Meet the stars working into their twilight years
While most of us look forward to giving up work in our later years, some peoplelove their jobsso much that retirement is simply out of the question.
From actors to models to music moguls, read onto discover the famous faces working well into their golden years.
All dollar values in US dollars.
Sir Elton John, 77
One of the best-selling musicians of all time, Sir Elton John wrapped his final tour, Farewell Yellow Brick Road, in 2023. But that doesn't meanhe's leaving music behind for good.
Earlier this year, insiders close to John revealedhe was locked in the studio, working on a brand new album. According to reports, the record is set to drop at the end of the year.
Cher, 77
Spanning six epic decades, Cher's entertainment career has truly stood the test of time.
ADVERTIsem*nT
The 77-year-old star most recently lent her voice to the TV seriesScooby-Doo and Guess Who?
You might also be surprised to learn that the glamorous pop diva is currently producing a horror movie called Little Bites.
Brian Cox, 77
Scottish actor Brian Cox made his theatre debut in 1961 and has since gone on to appear in a number of major Hollywood movies, including Braveheart,Chain Reaction, andThe Bourne Identity.
Cox recently starred in HBO's award-winning drama Successionand, as if that wasn't enough, he's also got a flurry of upcoming projects that range from vocal acting roles to executive producing gigs.
Sylvester Stallone, 77
Sylvester Stallone became a household name with his starring role in 1977's Rocky,a film for which he also wrote the script.
Despite amassing a fortune of hundreds of millions through his successful acting and producing career, the 77-year-old star shows no signs of stepping away from the spotlight.
Recent credits include the gritty Paramount+ crime series Tulsa Kingand the action-packed Expend4bles. He was also the subject of a 2023 Netflix documentary titled Sly.
Dolly Parton, 78
Dolly Parton has been performing since childhood. Since releasing her debut album, Hello, I'm Dolly,in 1967, she's gone on to write more than 3,000 songs and release almost 50 albums.
Her latest album, Rockstar, dropped in late 2023 and features nine original tracks plus 21 covers of rock and roll classics.
"I would never retire. I’ll just hopefully drop dead in the middle of a song on stage someday, hopefully one I've written,"Parton recently said in an interview withGreatest Hits Radio.
Debbie Harry, 78
The Blondie frontwoman has been rocking the stage since the 1970s and has no plans to hang up her mic.
In 2011, Harrysaid of retirement, "I want to keep doing things. I don't want to retire. I know that I can't front a pop or rock band forever, but I would certainly like to keep writing or maybe start a clothing business."
In 2023, the star performed at the Glastonbury Festival, where she looked decades younger than her real age in a black sequin mini dress and knee-high leather boots.
Priscilla Presley, 78
Priscilla was thrust into the spotlight at 21 years old following her 1967 marriage to ElvisPresley.
Since then, she's become famous in her own right, thanks to her decades-spanning acting career and status as a fashion icon.
Most recently, the 78-year-old star had a vocal role in the Netflix animated seriesAgent Elvis,and sheexecutive producedthe recent biopicPriscilla, based on her best-selling bookElvis and Me.
Dame Helen Mirren, 78
Hollywood royaltyDame Helen Mirrenbegan her acting career in the late 1960s and continues to star in movies to this day.
In the last few years alone, Dame Helen has played a god inShazam! Fury of the Gods, appeared in a Kendrick Lamar music video, and performed a vocal role in the star-studded Barbie movie.
Sir Rod Stewart, 79
British musician Sir Rod Stewart had already played in several bands before releasing his breakthrough albumEvery Picture Tells a Story in 1971. Since then, he's sold more than 250 million records worldwide, and he hasn't stopped adding to his archive.
Stewart toured extensively throughout2023, including a 12-day Las Vegas residency, and has just released a collaborative album, Swing Fever, with Jools Holland.
"I shall never retire! I was put on this earth to be a singer and will keep doing so for as long as the good Lord lets me,"the 79-year-old shared on X in 2023.
