One of nature’s most notable miscarriages of justice is that men generally age more gracefully than women. They commonly do much less to maintain their looks into the golden years but, in most cases, still seem to naturally maintain their youthful appearances longer.
Screen stars and other celebrities have the advantage of access to the best skin and hair care specialists, as well as personal trainers to help keep the body looking as good as the face. While all these resources definitely help stave off creases and wrinkles, a lot of it comes down to genetics; if mom and dad aged well, your chances are better you will too.
These male stars have held their own pretty well over the years, although some may have paid more than others to maintain their young veneers. Regardless of their tactics, fans still marvel at how some seem to have actually found the mythical Fountain of Youth.
Pierce Brosnan, 61
Brosnan burst onto the scene via television in 1982 as the indefatigableRemington Steele, complete with chiseled good looks and a sexy Irish brogue. He went on to be the fifth actor to portray James Bond in four movies and more recently showed his musical side in Mama Mia! With or without a beard and mustache, Brosnan’s looks still turn heads.
Liam Neeson 62
Another Ireland native, Neeson became a household name after starring inSchindler’s List. His roles lightened up a bit after that as he landed major parts inStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Batman Begins, Clash of the Titans, and The Chronicles of Narnia series. Neeson’s ability to depict anguish and resolution in his facial expressions adds intrigue to his handsome features, particularly evident in the thrillers Taken and Taken 2.
Ed Harris, 63
Harris has one of those ageless faces; today he looks very much like he did when he was cutting his acting teeth on bit parts on TV and in movies before rocking the silver screen with most memorable performances in The Right Stuff, Places in the Heart, Glengarry Glen Ross, Apollo 13, and A Beautiful Mind. His understated good looks coupled with a look of pure earnestness in his eyes make him irresistible.
Jeff Bridges, 64
The son of actor Lloyd Bridges and little brother to Beau Bridges, Jeff had his first role on his dad’s show Sea Hunt. His career includes an impressive 83 credits where his rakish persona has proven successful in a variety of roles from comedic to dramatic in movies like Wild Bill, The Big Lebowski and Crazy Heart. Like a fine red wine, Bridges looks seem to improve over time…or at least gain depth of character.
Samuel L. Jackson, 65
One of the most recognizable men in Hollywood, Jackson’s talent and malleable face make him the first choice for all genres of movies from action to science fiction, drama, comedy and all things in between (think Tarantino). Aside from graying hair, Jackson has aged little over the years, despite having 158 credits under his belt. Maybe he just hasn’t had the time to grow old.
Richard Gere, 65
Some scoffed at Gere when his charm and good looks wowed the ladies in American Gigolo and An Officer and a Gentleman in the ’80s, sure his fame would be fleeting. But he proved his critics wrong, growing into a movie icon with such hits as Pretty Woman, Primal Fear, Unfaithful, The Hoax and Primal Fear. Even at 65, Gere has those tousled, bad-boy looks that appeal to both ladies and men.
Jeremy Irons, 65
Long before he became a heartthrob in American films, Irons good looks stole hearts in the PBS mini-series Brideshead Revisited in 1981. With smoldering eyes and fine features, Irons can switch from seductive to sinister in seconds, never losing his trademark smirky smile. He nailed the anti-hero Claus Von Bulow inReversal of Fortune and went on to play the title role in Kafka. Irons hasn’t just aged well; he’s better looking than he was in his younger days.
Sylvester Stallone, 68
From his breakout role in Rocky to his memorable take on Barney Ross in TheExpendables 1, 2 and 3, Stallone is the epitome of machismo. His craggy face, puppy-dog eyes, flashy smile and self-deprecating personality, not to mention his nicely toned physique, all make for a package that has no expiration date and as much flavor as it did 40 years ago.
Michael Douglas, 69
Douglas is the perfect example of what good genes can do; his father Kirk is still a looker at 97. With looks eerily similar to his dad, Douglas’ role on the TV hit The Streets of San Francisco jump started his career and he graduated from television to movies in such blockbusters as Romancing the Stone, Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct and Wall Street. Much like his talented father, Douglas has a face that becomes more appealing with age and the graying hair seems to enhance the package rather than detract from it.
Al Pacino, 74
When you break onto the movie scene as Michael Corleone in The Godfather, it’s hard to maintain that momentum but Pacino seemed to take it all in stride. His boyish good looks, ne’er-do-well demeanor, and dark undertones all lead to successful major roles in Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather: Part II& III, Scarface and Scent of a Woman. Based on his award-winning portrayal of music icon Phil Spector in 2013’s TV movie by the same name, Pacino keeps getting better with age while retaining the looks that has supported his success.
Jon Voight, 75
Voight spent 6 years as a TV character actor before getting his big movie break in 1969’s Midnight Cowboy and he used his wide-eyed blonde looks and range of talent to land starring roles in such hits as Catch-22, Deliverance, Coming Homeand Runaway Train. Showing hardly any signs of aging, Voight now stars on the successful Ray Donovan series on Showtime. His anti-aging genes seem to have been passed on to his estranged daughter, Angelina Jolie.
Clint Eastwood, 84
Few remember Eastwood‘s humble beginnings as ramrod Rowdy Yates on the 1959-1965 TV Western Rawhide but he was pretty much the sole reason women tuned in to the show. Yes, before he became the badass gunslinger and stalwart defender of justice, those narrow eyes and strapping physique poked cattle all day. Over the next several decades, Eastwood made a name for himself directing and starring in a string of blockbusters including Pretty Baby and Gran Torino. Although he wears his belt a bit too high, Eastwood’s handsome face has only improved with age and experience.