I was really surprised to discover that both these guys were younger than my current age when they did these scenes! One is Edward Platt, who played the “Chief” in the original Get Smart TV show. The other is William Talman; he played Perry Mason’s rival in the courtroom scenes.
Can’t believe when these scenes were shot, both actors were only 51 years old! Btw, Platt died in 1974 at the age of only 58, Talman died only two years after the clip shown here, at age of 53! (Btw, you might recogize the guy that Talman is questioning on the witness stand-in the second clip-It’s Jackie Coogan; he played “Uncle Fester” in the Adams Family! You could also google Jackie Coogan to see what else he’s famous for! Here is is sitting next to a familiar face!
Haha no seriously. I mean look at tv and the movies today and there are LOTS of actors that look really young or at least decent for their age. I think maybe it was just the times back then? Health maybe wasn’t taken as seriously back then as it is now. Maybe it’s also because both the actors I mentioned were heavy smokers; Talman died from lung cancer, and although Platt commited suicide, he was also a very heavy smoker. That can age you alot, and also booze.
Also, back in the earlier half of the 20th century, people seemed to be much more “adult” acting at an earlier age. Orson Wells was only in his twenties when he wrote, directed and starred in, “Citizen Kane”! One of the greatest films in American cinema. One of my all-time favorite actors, Humphrey Bogart, was a mere 39 when he did the Maltese Falcon and only 43 when he starred in Casablanca. And he also died way too young at only 57, from lung cancer. Curly from the three stooges was only 49 and had suffered many strokes prior to his untimely death.
Haha, I’m happy to say that I’m not in that “we” group. Fast food=faster death. We sure have way more obese people these days then ever before, thanks to fast food, video games, internet and lack of exercise and poor diet. We gotta get the world on a crash Uni diet!
Give it time, lol! I mean if a convicted felon in prison can actually sue because he got “chunky” peanut butter instead of smooth, anything goes…and does nowadays!
different things play a role on how old you look like: hard life, hygiene and, yes, genes.
My father did look younger than myself at the same age (because of his hair) but his wrinkles were deeper (life in open air!) . I also know of lot of thirty-something yuppies who look like they were 50!
Botox. Facelifts. Especially if you’re looking at actors. 40 and 50 year olds who haven’t gone under the knife or needle look a lot older than actors of the same age. Smoking and drinking and other drugs don’t help. Keith Richards, anyone?
I think hair styles and clothing styles impact how we look at people from years past.
Years ago, we did not have the EPA, OSHA, etc. People were subjected to toxic fumes from cars burning leaded gasoline. As has been mentioned, cigarette smoking. Factories exposed workers and the public to hazardous toxic smoke, dust and fumes. Firemen breathed toxic smoke while fighting fires. Industrial work areas subjected workers to dangerous working conditions.
Being exposed to all the toxic junk certainly impacted life expectancy.
well i look 15 years younger then I am and my brother looks his age. the difference is my brother drinks a lot. I partied a couple years but stopped and got high off life instead. plus he eats a lot of crap and doesnt play like I do. I dont eat fast food nor anything with chemicals in it like soda, etc. As far as hard life, Ive had a hard life and still look young! At this point I laugh at it though. I mean really, I hope to have a career by the time Im 40 lol. So I have to stay young as I cant afford to ever retire lol.
I look 20 years younger than I actually am…it’s kind of a hassle really. I ask someone a question, and they all have to say is, “Ahhhhh! A talking fetus!”
While genetics do play a big role in how we age, I think that having a good sense of humor and laughing a lot keeps us young also. If you’re prone to depression, take everything way to seriously and just have a lot of negative energy, that can play a part in how we age; both on the inside and outside.
I’m still pretty much as hyper and filled with curiosity and (seemingly) boundless energy as I’ve ever been, and love to challenge myself everyday, no matter what I’m doing. Yeah, keeping fit, eating healthy, using sunblock and not drinking (to excess) or smoking are all good age fighters too, but just as important is that we never lose that sense of wonder and enthusiasm for life, and never become “too tired” to get out there and live life to the fullest! Being 53 (on 1/15/09) and looking and feeling like 30-something, (without botox, face lifts, etc, lol!) plus being in better shape than when I was 18 is all good, but my goal is to still be riding strong well into my 80’s!
Haha thanks. I think good old fashioned determination and love for the sport will play a bigger part than “luck”, but whatever it takes, I plan to be riding for a long time to come!
It will be very interesting though, to see if any/some/many/most of today’s younger top riders (early to late teens) will still be at high level of riding when they’re in their 50’s, or if they will have quit riding altogether, long before the middle age mark. Barring any serious injuries, if they continue to ride and improve, (without a 40 year layoff-like me) they should be. I may not be around to witness it, but I hope to be!
The kids nowadays will be much older when they get our age unfortunately. As a kid, it was very rare for a kid to be fat in elementary school. For me it was normal to go outside and play til sundown everyday. Not now. Now its almost a norm to have overweight kids. Kids have diabetes, high blood pressure etc. now. Its sad. It was also not normal for girls to start to develop before 5th or 6th grade. Now they start in 2nd grade!! Kids look older today then they used to. I looked very young even as a kid.
Probably not as much so in unicycling, but in skateboarding by the time they are 16, most quit as its not popular then. most care more about fitting in then what they love to do. maybe 1 in 10 start it back up in their mid 20s. After college now most become fat, tired and sedentary. Being seriously injured does not end one doing sports unless they choose too. I am injured. I still will go with or without a good arm, leg, whatever. Its a choice and eventually we all get hurt. To give up or not is up to the person. I admire people who do despite obstacles. They hold a higher degree of respect from me then someone who is naturally abled.
What an interesting post! I liked the original reference to Perry Mason and Get Smart because it reminded me of a conversation I had with friends here in the UK. Basically, in the USA the image of a person, whether in TV, film, theatre or politics, appears to be ‘all-important’.
For example, an ex film star can retire and get to……run America (Reagan) or an ex body-builder can retire and get to …. run an American State (Schwarzenegger). The observation on this side of the pond is – it’s all about image. The phrase coined here is, ‘Silver Screen Image’. The Silver Screen Image is all about how individuals use the media - film and television - to project their personalities to the public.
I am not being political but in comparison many/most UK politicians leave me cold – individuals who run the UK! Even though many are younger than me they are like older men dressed in shabby suites. They don’t set a standard that I aspire to. Their Silver Screen Image is poor. They may have relevant professional qualifications and experience but their image does not inspire.
I will be using the silver screen to project my image next week. I star in a movie entitled, ‘A Day in the Life of a Unicyclist’. I hope I can get elected President on the strength of my part in this movie – because it took blood, sweat and tears to produce!
Who mentioned junk food? Now you’re talking my language – not!! Mind you, when I was young enough I could abuse myself in a variety of ways including drugs, sex, and rock and roll. Nowadays I only get as far as drugs and rock and roll – eat your heart out Keith Richards
One of my all-time favorite actors, Humphrey Bogart, was a mere 39 when he did 
