Fame and youth do not last. In the '70s and '80s, some stars that people never knew growing up are still alive but are no longer on the coveted "A-list" of Hollywood and the like. Others, owing to their talent, have managed to make a new light on their life or, after a hiatus, have come back reinvented.
If you were born in the '90s, why don't you read this thread with a parent who might remember more of the people on this thread? It might even be a chance to share a few good stories of movies you liked and a party you enjoyed!
Linda Gray - Dallas
We truly never know when an opportunity in life might arise. Take Linda Gray, for example, and how she got her big break: by playing a body double. Yes! In "The Graduate," her performance as Mrs. Robinson's double led to another role.
It would be as Sue Ellen on "Dallas," which she played for 13 years from 1978 to 1991, that would be the role of her life. She would go on to reprise the role for another two years. We haven't heard much from her lately since her last on-screen appearance was in 2019.
Pam Grier - The Big Doll House
Pam Grier has been an African-American star ever since the '70s when she was launched by "The Big Doll House," which focused on life in a penitentiary. Grier, from that role, found her own financial freedom and would star as bold characters in films like "Foxy Brown," "Coffy," and "Sheba Baby" soon after.
To this day, owing to her role in elevating the African-American community, she has a considerable following, evidenced by the legion of fans who came to her support in 2021. It turns out, you cannot just diss Grier and get away with it!
Goldie Hawn - There's a Girl in My Soup
When Goldie Hawn became a regular on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," you could tell that her charm and wit were going to take her places. Soon after, she landed roles in more high-profile media productions, like "There's a Girl in My Soup" and "Butterflies are Free."
After a flurry of films, she took a hiatus from the Hollywood scene after "The Banger Sisters." She made a famous return in 2017 in "Snatched" appearing alongside Amy Schumer, with her last performance being in 2020, playing Mrs. Claus in "The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two." Through it all, she has had Kurt Russell, the man with who she has shared a 38-year relationship.
Linda Ronstadt - The Pirates of Penzance
Linda Ronstadt has always needed to express herself. From her early days playing shows at the Troubadour, a famous nightclub in West Hollywood, to the stage of the Grammys. She won ten Grammy Awards and was dubbed "The First Lady of Rock." Yet, a singer who made their indelible mark on the American music industry would suddenly have to retire in 2013.
Before she did, along with Philip Glass, she performed in "The Pirates of Penzance" and would sell more than 100 million records. She has almost completely fallen away from the spotlight, which is why we haven't heard of her in 2021.
Morgan Fairchild - Search For Tomorrow
Morgan Fairchild, or Patsy Ann McClenny, became part of our households when she appeared as Jennifer Pace on the TV series "Search For Tomorrow," a role she would reprise for four years. Of course, she quickly found other work, appearing in productions like "Dallas," "Kojak," and "Happy Days."
In the last few years, she has pared it down. She still acts, and in 2017 returned to her roots of soap opera on Days of Our Lives, appearing in 17 episodes. Her last film was "A Date Before Christmas Eve," but she played Vivienne St. Charmaine on "The Simpsons" in 2020 and appeared in "Rugrats" in 2021. We hope she is living out her happy days!
Raquel Welch - One Million Years BC
Raquel Welch arrived like a bombshell, exploding her career into the Hollywood scene by appearing in a tiny fur bikini during the film "One Million Years BC." Undoing the myth that feminine symbols are only ever blonde, she soon appeared in "The Three Musketeers" and won a Golden Globe after capturing many hearts… as well as libidos of both men and women alike!
Aside from acting, Welch is also a businesswoman. She has released the Total Beauty and Fitness Program book and videos. However, we have not seen her for a while, owing to a rather nasty divorce. She was spotted in 2021, her first public appearance since 2019, according to Page Six.
Kirstie Alley - Star Trek
Not many Hollywood stars are known for breaking out in "Star Trek." Yet, five years after making her on-screen debut, Kirstie Alley made her breakout role in the 1982 version of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." Though it put her name on the map, we remember her most as Rebecca Howe on "Cheers," the heartwarming sitcom.
