43 Actors That Became

Famous Later in Their Lives

Paul Jennings

Wondering if you’re too old to become an actor? If it’s

too late to achieve the level of success current A-listers
have? Or possibly you’ve been acting long enough
already and it troubles you that your career is still not
where it should be? This will calm you down (a little).

The old and tired saying still applies: acting is not a sprint,
it’s a marathon, and the below list proves this cliche. These
currently famous actors received the recognition they
deserve a lot later in their lives, and most of them will tell
you that there are no regrets.
The point to take home is that as long as you work hard, and
you know how to become a working actor through a series of
well-planned steps instead of meandering around, you’ll get
there sooner or later. Be patient; struggle is what makes it
great!

43 Actors That Became Famous Later in

Their Lives
1. Christoph Waltz

It should be appropriate to start the

list with Christoph Waltz. Until 2007,
Christoph was lucky to be able to
support his family doing stage work
and playing roles in small TV
productions in Europe. That was until
Hollywood (or rather Quentin
Tarantino) came knocking at his
door. Christoph was 51 when he got the part of Col. Hans
Landa back in 2009. He won 2 Oscars since then.

Christoph Waltz on IMDb

2. James Gandolfini

The late James Gandolfini has been acting since the 1980s,
but what finally put his staggering acting abilities in front of a
bigger audience was the little TV drama called The
Sopranos. James was 38 when he landed the role of Tony
Soprano that catapulted him into stardom.

James Gandolfini on IMDb

3. Alan Rickman

When pushing 30 years old, Alan was studying performing

arts at one of the best drama schools he could’ve gotten into
– the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. As graceful
as stage work is, most actors wish for their work to be seen
by more people than a theatre can
accommodate, thus screen acting was the next step to go
for Rickman after spending over 10 years on the stage. Alan
was 46 when he got his now famous part alongside then
future movie star Bruce Willis.

Alan Rickman on IMDb

4. Naomi Watts

Watts was working steadily in American TV and small films

since the beginning of the 1990s, but it was the David
Lynch’s TV movie project called Mulholland Dr. that brought
her fame when she was 31. She was nominated for 2 Oscars
since then.
Naomi Watts on IMDb

5. Kathryn Joosten

Unlike most cases on this list, the late Kathryn

Joosten decided to move to Los Angeles in pursuit of her
acting dream when she was already 56. Kathryn didn’t
have anything that would connect her to the industry and
was starting from scratch, competing against actors of the
same age that had decades of experience and credits. After
years of struggle, she ended up winning two Emmy awards.

Kathryn Joosten on IMDb

6. Jenna Fischer

Jenna Fischer was a struggling

actress in Hollywood since the mid
1990s, getting lucky with occasional
small bit parts and barely able to
make the ends meet. When The
Office came along to substantially
boost her career in 2005, Jenna was
31. Her work as character Pam Beesly was nominated for an
Emmy award, and she continues to work steadily.

Jenna Fischer on IMDb

7. Michael Emmerson

After starting to act late in his life, Michael Emmerson was

doing small local productions in Florida and continued to do
so all the way throughout the 1990s. But in 2000, when
Michael was 46, his life changed – he got a part of a serial
killer in The Practice, which finally opened the doors for him.
He has won two Emmy awards since then and was
nominated for a Golden Globe for his work in Lost.

Michael Emmerson on IMDb

8. Alexander Skarsgård

Swedish born actor Alexander Skarsgard continues his rise

to stardom even as you’re reading this, but what finally put
him on the right path was the opportunity in the HBO’s TV
mini series Generation Kill in 2008 when Alexander was 31.
US production offers started pouring after that, and he’s
been doing TV and film work on a steady basis since then.

Alexander Skarsgard on IMDb

9. Phylicia Rashad

Phylicia Rashad was doing a lot of stage work on and off

Broadway in her twenties, but what brought all the fame and
made her a name in Hollywood was the part in a famous
sitcom The Cosby Show, for which she later received two
Emmy nominations. Phylicia was 35 when the life-changing
offer came in.

