Anthony Culotta writes to ask…
A quick question re: Mickey Rooney: I pointed out to some friends a couple of years ago his IMDB entry, and the fact that his movies span 1926-(now) 2014. Do you know of any other actor with a career in film that matches (or exceeds) this? Quite remarkable, in any event!
Hmm. Not offhand. (By the way, I confirmed it: Rooney did shoot a scene recently for a new film in the Night at the Museum series. The film is slated for release this Christmas…so assuming his scene stays in, his career will span to 2014. That's 88 years.)
How about it? Can anyone come up with an actor who managed to be on movie screens for more than 88 years? It would have to be someone who started as a child performer in silent films.
And speaking of long careers: The Guinness people have certified Ken Bald as the Oldest Comic Book Artist and they've run this interview with him. Mr. Bald was reportedly born on August 1, 1920.
No disrespect to Mr. Bald's achievements but I have to point this out: Irwin Hasen, who drew an awful lot of comic books in his day, is still alive and he was born July 8, 1918.
Also, Mr. Bald started in comics in 1942 and retired in 1984. There are a number of artists who even if they aren't older, have had longer careers. Sam Glanzman, for instance, drew his first comic books in 1939 and he drew a story for publication as recently as 2012. Mr. Glanzman was born in 1924 and is still, happily, with us. Al Jaffee also has Bald beat in that category.