10 Remarkable Individuals Who Lived To 100

A centenarian is someone who has lived to be 100 years old or more. This term is often linked to longevity, given that the global average life expectancy is much lower than 100. In the United States, centenarians traditionally receive a congratulatory letter from the president on their 100th birthday, celebrating their long life. In the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Realms, the Queen offers her well wishes (formerly via telegram) on the 100th birthday, and then every year from the 105th onward. Here’s a list of ten extraordinary individuals who reached 100 or beyond.

10. Charles Lane

Charles Lane was born on January 26th, 1905, and began his professional acting career in 1929. He played a key role in founding the Screen Actor’s Guild in 1933. By the time of his death in 2007, he was recognized as the oldest living American actor.

Throughout his career, Lane appeared in hundreds of television shows such as Petticoat Junction, I Love Lucy, and Little House on the Prairie. He also starred in over 250 films, including classics like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, and, most memorably, as the rent collector in It’s a Wonderful Life.

Unstoppable until the very end, Lane’s final acting performance was in the 2006 film The Night Before Christmas at the age of 101.

Jeanne Calment holds the title, according to Guinness World Records, as the oldest person ever to have lived, with indisputable evidence to support her claim.

Born on February 21st, 1875, in Arles, France, Calment’s family members had long lifespans, with her mother, father, and brother reaching 86, 93, and 97 years of age, respectively.

In addition to surviving two world wars, Calment had an encounter with Vincent Van Gogh during his time in Arles, and she also attended Victor Hugo’s funeral in 1885. At 114, she appeared in the film *Vincent and Me*, making her the oldest actress in the world. In 1996, the nursing home she lived in released a CD where she reflected on her life.

Calment lived independently until she was 101 years old. She took up fencing at 85 and continued to ride a bicycle at 100. At 114, she survived a hip surgery, becoming the oldest known patient to undergo surgery. She remained a dedicated smoker until she quit at 117.

She passed away on August 4th, 1997, at the age of 122.

George Burns was an Academy Award-winning comedian and actor whose career spanned vaudeville, film, radio, and television, both with and without his iconic wife, Gracie Allen. Known for his signature arched eyebrow and cigar smoke, these trademarks became part of his enduring legacy that lasted over 75 years. His career experienced a remarkable revival starting at age 79 and continued until shortly before his passing at age 100, with his fame in the last two decades of his life rivaling his earlier years.

The idea that Burns would live to celebrate his 100th birthday became a running joke in his performances. Yet, he had every intention of reaching that milestone, even planning a show at the London Palladium to mark the occasion. Sadly, his health declined as he neared his centennial. Though he reached the age of 100, he was too ill to perform and passed away just 49 days later.

Henri Fabre, a trailblazer in aviation, was the inventor of *La Canard*, the first seaplane ever created.

Born into a distinguished family of shipowners in Marseilles, Henri Fabre received his education at the Jesuit College in his hometown, where he focused on advanced scientific studies. He later turned his attention to aeroplane and propeller designs. Fabre patented a flotation device system that helped him achieve the historic feat of taking off from the Etang de Berre on March 28th, 1910. During this day, he successfully completed four flawless flights, with the longest covering approximately 600 meters.

During World War I, Fabre founded a company employing 200 people, specializing in the production of seaplanes.

Henri Fabre passed away in 1984 at the age of 102, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the final living pioneers of human flight.

James Strom Thurmond, born on December 5th, 1902, was an American politician who served as the governor of South Carolina and as a United States Senator. He retired from office at the age of 100, holding the record as the oldest serving U.S. senator in history.

In 1948, Thurmond ran for President as a third-party candidate for the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party, securing 39 electoral votes. He served in the Senate representing South Carolina from 1954 to 1964 as a Democrat, and then from 1964 to 2003 as a Republican.

Thurmond retired from the Senate in January 2003 and passed away just six months later at the age of 100.

Irving Berlin was born on May 11th, 1888, in Mogilev, Belarus. His family moved to the U.S. in 1893, and following his father's death in 1896, Berlin had to work various street jobs to support his family. His musical journey began when a café owner asked him to write an original song to rival another café’s song. Although he earned only 37 cents for the song, this marked the beginning of a career that would make Berlin one of the most prolific and successful musicians and lyricists in history. He composed over 3,000 songs, including iconic hits such as *God Bless America*, *White Christmas*, *Anything You Can Do*, and *There’s No Business Like Show Business*. Additionally, Berlin wrote 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores.

Berlin passed away in 1989 from a heart attack in New York, at the age of 101.

Born on January 11th, 1906, in Switzerland, Albert Hofmann profoundly impacted the world when he synthesized Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in 1938, a compound that would go on to change global culture.

In 1943, Hofmann began experimenting with LSD and documented his personal experiences with the substance. He later became the director of the natural products department at Sandoz, where he conducted further studies on hallucinogenic substances, including those derived from Mexican mushrooms and other plants used by indigenous cultures. His research contributed to the synthesis of psilocybin, the active compound in 'magic mushrooms.'

