How Time Flies: 1960s Stars Then and Now
The 1960s were a time of major change and growth, during which timeless stars were born. Now, almost 60 years later, these stars have changed quite a bit. Take a look to see how the greatest stars of the 1960s have changed over the decades and what they're doing today.
Bob Dylan Was the Voice of a Generation
Born in 1941, Bob Dylan is an American singer, songwriter, author, and painter. He has been considered to be one of the most influential musicians of all time, with many of his songs have been adopted as the theme songs for the Civil Rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s.
His lyrics applied to the ever-growing counterculture and he dabbled in genres ranging from folk, rockabilly, country, rock and roll and more. He is also known for playing the guitar, singing, as well as the piano and harmonica at times. Although he is highly regarded as a musician, he is best known for his songwriting abilities.
Dylan Is Still Strummin'
Although he may be looking a little withered, Dylan has continued making music and other art after he released seven books of his drawings and paintings. He continues to sell records, with over one million records sold in his lifetime, and is still winning awards.
He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Music Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2012 he also was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama and in 2016 the Nobel Prize in Literature "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition". He still plays music today with no signs of slowing down.
Julie Andrews Became a Timeless Actress
Julia Andrews is an English actress, singer, and author. She was considered to be "Britain's Youngest Prima Donna" and began her career at a young age, making her Broadway debut in 1954. There, she starred in musicals such as My Fair Lady and Camelot.
She eventually transitioned to film in 1964 and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Mary Poppins and then went on to star in The Sound of Music. For the rest of her acting career, she continued to star in major films and was one of the big names in Hollywood.
Julie Andrews Can't Stop
Despite her long and incredibly successful career, Julie Andrews can't seem to slow herself down. She still looks to be in great shape and is always looking for new projects. In 2010, she performed at the O2 Arena in London after a 21-year hiatus and also published her 23rd book, The Very Fairy Princess dedicated to her granddaughter.
Andrews has also done some voiceover work for popular films such as Shrek Ever After and Despicable Me and returned to Disney for the film The Princess Diaries.In 2011, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as well as made numerous top lists for British stars. In 2016, Andrews created the preschool television series Julie's Greenroom with her daughter which premiered on Netflix in 2017.
Raquel Welch Made Poster History
Actress Raquel Welch was a huge star during the '60s and '70s. She was named the third sexiest woman in Playboy's "100 Sexiest Stars of the Twentieth Century" and was also ranked number two on Men's Health's "Hottest Women of All Time."
Her first role was 1966's Fantastic Voyage, which she followed up with One Million Years B.C. Although she had just three lines in the film, her appearance in a fur-skinned bikini is one of filmdom's most iconic moments. A publicity still of Welch in the bikini was turned into a best-selling poster, making her one of the decade's most popular pin-up girls.
Raquel Still Has It
Today, Raquel still has it. Since her heyday in the '60s and '70s, she's remained a strong presence in the film and television industries. She also released some health and beauty products including a series called The Raquel Welch Total Beauty and Fitness Program.
In January 2007, Welch was chosen to be MAC Cosmetics newest spokesmodel. The company called her "strong and wild, yet sultry and exotic," a description that the star's fans surely agree with.
Doris Day Was Quite The Looker
Born in 1922, Doris Day is one of America's most beloved actresses and singers. She began her career as a big band singer in 1939 and came into popularity after she recorded the track "Sentimental Journey" in 1945. During her solo career between 1947 and 1967, she recorded more than 650 songs and was one of the most popular musicians of the time.
Her film career began in the 1948 film Romance on the High Seas, which eventually led to her having a successful 21-year career in making movies. She acted in films such as Calamity Jane, and The Man Who Knew Too Much. Doris Day was also known for pioneering "bedroom comedies" and co-starred with male actors such as Clark Gable, Carey Grant, making her male audience wish they were in his shoes.
