For the most part, movie and TV actors tend to either become A-list stars before 40 or don't become famous at all. However, fate tends to have different plans for certain individuals. Over the years, there have been a few actors who surprisingly landed their breakout roles after the age of 40.
Being a late bloomer in the movie and TV industry is sometimes a blessing in disguise too. Most actors that walked this route have gone on to maintain their fame while most of those that made it big early have seen their popularity dwindle. But who are the actors who fit into the category?
Christoph Waltz
Waltz has been bossing Hollywood lately, playing iconic characters such as Leon Rom in Inglorious Basterds at the age of 52 that he became a globally recognized star.
Even though Waltz and Tarantino haven't worked together enough to make them one of Django Unchained being just as convincing as that of the Hans "The Jew Hunter" Landa in Inglorious Basterds.
Kathy Bates
Bates has been nominated for an Emmy 14 times and Oscar 4 times but it took a while for the glory days to start. Having spent most of her early career in the theater scene, the actress truly broke out when she won the Best Actress award at the 1991 Academy Awards for her performance in Misery. She was 42 at the time.
Bates is one of the few performances who have held on to their prominence and never let go. Her Oscar win kickstarted what is a very consistent run as she has appeared in at least a single movie or TV show every year since 1991. And with two more of her movies currently in post-production, Bates fans can be assured of a constant supply to meet their demand.
Tommy Lee Jones
Jones had a number of TV roles in the '80s but it was by starring in Oliver Stone's JFK at the age of 45 that he made a name for himself. He would go on to be a part of other big movies in the '90s such as Men In Black.
Jones is definitely among the movie actors who get typecast a lot as he has mostly played special agents or bosses in various forms of law enforcement. While some actors might find this frustrating, Jones has never been borthered about it. In fact, one such role, U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard, in The Fugitive, earned him an Oscar for Best ing Actor.
Steve Carell
Carell spent his '30s as a correspondent for The Office.
Steve Carell's funniest scenes are easy to watch over and over again and that's because of how the actor tends to make even the most awkward moments seem like normal occurrences. Very few comedians have proven themselves in both the TV and movie arenas but Carell has done just that. And since most of his most iconic roles are perfect for middle-aged men, being a later bloomer was a good thing for him.
Betty White
Though she was the first woman to create her own sitcom while in her '30s, White didn't find much success in her own production. It took her appearance on The Mary Tyler Moore Show at the age of 51 for her career to reach new heights.
White's work ethic is irable. Despite breaking out later, she continued working all the way to her 90s. Her hatred for retirement made her earn recognition from the Guinness World Records for the "longest TV career by a female entertainer." White also demonstrated her activism side by championing LGBTQ rights and racial equality.
Samuel L. Jackson
Most people in the world can recognize Samuel L. Jackson today but it took him a while to make it big. Doors would open up for him when Spike Lee cast him two consecutive movies namely, Do The Right Thing and Jungle Fever. Jackson was 42 when he appeared in the latter.
Jackson doesn't take his career for granted as he has hardly slowed down even in old age. It could be presumed that he is making up for his earlier unsuccessful years and he has every right to do that. To date, the actor has appeared in over 160 movies. In 2019, he appeared in a whopping 7 movies.
Bryan Cranston
Cranston is best known for playing Walter White. However, he became popular when he first appeared as Malcolm's father, Hal, in Malcolm In The Middle. He was 44 at the time.
The actor definitely doesn't feel bad about not becoming famous earlier since it's likely that he wouldn't have gotten to play Walter White if he had become famous earlier in his career. Unfortunately, Cranston appears to have suffered the curse of popular TV actors failing to find major roles when the series ends, but his legacy will surely remain.
Morgan Freeman
There are so many Morgan Freeman gems to pick from today, which makes it harder to imagine that he was 52 when he won an Oscar for The Shawshank Redemption.
Contrary to his breakout role of a chauffer, Freeman has gone on to portray figures of authority for most of his career. It helps that he has the appearance of an ever-happy and wise elderly man. Freeman is also one of the few actors who rarely gets cast in antagonistic roles and that also has to do with his general demeanor.
Viola Davis
Davis has been an awards magnet and a preferred casting choice for many directors ever since she appeared in How To Get Away With Murder. But that wasn't her breakout role. She became known when she was nominated for an Oscar at the age of 43 for Doubt.
Unlike Cranston, Davis' role in the Shondaland series hasn't stopped her from getting other major roles. In fact, she has entirely branched away from the TV scene to the movie scene. Having spent much of her early career in the theater scene, it's easy to see why her skills are unmatched. Davis is also the first Black actress to win an Emmy, Oscar, and Tonny.
Larry David
David has thrust himself into legendary status with his performances on Saturday Night Live in his later 30s, most of his sketches wouldn't get used. His career changed for the better when he co-created Seinfield at the age of 42.
David is one of the few actors who have gotten to play semi-fictionalized versions of themselves and he's done it quite beautifully. And while most actors simply focus on acting, David has gone a step further by co-writing every episode of his hit comedy show. Given his dedication, it's no surprise that he continues to be successful.
