12 Icons of the 1960s Who Are Still Thriving Today

      These 12 stars from the 1960s continue to thrive after all these years.

      From comedic legends to action heroes, all have demonstrated remarkable longevity through the decades.

      What do you believe is the key to their sustained success?

      Sally Field

      Source: C/O ABC

      Sally Field rose to fame in 1965 with her role as Gidget (above), which she followed by starring in The Flying Nun, establishing herself as one of the leading — and youngest — television stars of the 1960s. Since then, she has won two Best Actress Oscars — for 1979’s Norma Rae and 1984’s Places in the Heart — showcasing her empathy and versatility in films like Sybil, Smokey and the Bandit, Mrs. Doubtfire, Forrest Gump, and Lincoln. Her now-iconic Oscar acceptance speech for Places in the Heart, where she famously said, “You like me, right now, you like me,” set the standard for award speeches. Last year, she shone in 80 for Brady, displaying her comedic talent — even though the film notes she’s a few years shy of 80. She will next be seen in Netflix’s Remarkably Bright Creatures.

      Shirley MacLaine

      Source: C/O United Artists

      Shirley MacLaine began her career performing in Broadway musicals as a teenager in the 1950s before making her film debut in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 film The Trouble With Harry. She went on to star in Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Some Came Running (1958), and Ask Any Girl (1959), culminating in a poignant and unforgettable performance in the insightful 1960 comedy The Apartment, opposite Jack Lemmon.

      She solidified her status as one of the greatest stars of the 1960s with roles in The Children’s Hour (1961), Irma la Douce (1963), and Sweet Charity (1969).

      MacLaine later won the Academy Award for Best Actress for 1983’s Terms of Endearment, along with numerous accolades for her roles in Steel Magnolias (1989), Postcards From the Edge (1990), and Bernie (2011).

      At 91 years old, she recently made a memorable appearance in the second season of Only Murders in the Building. Her next project is People Not Places.

      Warren Beatty

      Source: C/O Warner Bros.

      Inheriting good genes: Shirley MacLaine’s younger brother Warren Beatty began his journey with several guest appearances on the charming sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959-63) and soon became a matinee idol with 1960’s Splendor in the Grass (above), which turned them both into major stars of the 1960s.

      In the following decades, he embarked on a legendary career with films such as Bonnie and Clyde (1967), McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971), The Parallax View (1974), and Shampoo (1975), later moving into directing and starring in Heaven Can Wait (1978), Reds (1981), and the delightfully quirky Bulworth (1998). He received the Best Director Oscar for Reds. He co-starred with Annette Bening in 1991’s Bugsy, and the two have been married for over thirty years.

      Although Warren Beatty has been relatively inactive since directing and starring in 2016’s Rules Don’t Apply, he recently surprised audiences with an appearance in the TCM special Tracy Zooms In.

      Dustin Hoffman

      Source: C/O Embassy Pictures

      Dustin Hoffman became a breakout star in 1967 with The Graduate (above) and has maintained impressive performances throughout his career. His notable films from the 1960s include Midnight Cowboy, and he later starred in projects ranging from Straw Dogs (1971) to All the President’s Men (1976), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), Tootsie (1982), and Rain Man (1988). He won his two Best Actor Oscars for Kramer vs. Kramer and Rain Man.

      In more recent years, he has continued to make intriguing and surprising choices, earning acclaim for his roles in Wag the Dog (1997), Runaway Jury (2003), I Heart Huckabees (2004), and The Meyerowitz Stories (2017).

      He remains active with various projects, including Francis Ford Coppola’s ambitious film Megalopolis.

      Ron Howard

      Source: C/O CBS

      Ron Howard made his mark as the young Opie on the classic The Andy Griffith Show in the 1960s and starred in The Music Man (1962) before transitioning to prominent roles in film with American Graffiti (1973) — along with further television stardom from his role in Happy Days.

      At 69, he is also highly regarded for his success behind the camera. He is one of Hollywood