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With another year at the movies coming to a close, cinephiles may find their minds wandering to the legendary films and filmmakers of the past. As audiences ponder what does and doesn’t deserve to be in the running for Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards, considering how the art of the motion picture has evolved —since its invention in the late 19th century — can be critical to comprehensive critique. Plus, it’s just plain fun.
Of course, there’s no one still alive from back when Eadweard Muybridge, Thomas Edison, Louis Le Prince, and their contemporaries were first tinkering with new-fangled movie technology. In 2022, the oldest verified living person is 118-year-old Lucile Randon, who was born in 1904: roughly 16 years after the first moving image was shot. (Interesting fact: She is also the oldest person to have survived a COVID-19 diagnosis.)
That said, there are living Hollywood icons who have experienced a century of the medium’s evolution: contributing not just by producing their own work, but also offering their participation and perspective within the global film community.
The oldest living directors provide particular points of interest. These filmmakers are responsible for helming projects that ultimately represent hundreds-to-thousands of hours of work and countless careers. Finished titles become artifacts for not just one person’s artistic vision, but of the winding history of humanity and the artists who attempt to explain personhood through film.
So, who are these seasoned titans of industry? The following is a list of every known living director who has (1) helmed at least one feature length narrative or documentary film; and (2) who is over the age of 90. It was compiled from multiple sources and independent research with every effort made to be comprehensive. With names such as Norman Lear and Richard Lester appearing alongside Elaine May and Lee Grant, the list doubles as both an interesting sociological data set and roadmap to classic films worth making the time to watch.
[Editor’s note: In instances where a photograph of the director could not be used, a production still or screenshot from one of their most renowned works appears.]
Robert Benton — 90
When they were born: September 29, 1932
What they’re known for: “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979), “Places in the Heart” (1984), “Nobody’s Fool” (1994)
(Above): Robert Benton on set for 2003’s “The Human Stain.”
Anne Claire Poirier — 90
When they were born: June 6, 1932
What they’re known for: “A Scream from Silence” (1979), “Tu as crié: Let Me Go” (1996)
(Above): Actress Julie Vincent in Anne Claire Poirier’s “A Scream from Silence,” also known as “Mourir à tue-tête.”
Elaine May —90
When they were born: April 21, 1932
What they’re known for: “The Heartbreak Kid” (1972), “Mikey and Nicky” (1976), “Ishtar” (1986)
(Above): Elaine May starring in her 1971 film, “A New Leaf.”
Richard Lester — 90
When they were born: January 19, 1932
What they’re known for: “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964), “Petulia” (1968), “Robin and Marian” (1976)
(Above, left to right): Paul McCartney and Richard Lester on the set of “A Hard Day’s Night.”
Carlos Saura — 90
When they were born: January 4, 1932
What they’re known for: “The Hunt” (1966), “Cria” (1976), “Blood Wedding” (1981)
(Above, right): Carlos Saura on the set of 1998’s “Tango.”
Paolo Taviani — 91
When they were born: November 8, 1931
What they’re known for: “Padre Padrone” (1977), “Night of the Shooting Stars” (1982), “Fiorile” (1993)
(Above, left to right): Co-directors and brothers Paolo Taviani and Vittorio Taviani — who died in 2018 at the age of 88 — on the set of 1979’s “The Meadow.”
Ruy Guerra — 91
When they were born: August 22, 1931
What they’re known for: “The Guns” (1964), “Erendira” (1983), “Malandro” (1984)
(Video) Creativity Across the Lifespan: Norman Lear | Norman Lear & Robert Bilder | TEDxUCLASalon(Above): Ruy Guerra promoting “O Veneno Da Madrugada” at the San Sebastian Film Festival in 2005.
Jan Troell — 91
When they were born: July 23, 1931
What they’re known for: “The Emigrants” (1971), “The New Land” (1972), “Hurricane” (1979)
(Above): Jan Troell on the set of “The New Land.”
Ted Kotcheff —91
When they were born: April 7, 1931
What they’re known for: “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz” (1974), “First Blood” (1982), “Weekend at Bernie’s” (1989)
(Above): Ted Kotcheff on set for 1985’s “Joshua Then and Now.”
Masahiro Shinoda —91
When they were born: March 9, 1931
What they’re known for: “Pale Flower” (1964), “Double Suicide” (1969), “Gonza the Spearman” (1986)
(Above): A photo of actress Shima Iwashita in Masahiro Shinoda’s “Double Suicide.”
Clint Eastwood —92
When they were born: May 31, 1930
What they’re known for: “Unforgiven” (1991), “The Bridges of Madison County” (1995), “Million Dollar Baby” (2004)
(Above): Clint Eastwood starring in his 2021 film “Cry Macho.”