Pete Townshend, 78, and Roger Daltrey, 80
The last surviving members of the English rock band The Who, 80-year-old Roger Daltrey (pictured left)and 78-year-old Pete Townshend (pictured right),continue to record and tour.
However,it was reported in April 2023that the pair are considering retirement in the near future, with Townshend tellingThe Sun: "It's difficult to make a decision going forward, to say we're going to do this or that, because we don't know how well we're going to be or how fit we're going to be. We're both old."
Diana Ross, 80
Diana Ross was crowned the Female Entertainer of the CenturybyBillboard in 1976, although it's not just the 20th century that's brought her success.
Ross rose to fame as the lead singer of The Supremes in the 1960s and released her first solo album in 1970. The recipient of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the singer released her 25th studio album,Thank You,in November 2021.
Diana even wowed the crowds at Glastonbury in 2022, where she played the festival'slegendary Sunday afternoon slot. She has tour dates lined up throughout 2024.
Joni Mitchell, 80
Singer/songwriter extraordinaire Joni Mitchell, 80, clinched a Grammy award for Best Folk Album earlier this year. The veteran star also graced the stage to perform her hit song Both Sides Now.
Despite securing her tenth Grammyon the night, surprisingly, it markedJoni's first-ever performance at the prestigious award ceremony. Following her recent return to the live arena, Mitchell is set to perform in a number of venues later this year.
The Rolling Stones, 76-80
Sir Mick Jagger, 80, and his Rolling Stones bandmates – Keith Richardsand Ronnie Wood, who are 80and 76 years old respectively– toured together in summer 2022.
Sadly, the shows had to take place without their drummerCharlie Watts, whopassed away in 2021.
The Stones don't like to sit still, though, and released their latest album, Hackney Diamonds,in October 2023. Meanwhile, the band's 2024 tour is sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons, with the advocacy group hoping to showcase that old people still rock!
Robert De Niro, 80
Hollywood icon Robert De Niro, famed for flicks includingTaxi DriverandRaging Bull, has been acting since the 1960s.
The 80-year-old star shows no sign of slowing down, professionally or personally. Herecently starred in the Western movieKillers of the Flower Moonand also welcomed his seventh child last year.
Christopher Walken, 81
Christopher Walken once told The Irish Times, "I’ve never had hobbies, just a strong work ethic like my father. Tennis? Swimming? Golf? They never did it for me. Acting is really what I love. I don’t really like to go out of the house unless I’m working."
The screen icon's work ethic isadmirable; he made his acting debut in the 1953 TV series The Wonderful John Acton at age 10 and hasn't stopped since.
Mostrecently,the 81-year-old Walken starred in theblockbusterDune: Part Two.
Eric Idle, 81
Despite his surname, 81-year-old Monty Python star Eric Idle is anything but work-shy. The screen veteran recently revealed he's still working for "financial reasons."
Idle formed the Monty Python comedy troupe in the 1960s, but despite its success, he revealed in a series of posts on the social media platform X that the group no longer makes money. "I don’t know why people always assume we’re loaded. Python is a disaster," he said, adding, "I have to work for my living. Not easy at this age.”
Idle, who survived pancreatic cancer in 2022, continues to write comedy contentand most recently appeared on the TV competition series The Masked Singer.
Creed Bratton, 81
Creed Bratton has worn many hats over the years. As an actor, singer, and former member of the rock band the Grass Roots, Bratton has been working since the 1960s.
Perhaps best known to some for his role inThe Office, which saw him play a fictionalised version of himself,Bratton released his latest album,Slightly Altered, in 2020. He recently appeared in the comedy seriesPBC.
Martin Scorsese, 81
For decades, director Martin Scorsese has delivered cinematic gems such as Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Now 81, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker continues to hone his craft.
His latest movie, the Western drama Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, hit the silver screen in October. Rumours suggest the director will soon be behind the camera again to film his long-mooted Frank Sinatra biopic.