Doris Day Now
Today, Doris Day is an impressive 95 years old, although she hardly looks it. Being one of the biggest female heartthrobs of her time her reputation continued to grow throughout her career. One of the biggest female stars of the 1960s, she ranked sixth among box office performers in 2012, and even went on to release her 29th studio album My Heart in 2011.
Day has received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a Legend Award from the Society of Singers, a Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush. and a Los Angeles Association's Career Achievement Award. Now, she is a known animal welfare activist and is the founder of the Doris Day Animal Foundation.
Jane Fonda Was A Symbol of the 1960s
Jane Fonda did a lot throughout her career. She is an actress, writer, political activist fashion model, and fitness personality. She won numerous awards including two Academy Awards as well as an American Film Institute Life Achievement Award. Fonda started out on Broadway before making her way to the big screen.
The talented beauty also made a series of workout videos which sold over 17 million copies and has been well-known for her involvement in political activism from the 1960s to present day. She was one of the most popular young women of the 1960s and has definitely made her mark in history.
Jane Fonda Aged Well
For being 80 years old, it's pretty incredible how good Jane Fonda looks. She's a living testament that working out and taking care of your body will pay off in the long run. Amazingly, age hasn't slowed her career at all, as she is continuously acting in films and television shows.
She continues to win awards and even released new exercise videos in 2012. Fonda has become a major proponent of the recent political activism movements and is a co-founder of the Women's Media Center. This talented woman clearly has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
Paul McCartney Helped Change Music and History
During the 1960s, the young Paul McCartney was the bass guitarist and singer for the world-renown rock band The Beatles. He has been considered one of the most successful composers and performers of all time, and he and John Lennon's songwriting has been regarded the most influential of the post-war effort.
The Beatle has earned countless awards, has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, and was even knighted in 1997 for his services to music. After the Beatles broke up in 1970, he went on to have a successful solo career and also formed the band Wings which achieved significant success.
Paul McCartney's Personality Hasn't Aged One Bit
Today, McCartney still frequently performs music from The Beatles, as well as his own songs, and is well-known to play with other popular performers. At 75 years old, he's still jamming out like he's 25 and we're totally okay with that. On top of producing and performing music, McCartney is an activist for a variety of different causes.
He consistently plays benefit shows and takes on various projects for charities such as animal rights, seal hunting, poverty, music education and more. On March 24, 2018, he attended the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence organized by the survivors of the Parkland shooting.
Brian Wilson Was A Visionary
Brian Wilson is a singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known for being the co-founder of the Beach Boys and is one of the creators of the California Sound. During his time with the Beach Boys, he co-wrote more than two-dozen Top 40 hits for the group and is regarded as a musical genius by many.
He is also one of the great innovators of music and is credited with the progression of the Beach Boys sound, which is apparent on the album such as Pet Sounds. However, throughout his life he battled with mental illness, living in seclusion and falling victim of substance abuse, yet he still managed to achieve major success.
Brian Wilson Is Still Surfing Along
Brian Wilson is now 75 years old and has earned numerous accolades throughout his years. Although his struggles with mental illness and substance abuse have taken a toll on him, in recent years, he has continued to make music, had cameos in shows and movies, and performing around the world. He has also helped inspire his fans to donate to various charities and even raised $250,000 for Hurricane Katrina victims.
There was also a documentary made about his life titled Love & Mercy which followed his musical success, struggles with mental illness, substance abuse, and issues with the Beach Boys. In 2016, Wilson went on the Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary Tour and then went back to working on his solo career.
Sean Connery
Scottish actor Sean Connery has had quite the career. He became a household name for playing James Bond in seven of the franchise's films, between 1962 and 1983. Connery has also been in films such as The Untouchables, The Name of the Rose, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
He's been attributed as "The Greatest Scot Alive" and "Scotland's Greatest Living National Treasure". The Academy Award-winning actor caught the attention of many women watching his films, which led to him being named the "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine.
