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Post by Anders on Apr 22, 2011 23:52:28 GMT -8
Ian McKellen, born 1939.  Gandalf, Magneto, Fascist Britain Henry III (and countless other kings), Hitler, Death (in The Last Action Hero) and a number of Narrators. From Wikipedia: Born shortly before the outbreak of World War II, the experience had some lasting impact on him. In response to an interview question when an interviewer remarked that he seemed quite calm in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks, he said: "Well, darling, you forget — I slept under a steel plate until I was four years old." |
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Post by jensaltmann on Apr 23, 2011 0:53:11 GMT -8
Thanks. Everyone's bringing up great examples - Christopher Lee was next on my list. My favorite bit about him is from the extras to the Two Towers. When Peter Jackson is trying to give him direction on how to sound when Wormtongue stabs Saruman he says "I know how a man sounds when he gets a knife between the ribs". I'm sure that after that, the only direction Jackson gave was, "Yes, sir, Mr. Lee, sir, whatever you say, sir."  I also like how, both on Last Unicorn and LotR, he showed up with notes on what he feld absolutely had to be included in the adaptations. |
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Post by Anders on Apr 23, 2011 2:17:35 GMT -8
Apparently he reads LotR once a year, so he's probably got a decent grasp of the materal. |
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Post by paulpogue on Apr 23, 2011 4:19:24 GMT -8
Thanks. Everyone's bringing up great examples - Christopher Lee was next on my list. My favorite bit about him is from the extras to the Two Towers. When Peter Jackson is trying to give him direction on how to sound when Wormtongue stabs Saruman he says "I know how a man sounds when he gets a knife between the ribs". And then invokes the Official Secrets Act to refrain from saying more. AWESOME. |
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Post by Mario Di Giacomo on Apr 23, 2011 4:42:16 GMT -8
Apparently he reads LotR once a year, so he's probably got a decent grasp of the materal. He also was the only cast member to have MET Tolkein. (He's also related to Ian Fleming, but that's just gravy at this point) |
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Post by paulpogue on Apr 23, 2011 15:49:44 GMT -8
Honestly, if not for the existence of Buzz Aldrin in the world, Lee would be my sole nominee for Earth's Greatest Living Human.
Speaking of which ...
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Post by paulpogue on Apr 23, 2011 16:01:44 GMT -8
Buzz Aldrin, 81. Counts for the "entertainer" thread because if it counts for Dancing With the Stars it counts for me, dammit, and because of his inspirational role for the biggest animated film series in history.  What to say? Second man on the moon. Can be addressed as "Doctor Aldrin" or "Colonel Aldrin" with equal appropriateness. Has an awesome name. He was the first astronaut who was equal parts scientist and pilot -- his Ph.d is in orbital dynamics and he invented the orbital rendezvous method NASA still uses, hence his nickname of Dr. Rendezvous. Mind you, this was not the method NASA originally selected, but Aldrin was piloting the Gemini 9A mission where they tried it out, and after the non-Aldrin method failed, had to use his own knowledge and devise the rendezvous on the fly. Stood on the moon. Fought off alcohol and depression and inspires people like me to this day in the process. Still appears to greatly enjoy having WALKED ON THE GODDAMN MOON. Will punch suckers who are foolish enough to question whether it really happened. Held his own pretty well while being punked by Sascha Baron Cohen, who continually addressed him as "My man Buzz Lightyear" and asked "What do you think of the people who deny the moon really exists?"  Speaking of Buzz Lightyear, he's based on Buzz Aldrin. End of story.  As a photographer, I appreciate that Buzz is the subject of both the cockiest photo ever taken:  and possibly the greatest:  |
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Post by Anders on Apr 24, 2011 13:02:54 GMT -8
I'm willing to accept all kinds of awesome elders here. Moving on to...  Max von Sydow. Emperor Ming, the knight who challenges Death to a game of chess in The Seventh Seal, Jesus, Father Merrin in The Exorcist, Joubert in Three Days of the Condor, Blofeld, King Osric in Conan the Barbarian, the voice of Vigo in Ghostbusters II, Chief Justice Fargo in Judge Dredd, that treacherous guy in Minority Report... and those are just some of his most recognized performances. He's done everything from stage productions with Ingmar Bergman to Hollywood blockbusters to voice acting for video games. |
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Post by Anders on May 2, 2011 7:15:30 GMT -8
Regarding Buzz Aldrin, xkcd is relevant as always:  |
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Post by michaelpaciocco on May 13, 2011 18:30:38 GMT -8
The Original Maverick  James Garner Born 1928. |
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Post by paulpogue on May 14, 2011 5:12:09 GMT -8
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Post by jensaltmann on May 14, 2011 8:51:10 GMT -8
Adam West (September 19, 1928). Iconic status: half an inch short of William Shatner. Which might change, because Bill Shatner never managed to get his own eponymous comic book series. Even if it is by Bluewater...  In The Misadventures of Adam West, West gets to be a superhero. Sort of. I got the preview on FCBD, and Kirk: he sounds suspiciously like you.  |
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Post by paulpogue on May 14, 2011 12:55:17 GMT -8
That man's 83? Damn, he does age well.
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Post by jensaltmann on May 14, 2011 22:45:28 GMT -8
That man's 83? Damn, he does age well. On the other hand, I have no idea how old that picture is. |
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Post by paulpogue on May 15, 2011 4:48:51 GMT -8
Well, I've seen pics of him recently that look about like that. I'd have pegged him at 70 by looking at him.
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