Sir Paul McCartney, 81
At 81, Sir Paul McCartney is as active as ever. The former Beatles and Wings frontman is still producing plenty of music and performing on sell-out tours for the pure pleasure of it – after all,he certainly doesn't need the money.
McCartney surprised fans on his recent tour by playing a poignant virtual duet with John Lennon. The moving performance was courtesy of technology created by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, who also helmed the 2021 Disney+ docu-seriesThe Beatles: Get Back.
Harrison Ford, 81
Harrison Ford is arguably one of Hollywood's all-time greatsthanks to his iconic roles in film seriesIndiana Jones and Star Wars.
The 81-year-old action hero shows no signs of quitting, most recently starring in the blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
During an appearance on NBC'sTodayshowin 2019, Ford made it clear that he wasn't giving up his role as the adventure-prone archaeology professor:"Nobody is going to be Indiana Jones, don't you get it?I'mIndiana Jones," he declared."When I'm gone,he'sgone."
Itsounds like no new actors will be trying to fill Indy's boots any time soon.
Paul Simon, 82
Asone half of the folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel and a solo star in his own right, Paul Simon has been making chart-topping music for over six decades.
Though the 82-year-old singer-songwriter is doubtful he'll tour again due to hearing loss, he isn't done making music just yet.Seven Psalms, his 15th solo studio album, was released in May 2023, and earlier this year he performed a selection of songs at the White House during a state dinner for Japan's PM.
Martha Stewart, 82
American businesswoman, author, and TV personality Martha Stewart has been building her lifestyle empire since the launch of her first cookbook,Entertaining,in 1982.
The acclaimed entrepreneurhosts the TV series Martha Cooksand, in 2023, made history as the oldest model to grace the cover ofSports Illustrated's famous annual swimsuit issue.
Bob Dylan, 82
Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has enjoyed a career in music spanningalmost six decades. In November 2022, he publishedThe Philosophy of Modern Song, which comprised over 60 essays about songs by other musicians.
His latest record,Shadow Kingdom, was released in June 2023.
The star also has a side hustle in the form of his Heaven's Door whisky brand.
Dionne Warwick, 83
Soul icon Dionne Warwickis still belting out hits in her 80s, with a documentary about her life,Don't Make Me Over, released in 2021.
Warwick also shocked and delighted herfans in equal measure back in 2020 when she was unveiled as Mouse on hit TV show The Masked Singer. The star also has tour dates lined up throughout 2024 and 2025.
Ringo Starr, 83
Some might say that Ringo Starr looks decades younger than his 83years.
The former Beatles legend, who's thought to be the richest drummer in the world, could easily retire in a heartbeat. However, he's still working hard andreleased a new EP titledCrooked Boyfor Record Store Day in April of this year.
Sir Tom Jones, 83
Famous for hits includingIt's Not Unusualand Delilah, Sir Tom Jones currently serves as a judge on the UK version of talent show The Voice.
Hopeful contestants are eager to snap him up as a mentor thanks to his decades of experience in the music industry.
He also continues to play regular live shows.
Al Pacino, 83
Al Pacino may well be 83, but that didn't stop him from starring in two Oscar-nominated films in 2019: The IrishmanandOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Morerecently, Pacino appeared in the Amazon Prime Video series Hunters and has recently signed up to play a priest in horror movie The Ritual.
Candi Staton, 84
Chart-topper Candi Staton has been making music since the 1960s and continues to belt out hits at the age of 84.
Arguably best known for her catchy dance trackYoung Hearts Run Free, Staton performed atthe Glastonbury Festival last summer.
Sir Ian McKellen, 84
Sir Ian McKellen, arguably best known for playing Gandalf in theLord of the Rings movie franchise, has enjoyed a career that spans more than six decades.
The British actor, 84, recently returned to tread the boards as Shakespeare's Falstaff inPlayerKingand gavehis vocal talents to 2024 comedy series Ted.
Margaret Atwood, 84
Margaret Atwood,84, wrote her first book in 1961 and has penned various bestselling novels over the years.