Sean Connery's Still Got It
Although he has certainly aged over the years, it doesn't mean that people forgot about Connery, as the living legend is still praised for his work and talent. As if being named one of the sexiest men alive wasn't enough, at the age of 69, Connery was voted the "Sexiest Man of the Century".
In 2006 when he announced that he would be retiring from acting and producing, Connery was awarded by the American Film Institute with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Today Connery is enjoying the retired life.
Robert Plant Took Rock and Roll to New Heights
Robert Plant was the wild-haired, shirtless lead singer of the legendary rock group Led Zeppelin from 1969 until 1980. He's gone down in history as one of the greatest rock and roll singers of all time.
His image and stage presence helped to create the "God of Rock" persona. Following the death of John Bonham, the band's drummer, Plant went on to have a successful solo career writing new music and playing shows.
Plant Kept On Going
Throughout the years, Plant has continued to release and perform new music on his own. He has also assembled new groups to play with such as the Band of Joy and the Sensational Space Shifters. Although the surviving members of Led Zeppelin came together in 1985, and again in 2007, they haven't played since despite the rumors of a future reunion.
Plant continues to create music on his own and combines sounds across various genres. He draws inspiration from local radio stations in small towns across America, as well as music from other cultures he hears while traveling Africa and Asia.
Dick Van Dyke Brightened Hollywood
Entertainer Dick Van Dyke's career spanned over seven decades. His roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang greatly influenced the entertainment industry and earned him a Grammy Award in 1964.
Van Dyke has a well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995. He was considered to be quite the charming man during his heyday, and his personality hasn't changed much since he first stepped in front of the camera.
Dick Van Dyke Is Still As Witty As Ever
Although Dick van Dyke had a flourishing career, he didn't just call it quits once he became older. Although he doesn't look like he did in the 1960s, he is still bursting with energy and continues to apply his creativity. In recent years, he has played around with computer animation, sang in multiple quartets, and even overcame a neurological disorder scare.
In 2013, at the age of 86, he almost died when his Jaguar caught fire on the US 101 but was saved by a passerby. In 2016, Van Dyke went on to endorse Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Presidential Election claiming that Donald Trump "scares him".
Twiggy Was "The Face Of 1966"
Dame Lesley Lawson, better know as Twiggy, was pretty much the supermodel to look at in ads during the swingin' '60s in London. Known for her slight frame, wide eyes, and pixie hair, Twiggy became a cultural icon and was even named "The Face of 1966" by The Daily Express.
By 1967, she gained international fame, modeling all over the world, including the United States of America, Japan, and even France.
Twiggy Is Still Part Of The Fashion Industry
Even later in life, Twiggy was a fashion icon for women her age. She even began appearing on screen in popular shows such as America's Next Top Model where she was one of the main judges, alongside Tyra Banks.
Sticking with fashion, Twiggy began the "Twiggy London" collection, a Home Shopping Network. Twiggy even branched out in the music industry, releasing Romantically Yours back in 2011 through the British record label EMI.
Keith Richards Set The Bar For What It Means To Be a Rockstar
Musician Keith Richards has been touted as one of the best guitarists in history. As co-founder and lead guitarist for the Rolling Stones, Richards' influence on rock 'n roll is legendary. His talents extend to playing other instruments on the tracks, as well as songwriting, which also landed him a spot in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993.
During his prime, he was the essence of a rock and roller with a beer in his hand, a cigarette in the other, and girls all around him. He was considered to be "mad, bad, and dangerous to know" with more crazy stories than anyone could tell in a lifetime.
Richards Is Mysteriously Still Alive
If you want to know what a lifetime of drug and alcohol abuse looks like, all you really have to do is look at Keith Richards. Considering all of the different things he has done and the way he has treated his body, more than anything, it's a wonder that he's alive.
However, he hasn't let his old age or the wear and tear on his body stop him from making and performing music. He still shreds the lead guitar and tours with the Rolling Stones. He has also made a cameo in some of the Pirates of the Caribbean films and is the inspiration behind Johnny Depp's character.