Phylicia Rashad on IMDb

10. Judi Dench

British theatergoers always

loved Dame Judi Dench long before
Hollywood knew who she was. Even
though Judi was already an
experienced and well-rounded actor
at that point, her actual breakthrough
role into the US movie industry was the character of James
Bond’s boss by a subtle name of M, in 1995’s GoldenEye.
Judi was 61 then. Since that role came along, she’s
managed to win an Oscar and was nominated for another six
of them.

Judi Dench on IMDb

11. Bryan Cranston

One of the hottest actors in Hollywood today is Bryan

Cranston; it seems like he’s everywhere. Moreover, Bryan
appears to be doing a remarkable job every single time. But
it wasn’t just luck for Bryan – he was working hard through
the 80s and the 90s without much of a recognition, with his
biggest achieved being a role on Seinfeld. Then, Bryan finally
made a name for himself in Malcolm in the Middle, when
he was 44, further supported his claim of being a great
talent with the work on Breaking Bad. In the recent years,
Bryan won a Golden Globe award, Emmy awards and a Tony
award.

Bryan Cranston on IMDb

12. Lucille Ball

The very famous Hollywood actress Lucille Ball passed away

in 1989, but even today, not everybody knows that Lucille
wasn’t a big name raised by the movie studios right from the
beginning. She was working her way up hard, performing on
stage and doing low budget movies, until the part in
America’s landmark sitcom I Love Lucy came along. Lucille
was 40 then.

Lucille Ball on IMDb

13. Sean Connery

Scottish legend Sir Sean Connery was working steadily since

his twenties, but it was of course not until his first
appearance as James Bond at the age of 32 when he finally
started his rapid climb to fame. Sean has won an Oscar since
then, and became one of the most respected actors in the
history of film.

Sean Connery on IMDb

14. Margo Martindale

Margo Martindale was acting for the

last two decades after her screen
appearance debut in 1990, taking on
a variety of small roles in TV and film.
Finally, in 2004 her name started
ringing a bell with people after her
performance as Big Mama in
Broadway’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof when Margo was 53. She
has then moved to do movies with A-list actors and great
television, and also won an Emmy award for her work on
Justified.

Margo Martindale on IMDb

15. Melissa McCarthy

Melissa McCarthy continues her conquest of Hollywood

today, and is currently one of the fastest rising female actors.
After getting into acting in mid 1990’s, it took her until 2011
to finally hit it really big with Bridesmaids in 2011, for which
was nominated for an Oscar when Melissa was 41.
Melissa McCarthy on IMDb

16. Linda Gray

Doing mostly commercials and some modeling on the side

for the first part of her career in the entertainment business,
Linda Gray rose to fame when she got the part in a 1978 TV
show Dallas that completely turned her career around,
and for which she was nominated for an Emmy award and
two Golden Globe awards. Linda was 38 when she got the
part.

Linda Gray on IMDb

17. Sylvester Stallone

Everybody knows Stallone’s story, a yet another classic

“from rags to riches through hard work” tale. Back in the
1970s, Sylvester Stallone was a dirt-poor struggling actor
and screenwriter, who at one point couldn’t even afford rent
and had to find places where to sleep. But it all changed
when Sylvester was 30 and his script for Rocky (a draft of
which he wrote in 3 days) was picked up with him attached
in the lead role.

Sylvester Stallone on IMDb

18. Ty Burrell
Tyler Gerard Burrell was acting since the beginning of 2000.
Until his lucky break came in 2009, he was always the guy
who would get either killed or fired every time. But when
Burrell was 42, Modern Family came along and supervised
his rise to TV fame and more opportunities. Ty, however, was
happy for his break coming a tad later: “I was not a mature
young man and would probably have gone off the rails.”

Ty Burrell on IMDb

19. F. Murray Abraham

F. Murray Abraham
was performing for the most part of
his life, but it was his Oscar-winning
performance as Antonio Salieri in
Amadeus that finally brought his
amazing talent to a wider audience.
F. Murray was 45 when that
happened.

F. Murray Abraham on IMDb

20. John Mahoney

John Mahoney decided to pursue an actor’s career a lot later

in his life. As it turns out, it was the right decision, the one
that helped him to win a Tony award for the job he did in The
House of Blue Leaves as well as get two Golden Globe
nominations for his memorable role in Frasier as Martin
Crane when he was 53.