Arguably her most successful is The Handmaid's Tale, with its sequel, The Testaments, published in 2019 following the success of the TV series that's based on the original 1985 book.
Her most recent collection of short stories, Old Babes in the Wood,was published in 2023.
Lily Tomlin, 84
Lily Tomlin started out as a stand-up comedian in the 1960s before landing her big break on the variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-Inin 1969.
Living proof that age is just a number, the 84-year-old actress produced and starred in the Netflix series Grace and Frankieuntil 2022.
Last year alone,Tomlin also appeared in the comedy flicks 80 for BradyandMoving On.
Francis Ford Coppola, 85
Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola has brought the world numerous iconic films over the years, includingApocalypse NowandThe Godfather,and he still isn't done with his craft.
The 85-year-old has recently finishedhis passion projectMegalopolis, which he first started writing back in the 1980s.
Production on the highly anticipated movie finally beganin 2022, with reports suggesting that Coppola is financing the film with $100 million (£85m) of his own cash.
Sir Anthony Hopkins, 86
This legendary star of stage and screen might be in his mid-80s, but that didn't stop him from scooping up his second Best Actor award at the 2021 Oscars for his role in The Father.
Provingthat he's not one to shy away from technology, the critically acclaimed star has also made headlines in recent times by buying and selling NFTs. In 2022, he unveiled his firstNFT series,The Eternal Collection, which featureddigital images of Hopkins as characters heplayed during his career.
On screen, he recently starred in the drama One Life, lent his voice to a robot in Zack Snyder's space epic Rebel Moon, and has at least four other projects in development.
Jane Fonda, 86
Jane Fonda is 86, yet she positively radiates youth. The actress and activistrecently starred in the comedy flicksBook Club: The Next Chapterand80 for Brady.
Fonda, who shows no signs of retiring anytime soon, also has a vocal role in the recently released family flickRuby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.
David Hockney, 86
Britain's greatest living artist, David Hockney, 86, says he carries on working because it makes him feel young.
"When I'm working, I feel like Picasso, I feel I'm 30,"he admitted in a 2014 interview with The Observer. "When I stop, I know I'm not, but when I paint, I stand up for six hours a day and yeah, I feel I'm 30."
Last year, a painting of Harry Styles by Hockney went on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London as part of a new exhibition dedicated to the legendary artist.
Morgan Freeman, 86
Even though he never seems to age, Morgan Freeman is actually 86 years old. But much like the other famous names on our list, he's not giving up the day job anytime soon.
Freeman starred in the moviesThe Ritual KillerandA Good Person in 2023 and the TV series Lioness. He's set to reprise his role asThaddeus Bradleyin Now You See Me 3.
Dame Julie Andrews, 88
After finding fame on the stage as a child, Dame Julie Andrews made her film debut in Disney's 1964 musical movieMary Poppins.
Her illustrious career includes a number of iconic leading roles, including Maria von Trapp in 1965'sThe Sound of Music andQueen Clarisse in 2001's The Princess Diaries.
Andrews has also lent her distinctive voice to characters inShrek,Aquaman,and, morerecently, the Netflix period dramaBridgerton.
Donald Sutherland, 88
With a career that spans six decades, Canadian star Donald Sutherland is a true veteran of the acting profession. But the 88-year-old isn't planning to step away from the limelight yet.
His latest projects include the 2023 crime thriller Miranda's Victim,the sci-fi blockbusterMoonfall, and the creepy horror movieMr. Harrigan's Phone, which is based on the novella by Stephen King.
Dame Maggie Smith, 89
Like many of her fellow dames, Dame Maggie Smith has no time for retirement, admittingin a 2013 interview that working helps her to overcome feelings of loneliness.
After a long and distinguished career, Dame Maggie won a new audience with her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise. Sherecently appeared in the movieThe Miracle Clubalongside Kathy Bates and Laura Linney.
Dame Judi Dench, 89
Illustrious British actress Dame Judi Dench, who is 89, toldThe Telegraphin 2015 that she considered "retirement" to be a rude word and is keen to continue working as long as she can to keep her mind sharp.
