Getting older doesn’t have to mean slowing down or handing in your gym membership. In fact, plenty of celebrities are proving exactly the opposite. Whether they’re training for demanding film roles or simply staying fit enough to keep doing the things they love, these men have made fitness a lifelong habit rather than a short-term project.
Here’s how some of the fittest celebrities over 60 stay in incredible shape – and why their routines work.
Jump to:Steve Coogan, 60Mike Tyson, 60Ross Kemp, 61Rob Lowe, 62Ralph Fiennes, 62Gary Lineker, 64Graham McTavish, 64Jean-Claude Van Damme, 65Kevin Bacon, 67Dolph Lundgren, 68J.K. Simmons, 69Jeff Goldblum, 73Pierce Brosnan, 73Sting, 74Ernie Hudson, 78Arnold Schwarzenegger, 78Mick Jagger, 821/
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At 60, Steve Coogan’s priority is staying capable enough to keep doing the things he enjoys, from climbing mountains to performing his own stunts.
While filming Legends, he turned down a stunt double for a running scene, and he marked his 60th birthday by climbing Kilimanjaro. Coogan also credits giving up alcohol with improving every aspect of his life, saying he’s simply a better person when he doesn’t drink.
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Mike Tyson’s return to the ring at 58 reminded everyone that while age changes how you train, it doesn’t have to stop you training altogether.
Preparing for his fight with Jake Paul, the former heavyweight champion rebuilt his fitness with a combination of boxing drills, strength work, road running and explosive conditioning sessions. Alongside the physical work, Tyson has also spoken about cleaning up his diet and reducing the lifestyle habits that once held him back.
He may no longer train with the volume that made him the youngest heavyweight champion in history, but he still trains with serious intensity. At 60, Tyson is living proof that it’s never too late to get yourself back into fighting shape.
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Best known for playing Grant Mitchell in EastEnders, Ross Kemp says staying fit remains a major priority. Speaking to HELLO!, the 61-year-old revealed that a combination of boxing, running and strength training helps keep him in shape.
Mondays are reserved for pad work, light sparring and a run, while Tuesdays and Thursdays focus on lighter, endurance-based weight sessions. He follows that with more sparring and running later in the week, fits in yoga whenever he can and usually keeps weekends for recovery, aside from the occasional easy 5k.
4/Rob Lowe, 62
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Men’s Health cover star Rob Lowe has been one of Hollywood’s most consistently fit leading men for decades, but he’d probably be the first to tell you that looking good has become a by-product rather than the end goal. At 62, his focus is staying active enough to enjoy life, whether that’s surfing, hiking, playing tennis or keeping up with work.
Lowe strength trains regularly, mixes in plenty of walking and has recently experimented with EMS training. But he’s quick to point out that gadgets don’t replace the basics. The biggest change, he says, came from getting sober more than 30 years ago – something he credits with improving every aspect of his health.
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Ralph Fiennes’ transformation for The Return wasn’t about looking like a Marvel superhero. Director Uberto Pasolini wanted an Odysseus who looked weathered, resilient and believable after years of hardship.
To achieve it, Fiennes worked with trainer Dan Avasilcai on a five-month programme combining progressive strength training, regular running and a diet centred on lean protein, complex carbohydrates and vegetables. Rather than chasing muscle for its own sake, the focus was on building a body that looked functional, capable and authentic.
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Lineker trains three to four times a week, combining gym sessions with Pilates, which he says has become a key part of his routine over the past five years. While he admits he’s never enjoyed training for its own sake, he believes staying active becomes even more important as you get older.
‘I think it’s quite easy in midlife to just give up when you start seeing the waistline expand a little bit,’ he told the Evening Standard.
Old injuries have put an end to long-distance running and regular cycling, but with a home gym stocked with weights, a treadmill and Pilates equipment, he continues to find ways to stay active.
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Graham McTavish still needs to be physically prepared for demanding roles in productions such as The Witcher, House of the Dragon and Spartacus: House of Ashur, and his training reflects that.
Having spent years running, cycling, playing squash and lifting weights, McTavish now favours a more functional approach, combining bodyweight exercises, dynamic movement and strength work. His cardio includes rowing, cycling and Tabata hill sprints, while his diet keeps things simple with lean protein, whole grains and plenty of vegetables.