John Mahoney on IMDb

21. Kristen Wiig

When encouraged by her teacher, Kristen Wiig decided to

pursue acting after college and years later moved to Los
Angeles where she became a cast member of The
Groundlings improv group. After surviving through a series
of odd jobs and trying to become a working actress, Kristen
finally rose to fame in 2006 after becoming a full cast
member of Saturday Night Live at the age of 32.

Kristen Wiig on IMDb

22. Jayne Houdyshell

An experienced stage performer, Jayne Houdyshell was

acting for quarter of a century in small regional theaters and
other local productions. When 2006 came along, Jayne
received her shot at fame with a Broadway performance in
Well, which she nailed. Jayne was 53 at the time.

Jayne Houdyshell on IMDb

23. Jeremy Renner

After playing a series of memorable parts in the last 5

years, Jeremy Renner made sure that everybody knows
exactly who he is – a versatile actor. But before his Oscar-
nominated performance in 2009’s hit The Hurt Locker at the
age of 38, Jeremy was doing a lot of smaller jobs, short
films and otherwise trying to survive in the jungle that is
Hollywood.

Jeremy Renner on IMDb

24. Morgan Freeman

The man that needs absolutely no introduction, Morgan

Freeman wasn’t that famous for a large part of this career.
Morgan first received some recognition for his work in
Another World and a TV series The Electric Company, but it
wasn’t until his stunning performance as Hoke Colburn in
Driving Miss Daisy when he was 52 that he really made it.

Morgan Freeman on IMDb

25. Estelle Getty

A comedic theatre actor, the late Estelle Getty was doing

small acting jobs, mostly on stage, for the bigger part of her
memorable career. After struggling to really make it big for
many years, it was the part in 1985 TV series The Golden
Girls that put her name on the map when Estelle was 62.
She also won a Golden Globe award for her work on this
series, and was nominated twice more later.

Estelle Getty on IMDb

26. Ricky Gervais

One of the most recognizable British

comedians and comedy actors today
who never runs out of ideas for his
own projects, Ricky Gervais
began acting in the 1990s when he
was in his mid thirties. When Ricky
climbed to 40, he finally hit it big
with a British TV series called The Office which he wrote and
starred in.

Ricky Gervais on IMDb

27. Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson has an incredible presence in any part he

pursues, and leaves a memorable performance behind
every movie project he participates in these days, but it took
him two decades for people to finally see what the man can
do. Samuel started acting in the 70s, doing stage work first
and then taking up small parts in TV and film, but it was his
work as Jules in Pulp Fiction that brought fame when he was
45 and Tarantino decided that this guy is simply too scary
not to award him an opportunity.

Samuel L. Jackson on IMDb

28. Danny Burstein

Danny Burstein is a well-trained actor with many years of

experience who always had the most passion for stage work.
Danny performed in many different theater productions
including Broadway stage. But it was 2006 when his talents
have finally been recognized in his portrayal of Aldolpho in
The Drowsy Chaperone when Danny was 42.

Danny Burstein on IMDb

29. Harrison Ford

The Hollywood legend Harrison Ford was a struggling actor

for most of his early adult life. Even the role in American
Graffiti didn’t bring him much of the success. Instead, it was
the starring role as Han Solo in George Lucas’ Star Wars to
which he’s still eternally grateful. Harrison was 33 when he
got it.

Harrison Ford on IMDb

30. Amy Poehler

Versatile comedic actress Amy Poehler started her acting

journey with improv, and went on to become a regular cast
member of Saturday Night Live at the age of 30. This
essentially became the life-changing step in her career
and helped Amy achieve further success in television and
even win a Golden Globe award.

Amy Poehler on IMDb

31. Gene Hackman

One of the all time greats,

Gene Hackman realized he had an
insatiable passion for performing in
his late 20s while still living in Los
Angeles. After nothing happened on
the West Coast, Gene moved to New
York City where he continued to
struggle alongside his two friends, Dustin Hoffman and
Robert Duvall. His breakthrough role was in a movie Bonnie
and Clyde, and Gene was 36 then.

