When it comes to Hollywood, the emphasis seems to be on the younger generation to clinch the roles in films. However, there are a number of older characters who certainly hold their own, and quite often steal the limelight on the silver screen! We have taken a look at five of our favourites.
Gandalf (Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit trilogies, portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen)
Gandalf appears in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, acting as a guide and overall fount of knowledge to those travelling with him. His age is somewhat of a mystery, although some estimates put him at over 10,000 years old, with the appearance of an elderly man in his 60’s. However, he is quite spritely for his age, playing a key role in battles throughout the films.
Walt Kowalski (Gran Torino, portrayed by Clint Eastwood)
Walt Kowalski is a veteran of the Korean War, and still has the mental scars to prove it. Widowed, living alone and with a family who don’t appreciate him, Walt ends up reluctantly befriending a Hmong teenage boy who is under pressure from a gang who terrorise the neighbourhood. Grumpy as he may be, Walt mellows to his new friends, and proves age is but a number!
Carl Fredricksen (Up, voiced by Edward Asner)
Another case of an elderly widow befriending a young boy, Up tells the story of Carl Fredricksen, who is being forced into a retirement home after inadvertently hitting a construction worker who is attempting to get him to leave his home behind. With this in mind, Carl travels to Paradise Falls courtesy of thousands of helium balloons attached to his house (complete with stair lift). Unbeknownst to him, young stowaway Russell comes along for the ride and it is up to Carl to play mentor to his energetic young lad and get him home safely.
Alfred Pennyworth (The Dark Knight Trilogy, portrayed by Michael Caine)
Alfred Pennyworth is the butler to the Wayne family, and ultimately plays the role of guardian and best friend to a young Bruce Wayne. Formerly of the British SAS, Alfred tirelessly acts as a voice of reason, and assists Bruce Wayne in his ascendency to becoming the Batman. Selfless, loving and the comic relief for when things get heavy, Alfred perfectly opitimises the role of caring elder.
Warren R. Schmidt (About Schmidt, portrayed by Jack Nicholson)
After retiring from his job in an insurance company, Warren Schmidt begins to feel a sense of uselessness, finding it hard to adjust to his new life. The film revolves around Schmidt attempting to regain a feeling of self-worth by embarking on a series of “quests” to achieve this. This touching story has Nicolson at the helm, bringing his excellent grumpy demeanour to a must-see film.
These are just a few of our favourite characters, proving that it doesn’t matter how old you are, you can still steal the show! Why not enjoy watching these characters from one of our nursing home beds, which are tailor-made to your exact specifications, ensuring you receive assistance in the area you need it most, helping you stay independent in your home.
Images courtesy of Thomas Huxley, Colin Campbell, charlieanders2, Eric Gilliland & Yann de la marne, under Creative Commons.