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Jean-Claude Van Damme/Instagram
Jean-Claude Van Damme built his career on flexibility and martial arts, and at 65 they still form the foundation of how he trains.
Alongside regular strength work, the Belgian action star continues to practise martial arts and stretch almost every day, maintaining the mobility and athleticism that made him famous. Rather than focusing purely on muscle mass, his training prioritises movement quality, balance and coordination.
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At 67, Kevin Bacon is more interested in moving well than building excessive muscle. His workouts are simple, often built around dumbbells and kettlebells, with strength training, cardio, mobility work and balance all earning a place in his week. Even while filming, Bacon keeps things practical, using whatever equipment is available rather than relying on elaborate gym set-ups.
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Standing 6ft 5in and best known for playing Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, Dolph Lundgren has spent decades looking like he could still throw someone through a wall. At 68, he’s showing remarkably few signs of slowing down.
A former karate champion with a lifelong commitment to strength training, Lundgren still lifts weights regularly while incorporating mobility work and functional exercises to support healthy ageing. Following his cancer treatment, he’s also spoken openly about adapting his training to suit where his body is now, rather than where it was 30 years ago.
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J.K. Simmons didn’t fully commit to his fitness routine until his 50s. After losing 24kg with trainer Dana Perri, he’s continued to prioritise strength training and good nutrition.
His workouts usually last around an hour, though they increase during film preparation. Simmons focuses on moderate weights, never skips leg day and places plenty of emphasis on lower-body and core strength. He’s also repeatedly ruled out performance-enhancing drugs, preferring to rely on hard work and consistency.
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Instagram: @jeffgoldblum
Jeff Goldblum might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of fitness icons, but at 73 he’s proof that you don’t need to be shredded to be in excellent shape.
Working alongside celebrity trainer Jason Walsh, Goldblum strength trains several times a week while also prioritising mobility and longevity. He’s spoken about exercising to stay healthy enough to enjoy life with his children.
13/Pierce Brosnan, 73
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Pierce Brosnan’s fitness comes from staying active in ways he genuinely enjoys. The former Bond actor spends his time surfing, hiking, cycling and practising yoga, using movement as part of everyday life rather than something confined to the gym. That combination has helped him maintain impressive fitness well into his seventies.
14/Sting, 74
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Sting has practised yoga for decades and still combines it with strength training, hiking, swimming and daily mobility work. His focus is on maintaining flexibility, balance and overall health. At 74, he’s a testament to consistency over intensity.
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Tim P. Whitby
When Ernie Hudson appeared looking incredibly muscular on the Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire red carpet at 78, it caught the internet’s attention.
Hudson has shared that he follows intermittent fasting, trains at the gym three times a week and keeps his sessions focused on strength, mobility and balance. When he’s travelling, he sticks to a simple hotel-room workout of push-ups, squats, planks and stretching. Plenty of walking alongside that has kept him in shape for decades.
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MICHAEL MULLER
Arnold Schwarzenegger may no longer be winning bodybuilding titles, but at 78 he still trains every day. He starts his morning with coffee, feeds the animals, cycles to the gym, trains, then rides to breakfast.
Schwarzenegger believes routine removes decision-making and makes it easier to keep showing up. His advice for ageing well is to enjoy your training, build habits you can maintain and focus on steady progress rather than perfection.
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Mick Jagger still performs with the energy of someone half his age. At 82, the Rolling Stones frontman continues to take his fitness seriously, training almost every day and combining strength work, cardio, dance, meditation and a diet more akin to that of a professional athlete. While genetics undoubtedly play a role, those close to Jagger have long credited his remarkable longevity to discipline and consistency above all else.
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Kate is a fitness writer for Men’s Health UK where she contributes regular workouts, training tips and nutrition guides. She has a post graduate diploma in Sports Performance Nutrition and before joining Men’s Health she was a nutritionist, fitness writer and personal trainer with over 5k hours coaching on the gym floor. Kate has a keen interest in volunteering for animal shelters and when she isn’t lifting weights in her garden, she can be found walking her rescue dog.