5 Stars from the 1950s Who Are Still Thriving Today

      These icons of the 1950s continue to thrive, including Shirley MacLaine, who recently celebrated her 92nd birthday.

      (Referring to her current life, that is.)

      Here are five stars from the 1950s who remain prominent today.

      Clint Eastwood

      Credit: 20th Century Fox – C/O

      As the most prolific of the surviving stars from the 1950s, Clint Eastwood rose to fame in films like Francis in the Navy, The First Traveling Saleslady, and Ambush at Cimarron Pass (above). He also made guest appearances on television shows such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Highway Patrol.

      In the 1960s, he had a notable role in the TV series Rawhide and became one of the most recognized stars of the decade through Sergio Leone’s "Man With No Name" trilogy: A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965), and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966).

      He continued to hold a significant presence in cinema through the next two decades with his Dirty Harry series, but his most significant contribution might be his directorial work, earning him four Oscars—two for directing and producing The Unforgiven (1993) and Million Dollar Baby (2005). His other remarkable films include Mystic River (2003), Letters From Iwo Jima (2006), and American Sniper (2014).

      He is still directing, with his newest film, Juror #2, now available on Max. He will turn 96 next month.

      Rita Moreno

      Credit: Singin’ in the Rain – MGM

      Rita Moreno, at 94, became a prominent figure of the 1950s with roles in classic films such as Singin’ in the Rain (above) and The King and I, before gaining fame for her performance in 1961’s West Side Story.

      She has achieved rare EGOT status, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, alongside numerous accolades including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Kennedy Center Honor, and a Peabody Award. Her extensive filmography includes 1969’s Popi, 1981’s The Four Seasons, 1998’s The Slums of Beverly Hills, and Steven Spielberg’s 2021 reimagining of West Side Story.

      Recently, she showed her comedic talent in 80 for Brady and also appeared in Fast X. She remains as active as ever.

      Warren Beatty

      Credit: CBS

      Warren Beatty, the youngest at 89, emerged as one of the most adored TV stars of the 1950s through the charming sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (above).

      He quickly transitioned to a matinee idol with 1960’s Splendor in the Grass, starring alongside Natalie Wood, which catapulted them into stardom during the 1960s.

      His legendary film career includes classics like Bonnie and Clyde (1967), McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971), The Parallax View (1974), and Shampoo (1975), before he turned to directing and starring in projects like Heaven Can Wait (1978), Reds (1981), and the eccentric Bulworth (1998). He won an Oscar for Best Director for Reds. He co-starred with Annette Bening in 1991’s Bugsy, and they have been married for over thirty years.

      Although he has been less active since directing and starring in 2016’s Rules Don’t Apply, he remains vibrant; he made a delightful surprise appearance last year in the TCM special Tracy Zooms In, where he answered questions as a comic strip legend.

      He comes from a family with good genes, as his older sister is also featured in this list...

      Shirley MacLaine

      Credit: MGM

      Shirley MacLaine was one of the Broadway talents of the 1950s before making her film debut in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 film The Trouble With Harry. That same year, she starred in Artists and Models (above) and later appeared in Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Some Came Running (1958), and Ask Any Girl (1959).

      She began the 1960s with a memorable performance in the insightful comedy The Apartment (above) alongside Jack Lemmon.

      She solidified her status as a leading star of the 1960s with films like The Children’s Hour (1961), Irma la Douce (1963), and Sweet Charity (1969). Ultimately, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for 1983’s Terms of Endearment and received numerous accolades for films including Steel Magnolias (1989), Postcards From the Edge (1990), and Bernie (2011).

      Recently, the reincarnation enthusiast stood out in the second season of Only Murders in the Building.

      Mel