The Gist
The celebrities who defined the ‘60s, ‘70s, and beyond are in their 70s today.
Hollywood stars like Meryl Streep and Richard Gere have continued their acclaimed careers in their seventh decades while also cheering on their actor kids.
Music legends like Elton John and Lionel Richie have spoken positively about reaching the milestone age, with the former calling 70 “fabulous.”
Celebrities who are in their 70s have enjoyed careers spanning decades—and many are still stealing the spotlight when they take the stage today.
Elton John turned 71 in 2018, the same year he kicked off his epic Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. At the time, John told journalist Anderson Cooper (per EW), “It’s a way of going out with a bang. I don’t want to go out with a whimper. I’m not a whimpery guy!” When the now-79-year-old music icon wrapped up the tour’s final show in 2023, it was the highest-grossing tour of all time, according to Billboard.
He’s not the only one setting records in his seventh decade. In 2023, Meryl Streep broke her own record for the most Golden Globe nominations of any actor in history. The Mamma Mia! star hit 33 nominations as she earned a nod for her performance in Only Murders in the Building, per Deadline. She was 74 years old at the time.
Not only are septuagenarian stars still going for gold, but they’ve also raised the next crop of talent. Streep, 77, continues to dazzle in films like The Devil Wears Prada 2—but the legendary actress is happy to step into the role of proud mom when supporting her daughter, Love Story’s Grace Gummer. Lionel Richie, 77, similarly applauds daughters Nicole and Sofia Richie and son Miles, telling reporters at an American Idol event (per People) that he advises his kids to “do your best, give them attitude and kill it.”
Ahead, revisit the careers of 7 iconic celebrities who are 70 and up. Plus, learn what they’re up to as they demonstrate that talent doesn’t dim with age.
01 of 07
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey at the Forbes Self-Made 250 Celebration on June 17, 2026.Credit: Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images
Media mogul, actress, and all-around legend Oprah Winfrey turned 70 in January 2024. Before she rang in the milestone birthday, she did a People cover story reflecting on her lifetime of incredible achievements. “Gratitude really is my religion,” she told the outlet.
As for if she was planning on retiring anytime soon, the Beloved star said, “I will never be done until my last breath is done. And whenever that happens it will be a peaceful breath.”Recently, the 72-year-old philanthropist was honored with the 2026 Cannes LionHeart Award, which acknowledges individuals who inspire others and drive change through their words and actions.
Oprah Winfrey and Dolly Parton, from left, on ‘Dolly’ in 1987.Credit: Jerry Fitzgerald/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
02 of 07
Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala on June 11, 2026.Credit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
Following her stint on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, actress Jane Seymour has proved she’s a real-life renaissance woman.
The two-time Golden Globe Award winner, 75, runs a nonprofit called the Open Hearts Foundation, which offers grants to organizations and charities uplifting their communities. She’s also a self-help author and proud mom of six. In June 2026, Seymour confirmed her engagement to physician John Zambetti, People exclusively reported.
Jane Seymour leaving Heathrow Airport in London on 1972.Credit: Corbis via Getty Images
03 of 07
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie on ‘American Idol’ in May 2026.Credit: Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images
Lionel Richie has doled out a lot of wisdom over the course of his celebrated music career—and in his more recent position as a judge on American Idol. Perhaps his greatest morsel of advice is to act like you’re as young as you feel.
The veteran hitmaker, now 77, told Rolling Stone in 2020, “My real age is about 45. Every time someone says happy birthday, I go, ‘I’m 45’ and I don’t think anything about aging or getting older.” He jokingly added, “I don’t have time to sit down and think, ‘Oh, my God, man — I’m 230 years old. What the hell is that?’”When he’s not mentoring fresh talent on Idol, he’s being a grandpa to his four grandchildren, who call him ‘Pop Pop,’ per USA Today.
Lionel Richie in 1980.Credit: Aaron Rapoport/Corbis via Getty Images
04 of 07
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep at a press conference for ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ on April 8, 2026.Credit: JTBC PLUS/Imazins via Getty Images
If there was an award for career longevity, Meryl Streep would win it—she’s already won every other award several times over.
The Oscar winner behind tearjerkers like Sophie’s Choice and The Hours, who turned 77 in June 2026, recently admitted to People that she “doesn’t know how” to act. Instead, she works by instinct. “I go into everything, not knowing how people do it. And you sort of feel and listen and pick it up as you go along,” she explained.The Devil Wears Prada 2 star has also compared herself to the icy fictional fashion editor she made famous in the cult-classic film. “I think I’m a little like Miranda Priestley as a grandma because I like the rules, dear,” she told Jimmy Kimmel on his talk show in May 2026.
Meryl Streep with her Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1980.Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
05 of 07
Richard Gere
Richard Gere at the 2025 SFFILM Awards Night on December 08, 2025.Credit: Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images
Richard Gere, 76, is living his best life in Spain with wife Alejandra Silva and their younger kids—although he’ll still fly back to Hollywood to promote his show The Agency.
The actor called this chapter of his life “the top of the top” in a 2024 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “I love my wife. She’s incredible, a great mother,” the Pretty Woman star said, adding, “The kids are healthy, happy. Of course, there’s nothing more than that.”
His eldest son, Homer Gere, has begun making a name for himself—even acting in the final season of HBO’s Euphoria. “He’s very good,” Richard told ExtraTV of Homer in 2026, adding, “If he wants it, I’m sure he’s going to have a wonderful career.”
Richard Gere in 1987.Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
06 of 07
Elton John
Elton John (R) with Billie Jean King and Brandi Carlile on March 15, 2026.Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation
The 2019 biopic Rocketman traced Elton John’s life from when he was a shy boy growing up in postwar Britain to when he became an international superstar selling out stadiums. While John’s journey to fame wasn’t always easy, he’s grateful for what every new chapter of life brings.
Upon his 70th birthday in 2017, the “Tiny Dancer” singer told Beats1’s Zane Lowe, “When I was growing up, 70 sounded like the end of the world. But things have changed – you’re only as old as you feel inside.” He added later in the same interview, “Life is fabulous.”
Nearly 10 years later, the 79-year-old’s words still ring true. Case in point: he recently performed at Dua Lipa and Callum Turner’s star-studded wedding, according to Vanity Fair.
Elton John in London in November 1973.Credit: Michael Putland/Getty Images
07 of 07
Twiggy
Twiggy at the Burberry SS26 show in September 2025.Credit: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Burberry
One of the world’s first supermodels, Twiggy (born Lesley Lawson) still inspires with her chic sense of style today.
At 76, the mod trendsetter continues to star in campaigns like a recent one for Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection and attends London Fashion Week on occasion. “I’m enjoying getting older,” the Golden Globe winner told the Sunday Post in 2019, per Yahoo! Life. The same year, People reported that the famous “Face of 66” received a damehood from King Charles.
Twiggy in a 1967 portrait.Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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