Top 10 Famous People that are a Middle Finger to Mortality
Despite decades of chemical and physical abuse, the bodies of some people seem to regenerate - their bodies repair damages, completely ignoring the medical science, laws of physics and common sense. These people seem to metabolize things differently.Although substance abuse in usually involved, it's not limited to it. Bad eating habits, touring and insufficient sleep are also some of the factors.
Minimum age to be eligible: 65
People on this list are just some very lucky guys, so don't try anything they did because you might not be among the luckiest guys on the planet.
Keith Richards, one of the top people on this list, said that his longevity in the face of multiple drug abuse over decades was just luck, and advised others not to follow his lead.
But Keith Richards also said something that sums up the idea of this list: "I've no pretensions about immortality... I was number one on the Who's 'Likely To Die' list for 10 years. I mean, I was really disappointed when I fell off the list. Some doctor told me I had six months to live, and I went to their funeral."
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948. He is also known as ''The Prince of Darkness''. Ozzy is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the band Black Sabbath. Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath... read more As of May 2018, Ozzy is 69 years old.
Ozzy even agreed to take part in medical research projects that analyzed his full genome to find out how he was still alive (Cofactor Genomics, Knome Inc.). Ozzy was the first rock star to have his full genome sequenced. Ozzy himself explained:
"I was curious. Given the swimming pools of booze I've guzzled over the years - not to mention all of the cocaine, morphine, sleeping pills, cough syrup, LSD, Rohypnol...you name it - there's really no plausible medical reason why I should still be alive. Maybe my DNA could say why."
But scientists didn't find the "Ozzy" gene - no particular evidence of his body's efforts to repair any damage. They found interesting things but not quite definitive - an unusual variant of alcohol dehydrogenase genes and evidence of Neanderthal lineage.
Keith Richards is an English musician—primarily a guitarist—singer, songwriter, best-selling memoirist, and founding member of the rock band The Rolling Stones. I know, I know, we've all heard the jokes, but what amazes me about Keith Richards is that, unlike many of his contemporaries, he still smokes and drinks on a regular basis.
Apparently, the after-effects don't seem to bother him.
I think it may be beyond science to figure out how Keith Richards is still alive.
James Newell Osterberg, Jr., known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actor. 71 years old as of May 2018.
After decades of self-mutilation, self-destruction, heavy drug use, and alcohol abuse, Iggy Pop still performs live at the age of 70+.
He is done with hardcore drugs though.
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the lead vocalist and a co-founder of the Rolling Stones. 74 years old as of May 2018.
Everyone who was in the Rolling Stones can be on this list, but Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are the front runners.
Steven Tyler is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and former television music competition judge, best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. 70 years old as of May 2018.
Another favorite rocker. And a bad guy.
Ian Fraser Kilmister, known as Lemmy, was an English musician, singer and songwriter who founded and fronted the rock band Motörhead. He was a bassist and a singer known for his raspy voice. He died in 2015 from cancer and other health problems. He died at 70. R.I.P.
Chain smoking, whiskey, and amphetamines. Lemmy had no family, so his bad habits were unrestrained (he didn't want to get married). He was aware of the risks:
"Everything that is pleasant in life is dangerous. Have you noticed that? I'd like to find the bastard that thought that one up."
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, and artist who has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. He is 77 years old as of May 2018.
He tried every drug he could find, including heroin. He admitted he was once a heroin addict. He has been through rehab.
He's also the guy who turned The Beatles on to pot.
Alice Cooper is an American singer, songwriter, musician and occasional actor whose career spans over five decades. 70 years old as of May 2018.
Besides the things the other guys did, he took some additional risks, such as performing live with a real boa constrictor around his neck.
Betty White Ludden (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021), known professionally as Betty White, was an American actress, animal rights activist, author, comedian, radio host, singer, and television personality. She got to live long enough until 2021.
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer best known for being the multi-tasking leader and co-founder of the Beach Boys.The Newcomers
George Soros, Hon FBA is a Hungarian-American investor, business magnate, philanthropist, political activist and author. Soros is one of the world's most successful investors.
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was the guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of the Velvet Underground, and his solo career spanned five decades... read more
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. With John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame with the rock band the Beatles, one of the most popular and influential groups in the history of pop and rock... read more
David Van Cortlandt Crosby was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: the Byrds; Crosby, Stills & Nash; and CPR.
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American actor and martial artist. He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championships and later founded his own discipline Chun Kuk Do. Shortly... read more
Richard Starkey known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for the Beatles.
Kirk Douglas (December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor, filmmaker, author and centenarian. He was one of the last surviving stars of the film industry's Golden Age. After an impoverished childhood with immigrant parents and six sisters, he had his film debut in The Strange Love of... read more
Sir David Frederick Attenborough (born 8 May 1926) is an English broadcaster, biologist, natural historian, and writer.He is best known for writing and presenting, in collaboration with the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the nine nature documentary series that comprise the Life collection... read more
James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 - September 9, 2024) was an American actor known for his film roles and his work in theater. He was one of the few performers to achieve the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985 and was honored with the... read more
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer.
Donald McNichol Sutherland, OC, was a Canadian actor whose film career spanned more than six decades.
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr. is an American actor, film director, producer, musician, and political figure.
Jane Fonda is an American actress, writer, political activist, former fashion model and fitness guru.
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, and producer.He is best known for his roles as Rocky Balboa in the Rocky series and John Rambo in the First Blood/Rambo series. His most well-known films are primarily action movies.
He is also close... read more