Top 10 Best Centenarians (People Who Lived to 100)

Reaching the age of one hundred is a rare milestone that only a tiny fraction of the global population achieves. Those who live past this extraordinary threshold often witness profound historical changes and dramatic technological advancements throughout their exceptionally long lives.

The individuals featured here stand out not just for their longevity but for their distinct contributions to culture and society. Many remained actively involved in politics, entertainment, and fashion well past standard retirement ages. Vote on your favorite famous figures who successfully blew out a century of candles on their birthday cakes.

The Top Ten

Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas (December 9, 1916 - February 5, 2020) was an American actor, filmmaker, author, and centenarian. He was among the last surviving stars of Hollywood's Golden Age of cinema.
Born into poverty to immigrant parents, Douglas had six sisters and overcame early hardships to achieve success... read more

He is best known for the film Spartacus.
He is also the father of Michael Douglas.
He died on February 5, 2020, at the age of 103.
Norman Lloyd
Ruthie Tompson
Bob Hope

Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 - July 27, 2003) was an English-born American comedian, actor, entertainer, and producer. His career spanned nearly 80 years, with achievements in vaudeville, network radio, television, and USO Tours. Hope was also famous for his long association with the Academy... read more

I used to love it when they would air his birthday parties on television!
That was such fun!

Loved it when they used to televise his birthday parties!

He was a stand-up comedian.
He died in 2003 at the age of 100.
Arnold Spielberg

He is the father of Steven Spielberg. He is currently 103 years old.
Update: He passed away on August 25, 2020, at the age of 103.
Don Lusk

An animator for Disney, he worked on Bambi.
He died in 2018 at the age of 105.
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother

Mother of Queen Elizabeth II, she died in 2002 at the age of 101.
Olivia de Havilland

Olivia Mary de Havilland was a British-American actress whose career spanned from 1935 to 1988. She appeared in forty-nine feature films and was a prominent figure during the golden age of Classical Hollywood cinema. De Havilland won two Academy Awards for Best Actress and played a key role in challenging... read more
Jeanne Calment

Jeanne Louise Calment was a French supercentenarian who had the longest confirmed human lifespan of 122 years and 164 days. She lived her entire life in Arles, France. Calment outlived both her daughter and grandson, becoming a symbol of extreme longevity.

Nationality: French
She was born on February 21, 1875, and died on August 4, 1997.
Iris Apfel

She was the co-founder of Old World Weavers, which helped restore the interior decoration of the White House. She lived for 102 years and 191 days, from August 29, 1921, to March 1, 2024. R.I.P.

The Newcomers

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Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks (born Melvin James Kaminsky. June 28, 1926) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, playwright, and songwriter whose career has spanned over seven decades. He's one of just 21 entertainers to achieve an EGOT, winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony, and he's received numerous other... read more
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David Attenborough

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

The Contenders

Nehemiah Persoff
Captain Tom Moore
Grandma Moses
Abe Coleman

He was a former professional wrestler.
He died in 2007 at the age of 101.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Jimmy Carter

James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician and author who served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the Carter Center. He is the longest-lived president in U.S. history.
Beverly Cleary

Beverly Atlee Cleary (April 12, 1916 - March 25, 2021) was an American author of children's and young adult fiction. Since the publication of her first book, Henry Huggins, in 1950, more than 91 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Some of her most beloved characters include Henry Huggins... read more
Harry Elliott (Wrestler)

He was a former professional wrestler.
He died in 2006 at the age of 101.
Norman Lear
George Burns
Lise Nørgaard
Irving Berlin
Vera Lynn
Soong Mei-ling
Lucile Randon