dedication to their craft.
They may have been in the industry for decades, but they continue to work hard and stay humble. They strive to learn more and to continue pushing themselves to deliver the best performances possible.
The funniest part is realizing the “then” versions of these stars were still warming up, not even close to the icons they’d become.
For more on risky cash-for-friendship drama, see whether they should ask friends to repay money they lent during tough times.
