Decades After Shining, These Popular 80’s & 90’s Celebs Prove Age is Just a Number
Kristy McNichol | 59
Actress, singer, and comedian Kristy McNichol had a long and successful showbiz career before she officially retired from acting in 2001. Her biggest break in the world of acting was on the television series ‘Family,’ where she portrayed the role of Buddy. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for this role.
Kristy was also on other iconic series, including ‘Starsky and Hutch’ and ‘The Bionic Woman.’ Aside from acting, she also ventured into singing, with some of her songs finding their way into movie soundtracks. After retiring, she focused on family life and also taught acting classes to aspiring thespians in California.
Jolene Blalock (49) – Star Trek: Enterprise
It’s not unusual for actresses to pursue modeling careers before taking a turn on the big screen. So nothing about Jolene Blalock’s career path should come as a surprise. By 17, she traveled the world on modeling contracts and visited Asia and Europe.
Soon enough, Blalock made her television debut in the sitcom “Veronica’s Closet.” She also took on a few minor roles before finally landing her big break—a lead role in “Star Trek: Enterprise.” Although Blalock is pretty reserved, in 2021, we got to see her when she walked the red carpet for Star Trek day. And she didn’t even look a day older than 30.
Morgan Fairchild | 73
Morgan Fairchild rose to fame in the late 1970s, captivating audiences with her portrayal in the soap opera “Search for Tomorrow,” catapulting her to stardom. In the 1980s, she became a television icon with roles in “Flamingo Road” and “Falcon Crest.” Her career thrived through her versatility, seamlessly transitioning between TV and film.
Notable projects include “The Seduction” and “Paper Dolls.” More than this, Morgan embraces aging with a refreshing attitude, unburdened by societal expectations. “I’ve gotten to an age that I really don’t care,” she famously told Closer Weekly when asked about pictures showing her during a grocery run makeup-free.
Loni Anderson | 76
American actress Loni Anderson easily became a mainstay on our screens in the 70s through the 80s and 90s. She made her film debut in Hollywood in 1966 on the ‘Nevada Smith’ and climbed up the fame and success ladders in no time.
Loni played Jennifer Marlowe in WKRP in ‘Cincinnati,’ her most notable role from 1978 to 1982, and slowed down on her acting projects since. While she has appeared in a few other films over the years, Loni is still active in the acting scene and continues to appear on the red carpets of galas, premieres, and charity events.
Elisabeth Shue | 60
Elisabeth Shue rose to fame in the 1980s with her breakout role in “The Karate Kid” and solidified her status in pop culture with “Adventures in Babysitting.” Her career soared with “Back to the Future Part II” and “Back to the Future Part III.”
She then received an Academy Award nomination for her compelling performance in “Leaving Las Vegas.” Throughout her career, she showcased versatility in projects like “The Saint” and “Hollow Man.” While Elisabeth has been known for her beauty and charisma, she admitted in 2023 that she wasn’t afraid of how she would look in the years to come as an “old lady.”
Joyce DeWitt | 72
While Joyce DeWitt started acting when she was 13 years old, it wasn’t until years later, working as a secretary and still studying in university, when she landed her debut role in ‘Baretta’ in 1975. Since then, she was cast for numerous films and television shows, with her character as Janet Wood in the ‘Three’s Company’ sitcom, her most prominent role.
DeWitt took a hiatus from the big screen from 1984 to 1991, when she returned better than ever, with riveting performances on ‘Living Single,’ ‘Hope Island’ and ‘Cybil’ among others. Fans may have spotted her in the 2020 video ‘Scattered, Smothered & Covered Christmas.’
Barbi Benton | 72
Barbi Benton was one of the most notable female celebrities to come out of the massive Hugh Hefner empire. When she graced the pages of his magazine, it opened up many opportunities for her acting and singing career. She was also one of the select few who actually had a serious relationship with him.
Aside from her modeling and television gigs, Barbi was also into singing and she recorded a number of pop and country albums. Four of her albums were released under ‘Playboy Records’ in the 1970s. Nevertheless, she has left the glitz and glamour behind and has focused on her family life.
Kristy McNichol | 59
Actress, singer, and comedian Kristy McNichol had a long and successful showbiz career before she officially retired from acting in 2001. Her biggest break in the world of acting was on the television series ‘Family,’ where she portrayed the role of Buddy. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for this role.
Kristy was also on other iconic series, including ‘Starsky and Hutch’ and ‘The Bionic Woman.’ Aside from acting, she also ventured into singing, with some of her songs finding their way into movie soundtracks. After retiring, she focused on family life and also taught acting classes to aspiring thespians in California.
Raquel Welch | 81
Entertainment fans were pleasantly surprised when Raquel Welch made her first public appearance in two years. She was spotted in the area of the Heritage Auctions in Beverly Hills in September of 2021, and took a stroll in the neighborhood.
Raquel was a popular icon in the 1960s and 1970s, and she first captured the public’s attention in the 1966 film ‘One Million Years B.C.’ She then starred in other much-talked-about projects, notably ‘Bedazzled’ and ‘Fathom.’ She also dabbled in some singing and dancing performances in the Las Vegas showroom circuit.
Victoria Principal | 72
When women powerhouses in the film industry are the discussion, there is no doubt Victoria Principal’s name will appear at least once. Maybe even twice, despite her not being in the scene anymore. It’s all thanks to her Pamela Forts role in the long-running television show ‘Dallas.’
The star boasts of several other roles including ‘The Last Hours Before Morning.’ Unfortunately, Victoria hasn’t always derived satisfaction from her film career though. She quit and worked as an agent, got back to star on ‘Dallas’ in 1978, and left after nine years to begin her own production company before eventually retiring from Hollywood in the early ’00s.
Demi Moore | 59
Hollywood has seen many strong women advocating for equal pay rights, and one among them is the celebrated star Demi Moore. She’s equally revered, if not more, as any of her male co-stars, and most impressively, she ranked as the highest-earning actress during the ’80s and the ’90s.
Steering her way in acting with the TV opera ‘General Hospital,’ Moore secured mainstream success after featuring in ‘A Few Good Men’ and ‘Ghost.’ Nevertheless, she endured a brief downturn in her career but bounced back with double the fervor. In her memoir, ‘Inside Out,’ the Golden Globe awardee has shared many such accounts that will inspire all young ladies out there.
Jennifer Connelly | 51
From beginning her career in showbiz as a child model when she was only 10 years old to becoming a household name in Hollywood, Jennifer Connelly has had an inspiring Hollywood stint so far. After appearing in numerous advertisements, the star took the leap and delved into film, starring in ‘Once Upon a Time in America’ receiving rave reviews.
Since then, Connelly has starred in countless movies and television shows, making her one of the most sought-after performers in the business. Despite her decades in the industry, she doesn’t seem tired of dominating the scene as she has been starring in ‘Snowpiercer’ since 2020.
Barbara Eden | 90
While most folks muse their nineties for chilling with their grandkids or spending time chatting in the front yard on some sunny day, Barbara Eden’s definition of the ninth floor encompasses continuing the legacy she built all by herself since the ’50s. Despite coming into the industry as a commoner, it was just a matter of years before she won lead roles in films like ‘A Private’s Affair’ and ‘Flaming Star.’
What Eden did in the then-popular TV show ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ was outstanding, to say the least. No wonder she played Jeannie for five years and marked a great impression among the audiences before heading towards other productions and stage works.
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