Top 10 Broadway Actors You've NEVER Seen Young

Although he was a fixture on the New York stage for many years, the Birdcage actor was not as well known outside of the city. His credits existed mainly on and off-Broadway. He didnt become a household name until the mid-90s, and his big break on the screen didnt occur until he was in his late thirties. Given that many of his breakthrough roles saw him playing his age or older, people generally didnt see him as a younger man. Once he broke through to the mainstream, he was an established veteran of the craft.

Moviegoing audiences know her as the eponymous character in Driving Miss Daisy, and as the older Ninny Threadgoode in Fried Green Tomatoes. While Jessica Tandy had early supporting roles in Hollywood, she had her major successes on Broadway. She originated the legendary role of Blanche DuBois in the 1947 production of A Streetcar Named Desire, but was replaced for the film. By the time she was back to making major films in the 1950s and 60s, she was middle-aged, playing established wives and widows. Her most memorable films wouldnt come until the 1980s and 90s.

Although her theater work has mostly been seen in the UK, this elegant British actress didnt find success on the screen until she was nearing 40. Even then, Judi Dench didnt become an international star until she was in her 60s. Dench made sporadic film and TV appearances in major projects throughout the 1970s and 80s. But it wasnt until the 1995 James Bond film Goldeneye that she became a household name the world over. From there, she would win her first Oscar, and become a go-to for period pieces in America as well as the UK.

Shes known for her outrageously powerful set of lungs and her brassy, old Broadway persona, but many of Ethel Mermans major stage successes occurred before the 1950s. She began working in film in 1930, when she was in her early 20s, but only true enthusiasts have seen these very early Hollywood performances. When she began appearing in more films in the 1950s and 60s, she was well into middle-age. Her most famous stage role, Rose in Gypsy, is a classic one for actresses of a certain age, further cementing her place on this list.

Most known by many audiences as the voices of Darth Vader and Mufasa, weve never even heard James Earl Jones sound young. His film debut didnt even happen until he was cast in a small role in Dr. Strangelove. But he did a lot of work in the theater, and he didnt cross over into film until he was in his 30s. Even in his early film performances, such as in 1970s The Great White Hope, theres a wisdom and power to him that places him outside of our normal understanding of age and youth. His commanding voice and presence somehow defied youth itself.

The Golden Girls probably did more to lock in the public image of its four actresses than any other show. Though they were on the older side of 50, they showed that aging didnt mean you couldnt cut loose. Bea Arthur spent most of her early career on Broadway, with roles in musicals like Fiddler on the Roof and Mame. Even if Arthur hadnt been cast as a Golden Girl, her other most famous role, Maude, didnt exactly make her look young. Her prickly persona, surly expression, and gray hairs just screamed Get off my lawn.

Ben Stillers father, and the other half of the famed comedy duo Stiller and Meara, worked the nightclub comedy circuit and appeared in several Broadway shows before coming to TV. Even when he and his wife, Anne Meara, were making small-screen appearances in the 1960s, Stiller always looked comically older than he was. That, plus his husky voice, only added to how funny he was. His most famous role came when he was cast as George Costanzas dad on Seinfeld. This brought him into the mainstream in a major way, earning him scores of new fans and awards attention, all when he was in his mid-60s.

Whether youve seen her on stage or youve seen her on 30 Rock, youve definitely never seen Elaine Stritch young. Shes a legend among Broadway fans for a reason. Her history in show business goes way back, and she worked with some of the greats of Broadway old and new. The way she told a story and commanded respect, if not fear, was loaded with old-fashioned stage presence. In her later career, which honestly seems to be most of it, she played irascible and taciturn old ladies who could whither you with a glance and a well-timed insult. None of this was a far cry from her actual personality either.

Larger than life, constantly smiling, and with an unforgettable voice, Carol Channing starred in some of the most famous Broadway shows of the mid-century. Despite that, audiences outside of New York might have never even seen her face until the 1960s, when she appeared on variety shows. In 1967, she was in her late 40s when she made Thoroughly Modern Millie, her most famous film appearance up to that point. Not only is her list of credits impressive, but the length of her career is just as legendary. She effectively retired in 2016, after 75 years as a professional actor.

Any Broadway scholar could tell you that the Murder, She Wrote actress had been turning in incredible performances on the stage long before she gained worldwide fame. The sleuth Jessica Fletcher first appeared on TV when Angela Lansbury was almost 60. She had already been nominated for three Oscars and won four Tony Awards by that time. Still, the wider audience might not have known who she was, as her roles in films were mostly smaller, and those that were known came when she was approaching middle age. But if anyone proved that the second act was better than the first, it was Angela Lansbury.

Whos your favorite classic Broadway star? Sound off in the comments.