In 1991, she won a Golden Globe award for her performance in the role. Her most recent part was the 2020 TV movie, "You Can't Take My Daughter as Suzanne." In 2021, she has gotten into plenty of controversies, claiming that popular culture is too open-minded and promotes false ideals.
Billie Jean King - The Battle of the Sexes
Billie Jean King undoubtedly is one of the greatest female tennis players to have ever graced the court. Aside from winning the highest awards in the sport, she was also the famous winner in "The Battle of the S*xes," where she played Bobby Riggs, the former world no.1 male tennis player.
If that wasn't enough, she was also one of the first prominent female athletes to come out as gay in 1981, which, back then, caused great controversy. In 1987, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In 2021, she lauded Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios for voicing concerns around mental health and racial issues.
Barbra Streisand - Barbara Streisand: The Concert
Barbra Streisand's career flourished. That's pretty much what has happened to her with whatever artistic medium she has decided to use. She is one of the few people ever to receive all of the following: Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy, and Golden Globe. Consequently, she has become a cultural icon in the United States.
In 2021, she is still making music and has even released a new album called "Release Me 2." It is a collection of ten recordings that have never been released. She has been working on it during the pandemic, where travel restrictions have meant she has spent a lot of time with her husband of more than 20 years, James Brolin.
Kim Basinger - Never Say Never Again
Kim Basinger was born into a family in the business of entertainment. Her mom was a ballerina, and her father a jazz musician, so she started with ballet. Yet, when she was 16, she entered a modeling competition, which would blossom into a successful career before she decided to act.
Though her last role was in 2018, she is never out of the spotlight forte long owing to the drama-machine that is the Basinger-Baldwin blended family. She still expertly trolls her husband for his antics, which is adorable and hilarious.
Ann-Margret - Carnal Knowledge
Ann-Margret started making a name for herself in the acting scene during the '60s. Before that, she pursued singing. If Elvis Presley was regarded as the King of Rock, she is the Queen of Rock and has been one of the most successful musicians in the industry.
She had quite a few memorable roles in "Carnal Knowledge," "Viva Las Vegas," and "Bye Bye Birdie." It is not hard to see why people adore the super talented Sweden-born star. In 2021, you can catch her in a performance of "Queen Bee's."
Allison Arngrim - Little House on the Prairie
Alison Arngrim had no idea how her life would completely change after playing the little Nellie Oleson as a 12-year-old in "Little House on the Prairie." She would go on to play that role for seven years, which may have made her famous but did it make her happy?
Based on the years to follow, we can't be sure. She never saw the same success as her days on the "Little House on the Prairie." In 2010, she released a comedic memoir with the incredibly long title: "Confessions of A Prairie B*tch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated." You can catch her n "Even in Dreams" in 2021.
Maureen McCormick - The Brady Bunch
As the youngest of four children, Maureen McCormick had to fight for attention. She began acting at age six and won the Baby Miss San Fernando Valley contest. This opened a few doors for her that she took and within a year became a popular choice for TV commercials. McCormick would later become Marcia Brady in "The Brady Bunch," where she would reprise the role for a number of spin-offs.
Fast forward a few decades, McCormick would never reach the A-list of star celebrity status. She still works in the industry and, in 2021, she is starring in a new series called "Frozen in Time," where she remodels homes alongside contractor/decorator Dan Vickery.
Teri Garr - Mr. Mom
Teri Garr, a comedian, asks herself three questions whenever she joins projects. The first is whether the character speaks to her or not; the second is if the film has something to offer a world desperately in need, and the third is if she is going to get lots of money. To save time, since she is busy, she asks the last question first and, if the answer is yes, she chooses the project.
In 2021, she is a National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and National Chair for the Society's Women Against MS program. She has a good laugh and a good heart!
