35 Celebs Who Didn’t Find Fame Until After 35

Some celebrities vault to stardom seemingly overnight. But for other famous personalities, the climb to the top is a long, hard journey.

Young actors get all kinds of praise in Hollywood, but you don't have to be fresh-faced to find success in the entertainment industry. In fact, sometimes having years of experience under your belt leads to an even more impactful career.

While you might think your life is over if you don't find success by 35, these celebrities would say otherwise. Keep scrolling for 35 celebs who didn't find fame until after 35.

(The Office via NBC)

Alan Rickman

Best known as the beloved Professor Snape from the Harry Potter series, Alan Rickman's rise to fame wasn't a straight line. In fact, he started his professional career as a graphic designer. He even opened his own graphic design studio. But at the age of 26, Rickman decided to change his life around and pursue a career in acting. Despite attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Rickman's talents weren't fully recognized until he starred in Die Hard at 42 years old. From there, his career only continued to rise and he took on the role of Severus Snape 13 years later, when he was 55.

(Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone via Warner Bros.)

 

Steve Carell

Steve Carell is best known for his role as Michael Scott on The Office. However, that wasn't Carell's big break. He first found success by starring in the 2005 film The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Soon after that film's release, Carell fully embraced his life-changing role as Michael Scott. At that point, he was 43 years old. After starring in the series for many years, Carell decided to move on and pursue a successful film career.

(The Office via NBC)

 

Betty White

Today, it seems like Betty White is pretty much unstoppable. A beloved figure, fans feel a certain sense of protection over this seemingly perfect woman. But as well-known as Betty White is now, she lived in relative obscurity until she started acting during her 40s. She found her first taste of success at 53 when she won an Emmy for her performance on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. That was all before she starred on Golden Girls, which is considered the biggest project of her career.

(Golden Girls via NBC)

 

Morgan Freeman

Today, Morgan Freeman is one of the top earners in Hollywood. In the rankings, he earned $4.5 billion at box offices throughout his career, earning him the number 7 ranking on the list. But Freeman didn't find success in Hollywood until he was cast in Street Smart in 1987. At that time, he was 50 years old. His performance was so impressive that he scored an Oscar nomination. After that, his career took off.

(via Wikimedia Commons)

 

Jane Lynch

A comedic genius, Jane Lynch landed her first big gig in 2000. She starred in the mockumentary Best In Show and wowed audiences with her performance. At that time, she was 43 years old. She then went on to earn a role in The 40-Year-Old Virgin at 45. Later, she became recognized across the world for her hilarious role as Sue Sylvester on Glee, for which she won a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and a SAG Award.

(Glee via FOX)

 

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford pursued a career in acting when he was young, but he didn't like the roles he was getting. Feeling uninspired and frustrated, he switched gears and focused his attention on becoming a carpenter. He felt the career change was a better opportunity to support his family. But at the age of 35, Ford landed the role of Han Solo in Star Wars. After that, his career took off, making him a household name across the world.

(Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope via 20th Century Fox)

 

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Liam Neeson

While Liam Neeson got his first acting role at 25, he wasn't a big deal in the entertainment scene. After he graduated from college, he took on odd jobs, including a few acting roles here and there. He also worked as a forklift operator and a truck driver. At 40 years old, fifteen years after his first role, Neeson finally got his big break starring in the film Schindler's List. 

(Taken via 20th Century Fox)

 

Stan Lee

Now known as the creator of all things Marvel, Stan Lee first entered the comic book business when he was just 17 years old. However, his role was anything but glamorous. Lee worked as an assistant, largely doing the grunt work for a company called Timely Publications. While he eventually worked his way up to running the department, he was still a behind-the-scenes figure until 1961, when he published his first comic book. At that stage, he was nearly 39 years old.

(via Wikimedia Commons)

 

Viola Davis

In the early part of her career, Viola Davis showed off her acting skills in the theater. While she may have been well-known in some circles, she certainly wasn't a mainstream success. It wasn't until the late 2000s and early 2010s, when Davis was in her early 40s, that she found the celebrity status she enjoys today. Starring in films like Doubt and The Help, Davis proved that she was a true superstar. Her leading role on How To Get Away With Murder solidified her success. Now, she is known as the first black actor to win an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony.