Hofmann referred to LSD as “medicine for the soul,” expressing frustration over the global prohibition that led to its suppression. He noted, “It was used very successfully for 10 years in psychoanalysis,” but lamented that the 1960s youth movement had appropriated it, leading to its demonization by the establishment. Despite this, he acknowledged that LSD could be dangerous if misused.

As of the latest available information, Hofmann remains alive and well.

Bob Hope, an entertainer born in England, became a beloved American icon through his work in vaudeville, Broadway, radio, television, film, and entertaining U.S. Military personnel. His humorous and good-natured persona, combined with his enduring career, made him a household name.

Hope was born in London on May 29th, 1903, and moved with his family to the U.S. in 1920, at the age of 20. He initially competed in dance and talent contests, earning accolades for his Charlie Chaplin impersonations. His success in these early performances soon led him to roles in various films, theatre productions, and numerous broadcasting programs.

In addition to his commercial endeavors, Hope performed over 60 USO shows over a span of fifty years, entertaining troops during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War. In 1997, an act of Congress signed by President Clinton honored him with the title of “Honorary Veteran”. Hope expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’ve been given many awards in my lifetime — but to be numbered among the men and women I admire most — is the greatest honour I have ever received.”

Hope passed away on July 27th, 2003, at the age of 100.

Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who later became known as Queen Elizabeth, was the wife of King George VI of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions from 1936 until his death in 1952. After his passing, she was referred to as Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, to distinguish her from her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. Prior to her husband's accession to the throne, from 1923 to 1936, she held the title of Duchess of York. She was the last Queen of Ireland and Empress of India.

Born into Scottish aristocracy, she gained widespread recognition in 1923 when she married Albert, Duke of York, the second son of King George V and Queen Mary. As the Duchess of York, she, along with her husband and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, became symbols of traditional values related to family and public duty. She carried out numerous public duties and became affectionately known as the “Smiling Duchess” due to her constant cheerful demeanor in public.

In 1936, her husband unexpectedly ascended to the throne after her brother-in-law, Edward VIII, abdicated to marry his American divorcée lover, Wallis Simpson. As Queen Consort, Elizabeth traveled with her husband on diplomatic missions to France and North America, just before World War II. During the war, her strong and unwavering spirit served as a moral pillar for the British people. Adolf Hitler even called her 'the most dangerous woman in Europe' in recognition of her role in boosting the national morale. After the war, her husband's health began to decline, and she was widowed at the age of 51.

With her brother-in-law living abroad and her eldest daughter now Queen at 26, Elizabeth became the senior royal following the death of Queen Mary in 1953 and took on the role of family matriarch. In her later years, she remained an immensely popular figure within the Royal Family, especially when other members were experiencing lower public approval ratings.

It wasn’t until the illness and subsequent passing of her younger daughter, Princess Margaret, that Elizabeth appeared to show signs of frailty. She passed away just six weeks after Margaret, at the age of 101.

Helene Bertha Amalie Riefenstahl was a German film director, actress, and dancer, renowned for her artistic contributions and innovations in filmmaking.

Born in Berlin to a working-class family on August 22, 1902, Riefenstahl started her career as a dancer before transitioning to acting in silent films. In the early 1930s, she shifted her focus from acting to her passion for directing and photography. Her directorial debut, *Das Blaue Licht* (1932), was met with critical praise and achieved widespread popularity across Germany.

After Hitler rose to power, Riefenstahl became one of his supporters, admiring his oratory skills. In turn, Hitler was a fan of her work and invited her to direct a film documenting the Nazi Party's 1933 Nuremberg rally, titled *Victory of Faith*.

Impressed by the success of her previous work, Hitler commissioned Riefenstahl to direct another film, this time about the 1934 Nuremberg rally, called *Triumph of the Will*. The film utilized groundbreaking cinematography techniques to craft a powerful and uplifting portrayal of the Nazi party. Despite its controversial subject matter, *Triumph of the Will* is still regarded as one of the most significant documentaries and propaganda films ever produced.

In 1936, Hitler enlisted Riefenstahl to film the Berlin Olympic Games. The resulting documentary, *Olympia*, is regarded as one of the greatest sports documentaries ever created, celebrated for its visual beauty and innovative use of the tracking shot, along with numerous revolutionary editing techniques.

During World War II, Riefenstahl stayed in Germany, working on a film adaptation of *Tiefland*, inspired by Hitler’s favorite opera by Eugen d'Albert. However, she fell ill, and the film wasn't completed until 1954.

Although detained after the war, Riefenstahl vehemently denied any involvement in Nazi war crimes or knowledge of them. Her association with the Nazi regime made it difficult for her to secure funding for films in the post-war years, and she faced protests wherever she went. Despite this, she regained some respect as a photographer, particularly in Africa during the 1970s, and later as an underwater photographer. Her final film, *Underwater Impressions*, showcased an idealized portrayal of ocean life and was her first film since *Tiefland*.

Though often accused of advancing Nazi propaganda, Riefenstahl is still admired as one of the greatest directors in history and, alongside Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein, is regarded as a pioneer of modern propaganda cinema.

Leni Riefenstahl passed away on September 8, 2003, at the age of 101.

Source: Wikipedia

Contributed by: JT

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