Cicely Tyson - The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman
Cicely Tyson has been around for seven decades. She has received great critical acclaim for playing much-needed strong African-American characters who are also women in "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman," "King," among others. It was in "Sounder" as Rebecca Morgan where she would garner widespread attention and critical acclaim.
In 2020, she was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. Sadly, in 2021, she passed away. Her funeral was attended by current African-American stars like Tyler Perry and other political heavyweights like Hilary Clinton. She lived a long life and had a promising career.
Charlene Tilton - Dallas
Life in the '80s meant you might be a step or two away from the Hollywood drug culture. Charlene Tilton, famous for her role on "Dallas" as Lucy Ewing, was protected by her castmates from stepping into that culture. It was one thing that helped her maintain the role, which would be her most successful, landing her on the cover of 50 magazines.
As part of a series of interviews called "Nighttime Soap Stars of the '80s," DailyBlast asked her about what it was like to be famous, her friendships, and almost missing the role as Lucy Ewing. Her best response? She now has the time to dabble with the good stuff!
Loretta Swit - M*A*S*H
The first obstacle that Loretta Swit had to overcome was her parents. They were Polish immigrants and did not fancy her shot in show business. Undeterred, at only seven years old, she started performing. Her looks were deemed too 'plain,' so she developed a star sense of humor, imbuing later Hollywood roles with light and laughter.
She eventually would win two Emmy Awards for her performances as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the military TV series M*A*S*H. We haven't heard much from her in 2021, but her story is one of overcoming that can help to inspire.
Debbie Harry - Blondie
Debbie Harry, born Angela Tremble, didn't have it easy. She was raised by adoptive parents at three months old and, once she grew up, worked as a Playboy Bunny. Somehow, her own professional singing career took off around that time, and with her longtime boyfriend would go on to create the band "Blondie."
The band released its first album in the late '70s and, from there, shot into fame. Five decades later, in May 2017, "Blondie" would release its 11th studio album, "Pollinator." In 2021, she has been on the down-low, probably because she has been working to support various charities after being inspired by Elton John's effort against HIV/AIDS.
Jane Seymour - Captains and The Kings
Jane Seymour got her shot for fame when she played Solitaire, the psychic Bond girl, in "Live and Let Die." For "Captains and The Kings," she won a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a film or movie in 1976. In 1982, she won her first Golden Globe. Sadly, she still had her heart broken by disappointment.
Seymour has been married four times. In an interview with People in 2021, she credits her youthful appearance to accepting the loss that comes with divorce, as well as a disciplined skincare routine.
Julie Andrews - Mary Poppins
In the face of the highly popular "Mary Poppins" and in "The Sound of Music," Julie Andrews enjoyed a hugely diverse career that filtered through several mediums and stages. She purchased a house with her late husband in 1999. He was a successful director in his own right.
Brentwood is also conveniently located near many of the major studios and has several high-end shopping areas, which adds to the price of the home. It is also the ideal place to have aired her podcast, "Julie's Library," which aims to read the best children's books around.
Katharine Ross - The Final Countdown
When Katharine Ross grew up, she and her family moved around a lot. Her father, after all, was a commander in the U.S. Navy. So he bounced them around from Virginia to Palo Alton, then Walnut Creek, and finally settled in San Francisco.
Ross, from that, never liked to settle. After she married the first of her five husbands in the '60s, work came quickly, and by the '70s, she was whipped up by the whirlwind of fame and quickly became a beauty symbol for the Woodstock generation. Somehow, she settled down, marrying her current husband in 1984. In 2021, they still live together in a ranchito in Malibu.
Faye Dunaway - Network
Faye Dunaway was an enormously popular actress for playing strong-willed female leads, and you might think of her as yesteryear's Emma Watson, being able to match any of her more macho stars in the '70s. During her time in the film industry, Dunaway was the face of Hollywood's so-called second golden age.
