12 Classic Stars Who Were Younger Than The Roles They Played

Misc

Aug 2, 2016 4:35 pm·

By Nakeisha Campbell

Picture

Halle Berry and Daughter Nahla Aubry’s Rare Outing: Photos

Halle Berry’s Daughter Nahla Looks All Grown Up During Rare Outing

Lara Spencer Bikini Photos: ‘GMA’ Host’s Swimsuit Pictures

Out for a Swim! See ‘GMA’ Host Lara Spencer’s Gorgeous Bikini Photos

See How Old the Cast of 'Dirty Dancing' Was While Filming the Movie

Where Does Kathie Lee Gifford Live? Photos of Nashville Home

Settled Down! Tour Kathie Lee Gifford’s Beautiful Nashville Estate

Celebrities Over 60 Bikini Photos: Sexy Swimsuit Pictures

Celebrities Over 60 Rocking Bikinis: Photos of Christie Brinkley, More

It’s pretty common to see older actors portray characters that are way younger than their real age — but, believe it or not, it was just as common for classic stars like Angela Lansbury and Paul Newman to play much older roles on TV shows and in movies.

Click through the gallery to see all the times classic stars played older roles!

1 of 12

Melody Patterson was 16 when she played the love interest of a much older Captain Parmenter in F Troop.

2 of 12

Abe Vigoda was 53 when he played the elderly Detective Phil Fish in Barney Miller.

3 of 12

Angela Lansbury was 37 when she played the mother of an actor three years younger than her in Manchurian Candidate.

4 of 12

Alice Brady was 44 when she played the mother of Ava Gardner, who was just a few years younger than her in My Man Godfrey.

5 of 12

Eileen Herlie was 30 when she played the mother of a grown man in Hamlet.

6 of 12

Paul Newman was only 47 when he played the elderly Judge Roy Bean in The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean.

7 of 12

Estelle Getty played the elderly mother of Bea Arthur, who was a year older than her in The Golden Girls.

8 of 12

Barbara O'Neil was 29 when she played the mother of a character three years younger than her in Gone with the Wind.

9 of 12

Lionel Jeffries was 42 when he played the elderly father of Dick Van Dyke in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

10 of 12

Jessie Royce Landis was 63 when she played the mother of Cary Grant, who was just eight years younger than her in North by Northwest.

11 of 12

Lorne Greene played the elderly father of Ava Gardner, a woman who was just seven years younger than he was in Earthquake.

12 of 12

Clive Dunn was in his early 50s when he played the elderly Lance Corporal Jones in Dad’s Army.

Just For You

Conversation

All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Closer Weekly does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.