Frederick Wiseman — 92
When they were born: January 1, 1930
What they’re known for: “Titicut Follies” (1968), “In Jackson Heights” (2015), “A Couple” (2022)
(Above): Frederick Wiseman on the cutting floor in 1978.
Mark Rydell —93
When they were born: March 23, 1929
What they’re known for: “Cinderella Liberty” (1973), “The Rose” (1979), “On Golden Pond” (1981)
(Above): Mark Rydell on the set of 1984’s “The River.”
Alejandro Jodorowsky — 93
When they were born: February 17, 1929
What they’re known for: “Fando and Lis” (1968), “El Topo” (1970), “The Holy Mountain” (1973)
(Video) Norman Lear and the Power of TV - TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews(Above): Alejandro Jodorowsky from a clip in his 2019 documentary “Psychomagic: A Healing Art.”
Michael Snow —93
When they were born: December 10, 1928
What they’re known for: “Wavelength” (1967), “La Regione Centrale” (1971)
(Above, left to right): Michael Snow speaking with the Art Gallery of Ontario in 2012 (via YouTube).
James Ivory —94
When they were born: June 7, 1928
What they’re known for: “A Room With a View” (1986), “Howard’s End” (1992), “The Remains of the Day” (1993)
(Above, left to right): Actress Kate Beckinsale and James Ivory on set for 2000’s “The Golden Bowl.”
Lee Grant —95 (or 97)
When they were born:October 31, 1925/1927*
What they’re known for:“Tell Me a Riddle” (1980), “Staying Together” (1989)
(Above): Lee Grant as she appears in 1991’s “Defending Your Life,” written and directed by Albert Brooks.
*Note: Grant’s age varies depending on the resource. Representatives could not be reached for comment.
Toshio Masuda — 95
When they were born: October 5, 1927
What they’re known for: “The Rusty Knife” (1958), “Red Hankerchief” (1964), “Tora! Tora! Tora!” (1970)
(Above): A scene from Toshio Masuda’s “Tora! Tora! Tora!”
Allen Baron —95
When they were born: April 14, 1927
What they’re known for: “Blast of Silence” (1961), “Terror in the City” (1964)
(Above, left to right): Actors Robert Allen and Richard Bray in “Terror in the City,” also known as “Pie in the Sky.”
Kenneth Anger —95
When they were born: February 3, 1927
What they’re known for: “Eaux d’artifice” (1953), “Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome” (1954), “Scorpio Rising” (1963)
(Above): Kenneth Anger, as he appeared in the 1990s, for a clip used in “Cinemagician: Conversations with Kenneth Anger.”
Norman Jewison — 96
When they were born: July 21, 1926
(Video) "Just Another Version of You": The Life, Art and Activism of Legendary TV Producer Norman LearWhat they’re known for: “In the Heat of the Night” (1967), “Fiddler on the Roof” (1971), “Moonstruck” (1987)
(Above): Norman Jewison in an interview for “Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles.”
Mel Brooks —96
When they were born: June 27, 1926
What they’re known for: “The Producers” (1968), “Blazing Saddles” (1974), “Young Frankenstein” (1974)
(Above): Mel Brooks in character for “Silent Movie” (1976), which he also directed.
Roger Corman —96
When they were born: April 5, 1926
What they’re known for: “The Little Shop of Horrors” (1960), “The Pit and the Pendulum” (1961), “Wild Angels” (1967)
(Above): Roger Corman in an interview for “Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time Vol 3 – Comedy & Camp.”
Robert M. Young – 98
When they were born: November 22, 1924
What they’re known for: “Short Eyes” (1977), “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” (1982), “Triumph of the Spirit” (1989)
(Above): Robert M. Young on the set of 1995’s “Slave of Dreams” for Showtime.
Ebrahim Golestan —100
When they were born: October 19, 1922
What they’re known for: “A Fire” (1961), “Bricks and Mirror” (1963), “The Ghost Valley’s Treasure Mysteries” (1974)
(Above, left to right): Ebrahim Golestan and Dr. Abbas Milani in an interview for Stanford’s Iranian Studies Program (via YouTube).
Bert I. Gordon —100
When they were born: September 24, 1922
What they’re known for: “The Cyclops” (1957), “Picture Mommy Dead” (1966), “Food of the Gods” (1976)
(Above, left to right): A photo of actors Basil Rathbone and Estelle Winwood with Bert I. Gordon on the set of 1962’s “The Magic Sword.”
Norman Lear — 100
When they were born: July 22, 1922
What they’re known for: “Cold Turkey” (1971)
(Above): Norman Lear in an interview for Amazon Prime Video’s “Lucy and Desi.”