After winning several major awards, Dunaway took a long hiatus, working in independent film, and slowly returned to the mainstream scene. In 2021, she played a role in "The Man Who drew God," about an artist who can draw people from their voice.
Sissy Spacek - Carrie
Sissy Spacek learned how to be fearless in response to a family tragedy, the grief of which propelled her like a rocket to follow her dreams of being an actress. No wonder that she burst onto the Hollywood scene when she was old enough. In every decade from 1980 on, she has been in an Academy Award-nominated film.
When she released her memoir in 2012, "My Extraordinary Ordinary Life," she cited the role of her roots and mentioned how the early experience of tragedy changed her trajectory. While her last project was in 2018, she is currently filming "Lightyears," a sci-fi TV series.
Diane Keaton - Annie Hall
Diane Keaton may have enjoyed a role in "The Godfather." Still, it was her roles in "Love and Death," "Annie Hall," and "Play it Again, Sam" that made her a recognizable face in the film industry, especially after her role as the title character in "Annie Hall" won her an Oscar for Best Actress.
Arguably her most surprising role came in 2021 when she starred in Justin Bieber's music video, "Ghost." She plays the role of Bieber's grandmother, as they both try to navigate together the loss of a loved one. We are sure she is perfect for the role.
Meryl Streep - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Let us take a moment to celebrate the brilliance that is Meryl Streep. In fact, she is so popular that a tweet from Sharon Stone in 2021 went viral just for saying that she is not in a class of her own. First, she has more Oscar nominations than any other actor or actress, so stone should get her facts straight.
In 2021, you can watch her as the narcissistic president of the United States in a political satire written by Adam McKay called "Don't Look Up." It was meant to be a commentary on climate change, but it works well for the pandemic!
Ellen Burstyn - The Exorcist
Ellen Burstyn is one of the few performers who won the "Triple Crown of Acting:" An Academy Award, Tony, and Emmy, each for film, television, and theatre. It means that she has the skill to portray otherwise complicated characters who garnered enormous sympathy from their audience.
It has meant that her star has shone brightly since the '70s. Her most recent appearance has been in the highly acclaimed series "Law & Order: Organized Crime" in 2021 and the film "Queen Bees," which follows a woman in a nursing home whose politics looks remarkably similar to real-life.
Karen Lynn Gorney - Saturday Night Fever
"Saturday Night Fever" was something like "Lord of The Rings" in terms of its effect on popular culture, and Karen Lynn Gorney was its romantic star. She was the dance partner who famously rejected John Travolta but eventually won over his heart again.
After that, Gorney took a hiatus from acting in the '80s. Fame is not without its traps or trials! She returned in the '90s but not to film and took on roles in "Law & Order" and "The Sopranos." Later in her life, she has picked up momentum again, with 2021's "Clifford the Big Red Dog" and several more projects in production.
Beverly Johnson - Vogue
If we were to take anyone seriously about the changes in the fashion industry, we'd listen to the voice of Beverly Johnson. She was the first African-American model to appear on the cover of Vogue in 1974 (and that's not too long ago, folks), and then the French Edition of Elle.
She has been in the news recently since she has opened up in Vanity Fair, accusing Bill Cosby of drugging her during an audition for "The Cosby Show." She touches on the incident in some detail in 2015. In 2021, however, she could speak about what happened without fear and pointed to the changes in the industry at the CFDA Awards.
Marilu Henner - Grease
Marilu Henner started dancing as soon as she learned how to walk. Her first dance class took place when she was two and then was proficient enough by 14 to teach it. It helped that her family had their own studio. She would choreograph for shows at her high school and college, which would eventually prepare her for "Grease," the Broadway musical.
That set her up for roles in films as well as TV series, especially as Elaine Nardo in the sitcom "Taxi." In 2021, she works as an actress, and you can catch her in the various Aurora Teagarden Mysteries.