Gene Hackman on IMDb

32. Tina Fey

Just as Kristen Wiig and Amy Poehler, Tina Fey is a third one
in the bunch of these improv geniuses who joined the cast of
Saturday Night Live – a huge set that pushed her forward for
a long-term acting career in television. Nevertheless, her
actual major breakthrough was co-starring in a movie Mean
Girls when Tina was 34.

Tina Fey on IMDb

33. Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton started performing as a musician first,

and when acting bug came knocking on the door, he didn’t
have it easy at first. Billy started acting back in the 1981 after
the move to Los Angeles, and only with the help of his own
movie Sling Blade that he wrote, directed and starred in,
Thornton conquered Hollywood at the age of 39.

Billy Bob Thornton on IMDb

34. Jane Lynch

A comedy genius and ace of dry humor acting, Jane Lynch

also has a history of being a struggling actress until her big
break at the age of 43, which came with the role of Christy
Cummings in 2000’s Best in Show. Since then, Jane won a
Golden Globe award and two Emmy awards.
Jane Lynch on IMDb

35. Jessica Chastain

We see and hear Jessica Chastain’s

name quite often today, but it was
fairly recently that Jessica could
finally say that she finally made.
Well-trained in Juilliard with the help
of a scholarship sponsored by Robin
Williams, this actress
found recognition for her raw talent
after the premiere of two movies
close together, The Help and The Tree of Life, when she
was 34.

Jessica Chastain on IMDb

36. Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm was also another struggling actor in Los Angeles

through most of his twenties and early thirties, with some
minor TV “success” here and there. But it was the year of
2007 which brought us Mad Men and fame to Hamm. Jon
was 36 when he got the part.

Jon Hamm on IMDb

37. Bea Arthur

Late Bea Arthur was doing amazing work until her passing
away in 2009, but it took Bea many years before she could
finally start picking her own projects. Bea was 46 when she
got the breakthrough role of Vera Charles in 1966 Broadway
production of Mame. She then went on to reprise this role
again in a film production alongside Lucille Ball, and has
been nominated for 9 Golden Globe awards.

Bea Arthur on IMDb

38. Norm Lewis

A talented actor and rangy singer, Norm Lewis was

consistently working on stage in small productions for the
bigger part of his acting career, being a part of a lot
of amazing projects. Recently, Norm finally got his shot at
fame in Broadway’s production of Porgy and Bess for which
he was nominated for a Tony at the age of 48.

Norm Lewis on IMDb

39. Kathy Bates

Another example of a versatile actress, Kathy Bates worked

steadily for the most part of her acting career, but it was a
major part in a movie Misery that won her an Oscar and
finally put her on the map. Kathy
was 42 when she got the role. Since
then, Kathy has been nominated for
more Oscars, Golden Globe and
Emmy awards.

Kathy Bates on IMDb

40. Tim Allen

Everyone knows the famous Tim Allen’s TV show Home

Improvement, but Tim had to work, struggle and make
money mostly through low paying stand-up gigs before his
career finally took a turn for the better. Tim was 38 when he
got the part of Tim Taylor, and has won a Golden Globe
award.

Tim Allen on IMDb

41. Michael Caine

One of the most respected film actors whose work we enjoy

to this day, Sir Michael Caine didn’t have it easy at first. He’s
done some stage work in the beginning, starved for a while
in Paris, and after returning back home to England, Michael
pursued film acting. He struggled with good and
poor projects, and even though his future was starting to
look better, his real breakthrough came along with Alfie in
1966. Michael was 33 then.

Michael Caine on IMDb

42. Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds took up acting when he couldn’t play football

anymore. He was doing small TV productions for around 14
years since the late 1950s, and it was major acting role as
Lewis in 1972’s Deliverance when Reynolds was 36 that got
him recognized. He then continued rising to fame and
establishing his name in Hollywood throughout the 70s and
80s.

Burt Reynolds on IMDb

43. Steve Carell

Just as most actors, Steve Carell was working a lot of odd

jobs at the time of trying to survive as a budding actor in the
90s alongside doing small bit parts here and there. And even
though his work in Anchorman is well known, it was actually
his breakthrough role as Michael Scott in NBC’s The Office
that really put his acting skills and comedic genius on the
map when Steve was 43 years old.

Steve Carell on IMDb