I watched Jackie Brown yesterday and noticed Robert Forester, who played Max Cherry, as a younger version of himself compared to the show I had just seen him in. Do you know what show? The 2nd to last episode of Breaking Bad. He was the man who stashed Walt away in Vermont and played cards at the end. Anyway, he looked a lot younger in 1997 and as time goes on, old people who you see in old movies will eventually pass. I came up with a few that I didn’t know if they were dead or not but after some research, came up with this list.
 

Living or Dead?

Gene Wilder

How can you forget Willy from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? He was also in Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein which are Mel Brooks productions. He’s 80 years of age and is still getting roles. He continues to receive critical acclaim, and is regarded as one of the most appealing comedic actors of the second half of the 20th century.

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Willy Wonka: But Charlie, don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted.
Charlie Bucket: What happened?
Willy Wonka: He lived happily ever after. [/blockquote]

 
Frances Bay

She passed in 2011 and wasn’t known for as much as I would have assumed. Other than Happy Gilmore’s grandmother, she was in a Seinfeld episode “The Rye”, she played Mabel Choate, an irritable old woman from whom Jerry steals a loaf of marbled rye bread. She was actually my inspiration for this post.

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Grandma: Sir, can I trouble you for a glass of warm milk? It helps me go to sleep.

Ben Stiller: You can trouble me for a warm glass of shut-the-hell-up! Now, you will go to sleep! Or I will PUT you to sleep. Check out the name tag. You’re in MY world now, grandma!

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Roberts Blossom

Everyone must remember him from Home Alone as the scary, then nice neighbor. Frankly he scared the shit out of me as a youngster. He was also Ezra Cobb in Deranged, a low-budget movie that has since become something of a cult film and is based on the life of Ed Gein. He passed in 2011 and will forever be remembered in Home Alone.

[blockquote source=””]Buzz: Check it out. Old man Marley. You ever heard of the South Bend Shovel Slayer? That’s him. In ’58 he murdered his whole family and half the people on his block… Been hiding out in this neighborhood ever since.”
Kevin: “If he’s the shovel slayer, how come the cops don’t arrest him?”
Buzz: “Not enough evidence to convict. They never found the bodies. Everyone around here knows he did it. It’ll just be a matter of time…”[/blockquote]

 
Darren McGavin

The Old Man in A Christmas Story was a perfect portrayal of fatherly figures all around the US. Let’s not forget he was also Billy Madison’s dad. He also won an Emmy for his role in Murphy Brown. He passed in 2006 but had an illustrious acting career starring in dozens of movies and plays.

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Mr Parker : Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian.

Mrs. Parker : Uh, I think that says FRAGILE, dear.

Mr. Parker : Oh, yeah.

[/blockquote]

 
Alec Guinness

Perhaps obvious to some since he passed in 2000 but Alec will never be forgotten for his portrayal of Obi Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars films. He was also Fagin in Oliver Twist which should bring back some memories. Throughout the 50’s he was always one of the most popular British actors.

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Darth Vader:Your powers are weak, old man.
Obi-Wan: You can’t win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.[/blockquote]