Carol Kane - Taxi
Many actors and actresses suffer from being type-casted and cannot break from an earlier role into new success. It was a potential problem for Carol Kane. She was on the hit television series "Taxi" in the early '80s and won two Emmy Awards for the role, and she won an Oscar for "Annie Hall."
However, she did not entirely fade from the limelight and was the leading cast member of the famous Netflix series "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." She played the role for five years and doesn't look like she is slowing down as her new show, "F is for Family," is still ongoing.
Talia Shire - The Godfather
You could think of Talia Shire as a gardener of characters because she manages to grow whatever roles she is in. Despite the complexity of the character she engages with from the beginning, she manages to prune their details to become people we can remember.
This is why she gained national fame for Connie Corleone ("The Godfather") and Adrian Pennino/Balboa ("Rocky" franchise). For both roles, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress. Her most recent role was as Annette Kulina in 2021's "Romanticizing Brazil."
Diana Ross - The Supremes
We know Diana Ross as part of "The Supremes," a mega-band in the '60s. They had 12 #1 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100. When The Supremes ended up disbanding in the '70s, Ross would go on to become one of the United States' biggest R&B stars, releasing hit album after hit album.
She's won seven American Music Awards, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. If you think she's in retirement, think again. She's currently getting set for the tour of her 2021 album "Thank You."
Mindy Cohn - Scooby-Doo
Sometimes we laud an actor or an actress not for the characters they play but for the characters to whom they give voice. The younger generations alive today will know Mindy Cohn for her role as Velma in the hugely popular "Scooby-Doo" series from 2002 to 2015.
Older generations will know her for starring in "The Facts of Life," for which she became a star and was on the show for nine years. No wonder she took to voice-acting so she could take a break! Her most recent role was in the 2021 short "Kill Cat Oakland."
Cybill Shepherd - Cybill
Cybil Shepherd debuted in "The Last Picture" in 1971 and 50 years later is in "The Guilty Party" in 2021. Alongside Bruce Willis, she played in the TV series "Moonlighting," where she would first receive critical acclaim.
However, it was the title character in "Cybill" where she bagged the most awards. The plot follows Cybill, a single mother who has been in two failed marriages and has never had her big show business break. Obviously, this is not true for Shepherd herself, but what if she hadn't had the success she did?
Carly Simon - You're So Vain
In the '60s, so alluring was Carly Simon that she managed to coax William Donaldson out of his engagement to later become engaged to her. For Donaldson, she was the answer to every man's prayers. The relationship did not last.
Her hit single, "You're so Vain," which was nominated for three Grammy's, might have been about Donaldson, but we will never know for sure. Regardless, she became a highly successful musician. Over the years, it has been covered by so many artists that it is difficult to pin the song's origin to her. In a 2021 interview with Billboard, she still did not reveal the man's identity she was singing about.
Sigourney Weaver - Alien
Sigourney Weaver was another actress who would have their foundation for fame built in by her role in "Annie Hall." She had a minor role, but she was talented and surrounded by people who were stars. By the end of the '70s, she landed her first starring role as Ripley in "Alien."
It made her an influential figure in the science-fiction world, given that she reprised her role as Ripley when "Alien" became a franchise. It set her up for other blockbuster films like "Ghostbusters," "Hole," and "Avatar." Still, she is no slouch of an actor and reprised her role, Dana Barrett, in 2021's "Ghost Busters."
Dawn Wells - Gilligan's Island
Dawn Wells had a magic formula for one show that she rode for almost two decades. She is best known for being a castaway on "Gilligan's Island," where the title character, Gilligan, would accidentally scupper their efforts to escape.
She reprised her role for a host of spin-offs in "Rescue from Gilligan's Island," "The Castaways on Gilligan's Island," and "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island." After retiring from the role, she made her way to the stage. Wells sadly passed away at the end of last year, finally making it off the island of our Blue Planet.