Most recently, Dench starred in the 2022 Christmas flick Spirited alongside Will Ferell and Ryan Reynolds.
Sophia Loren, 89
In 1999, actress Sophia Loren was recognised by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest stars of Classical Hollywood cinema, and she's officially one of the last surviving big-name stars from that particularperiod.
On the subject of quitting her work, Loren once revealedto The Associated Press:"That's terrible, the word retire. Never. Start always like it was the beginning of a long career."
The Italian star recently underwent surgery after breaking her hip and thigh bones during a fall in her Switzerland home, though the operation is said to have gone "very well".
Giorgio Armani, 89
Giorgio Armani has vowed to carry on working until he drops.
The Italian fashion designer still controls the fashion empire he founded in 1975, and evidently has the energy of a man decades younger than his 89years.
Rita Moreno, 92
Puerto Rican star Rita Moreno has been acting since her screen debut in the 1950 dramaSo Young, So Bad, and isone of the few stars to have won the prestigious EGOT –an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony – quartet of awards throughout her career.
At 92years old, Moreno is as booked and busy as ever. Last year alone, shestarred in the comedy flick 80 for Brady and the action-packed blockbuster Fast X, as well as TV shows Lopez vs. Lopez and Princess Power.
Carmen Dell’Orefice, 92
Widely considered to be the world's oldest working supermodel, Carmen Dell’Orefice still struts down catwalks and appears in magazine editorials.
Now 92, the American beauty first appeared on the cover of AmericanVogue at the age of 15, meaning that she's been modelling for an astonishing 76 years. She most recently starred on the front cover ofthe Czech edition ofVoguein April 2023.
William Shatner, 93
In 2021, actor William Shatner officially became the oldest person to ever travel to space, blasting off in a Blue Origin craft. So it's safe to say he's in no rush to slow down.
Shatner recently had a vocal role in the 2022 family-friendly flickFireheart. He also made an appearance at the 2023 edition of the Texas-held arts festival SXSW, where he delightedStar Trekfans by recalling how he first landed his iconic role as Captain Kirk. Earlier this year, he released an album for children titledWhere Will The Animals Sleep?
He's pictured here at the Los Angeles Premiere of new documentary "You Can Call Me Bill" in March 2024.
Clint Eastwood, 93
Clint Eastwood clearly has no desire to stop working. The actor and filmmakerstarred in the 2021 Western flick Cry Macho, and is also set to direct and star in the upcoming crime movie Juror #2.
In an interview, the five-time Oscar winner said that retirement wasn't an option for himafter he saw what happened to his father, once revealing: "All he ever dreamed about was retiring. And so he did, at around 60. He didn't last very long."
Daphne Selfe, 95
British model Daphne Selfe, whoat 95is even older than Carmen Dell'Orefice, returned to work in the fashion industry at the age of 70 after her husband died.
In 2014, she was acknowledged byGuinness Book of World Recordsas theOldest Professional Fashion Model. Selfe is still landing plenty of jobs and has modelled for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren,and TK Maxx over the years.
Sir David Attenborough, 97
Legendary nonagenarian naturalist Sir David Attenborough admitted to the Independentin 2016 that "putting your feet up is all very well, but it's very boring".
As such, Attenborough is busy continuing to presentnature documentaries for the BBC. He most recently helmed the miniseries Mammals this year.
Dick Van Dyke, 98
Famous for his hilarious attempt at a Londonaccent in the original 1964Mary Poppins movie, Van Dyke made a cameo in the sequel, whichhit cinemas at the end of 2018.
In the past year alone, he'svoiced himself in an episode of The Simpsons and appeared in the long-runningsoap opera Days of Our Lives.
At the remarkable age of 98, Van Dyke shows no signs of slowing down. He'snext set to star in the upcoming comedy film Capture the Flag, which revolves around elderly war veterans.
Now discover which musicians are making the most money from selling their music catalogues