Olivia Newton-John - Grease
Olivia Newton-John was born in England, and after her father was offered a job in Australia, packed for Down Under. There, her talent for singing would first come to light, and she even released a few singles. At the advice of a friend, she moved to America to further her musical career.
And what a great piece of advice it turned out to be! She would end up winning four Grammy's and landed a role in the hit musical "Grease." in 2021, she is still making music, having released a new single, "Window in the Wall," with her daughter.
Samantha Fox - Touch Me
For those who don't know who Samantha Fox is, you might think of her as the '80s version of Katy Perry. She featured as a glamour model and as a "page 3" girl, but her musical career took a while to take off. However, the aura around her created a good atmosphere for her saucy single, "Touch Me," which reached #1 in 17 countries.
Rather than celebrating her work, we are joyous to find out that she will get married to Linda Olsen. Sadly they had to postpone the wedding due to the pandemic, but in 2021 confirmed that they were just waiting for the right moment.
Susan Anton - Great Radio City Music Hall Spectacular
Susan Anton was something like an early Tik-Tokker. She rose to fame by being the face of a Muriel cigar commercial where she sang some provocative lyrics. For other ads, she would say her name and then sing the company's jingle. This made her one of TIME's "most promising face" in 1979.
Anton got most of her staff time in Las Vegas, racking up over 5,000 performances as host of the show, "Great Radio City Music Hall Spectacular," held in the Flamingo Hilton. In 2021, she will host a new show called "Idol Chat."
Christie Brinkley - Sports Illustrated
Christie Brinkley made waves by appearing on an unprecedented three back-to-back covers for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition in the late '70s. She was scooped up by Covergirl, an American cosmetic brand, and appeared over 500 times for their magazine.
With all the FaceTime, she had no shortage of suitors and has been famously married four times (including to Billy Joel). She recently appeared on Sports Illustrated alongside her two beautiful daughters. What's her secret? In a 2021 interview with CNBC, she said it was gratitude.
Catherine Bach - Dukes of Hazzard
Catherine Bach was the '80s version of Jessica Simpson. Both comprised the role of Daisy Duke in "Dukes of Hazzard." For Bach, despite the producers wanting a Dolly Parton lookalike, they hired her on the spot when she arrived at the audition. Later, once she had set herself for the role, her legs were insured for $1 million!
After the series ended, she worked in a number of low-profile films, and though she has plenty of credits, it will be her role as Daisy Duke and the jeans that she will be remembered for. She has not appeared on-screen since 2016, so we haven't heard much of her recently.
Cheryl Ladd - Charlie's Angels
Cheryl Ladd became a widely recognized name for her role in the '70s version of "Charlie's Angels." Although she was not in the first season, she appeared to be an excellent replacement for Farrah Fawcett-Majors. After the show ended in the '80s, she performed in "Poison Ivy" and "Permanent Midnight."
What we can be sure about is that she has resisted the turns of aging and still looks as fabulous as she did in "Purple Hearts." Though her career is cooling down, in 2021, she was interviewed by Fox News on the pause she has taken in the pandemic to spend time with her family.
Lynda Carter - Wonder Woman
Lynda Carter was the '70s version of the title character in "Wonder Woman," who was created by the psychologist William Moulton Marston. The comic book series was an instant hit with readers and has become one of the most popular characters in the DC Universe, so Carter endeared herself to many fans.
In 2018, she was honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sadly, she is in the news of late for her moving tribute to her late husband in 2021. Her show of vulnerability and love makes her a real-life superhero.
Jacqueline Bisset - The Detective
If you are famous, time can pass by very quickly. In a candid interview on Good Morning Britain in 2021, Jacqueline Bisset said she organized her timeline according to her famous exes. What a remarkable dating history she must have had!
She became a household name when her co-star in "The Detective," the iconic Frank Sinatra, flew her to New York so she would go on a date with him. He allegedly dates famous actors, ballet dancers, and even the martial artist Emin Boztepe. In 2021, she is single and performed in "Birds of Paradise."