(How to Get Away With Murder via ABC)

 

Samuel L. Jackson

Today, Samuel L. Jackson is an incredibly well-known actor. An established figure in the MCU and an all-around success story, most fans haven't considered that Jackson didn't find fame until much later in life. In fact, Jackson didn't land his first big role until 1991, when he was 43. After that breakout part in Jungle Fever, he vaulted to superstar status when he played Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction. At that point, he was 46. Since then, his career has only been on the rise, making him one of the biggest names in Hollywood.

 

Jeremy Renner

While Jeremy Renner and Hawkeye are one and the same today, Renner wasn't always a Marvel superhero. In the early days of his career, Renner was known for smaller roles that certainly didn't make him a superstar. It wasn't until he starred in The Hurt Locker that he became a big name in Hollywood. At 36, Renner received an Oscar nomination for that role, which truly kickstarted his career.

(The Hurt Locker via Summit Entertainment)

 

Leslie Jones

Leslie Jones is one of the most-loved cast members to ever appear on Saturday Night Live. But before Jones found success on the hit sketch comedy series, she was a relatively unknown stand-up comedian. She landed the job of a cast member on SNL in 2014, when she was 47. In 2018, she was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the series. Her success on the show allowed her to pursue other acting opportunities, including a part in the Ghostbusters reboot.

(Saturday Night Live via NBC)

 

Ken Jeong

Ken Jeong is generally considered to be a huge talent in the comedy world. He starred on the hit series Community and brought the laughs in his role as Mr. Chow on The Hangover film series. But most people don't realize he found fame later in life. His first big role was on the film Knocked-Up, which Jeong landed at 38 years old. Before that, Jeong worked as a doctor. Despite years of schooling, he made the decision to quit being a physician altogether and focus full-time on acting after the success of Knocked-Up. 

(Community via NBC)

 

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Connie Britton

Connie Britton landed a few small parts over the years as she pursued a career in acting. But it wasn't until she was 40 years old that she became a household name through her role on Friday Night Lights. She captured hearts as Coach Taylor's wife and even received two Emmy nominations for her work on the show. When the series ended in 2011, Britton went on to star on the hit series Nashville. 

(Friday Night Lights via NBC)

 

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart is an undeniable success. Through her business ventures, Stewart transformed herself into a lifestyle brand consisting of television shows, cookbooks, kitchenware, and more. But Stewart didn't find stardom until the release of her first book, Entertaining, in 1982. At that point, Stewart was already 41 years old. After that first triumph, Stewart went on to release more than two dozen books, starred in her own TV show, and engaged in numerous other business ventures that vaulted her to superstar status.

 

Jon Hamm

While Jon Hamm is best-known for playing Don Draper in Mad Men, he pursued acting far before landing that role. In the 1990s, Hamm was working as a waiter while auditioning for acting jobs on the side. He had such a difficult time finding work in entertainment that he promised himself he would quit altogether if he didn't land something big by 30. Thankfully, the actor received enough acting jobs by his 30th birthday to keep his dream alive, but he didn't get his big break until he was 37, when he was cast on Mad Men. 

(Mad Men via AMC)

 

Kerry Washington

Much like other actors on this list, Kerry Washington pursued a career in entertainment long before she found mainstream success. Although Washington was cast in a few roles throughout the years, she vaulted to celebrity status when she landed the part of Olivia Pope on Scandal. At that time, Washington was 35 years old. Despite starting her career later in life, Washington is far from done with the entertainment industry.

(Scandal via ABC)

 

Ricky Gervais

The Office is a lucrative television series, both in America and across the pond. Just as Steve Carell found late-in-life success on the American version of the show, Ricky Gervais watched his career take off on the UK's The Office. Not only did Gervais star in the series, but he also co-created it. The show didn't premiere on TV until Gervais was 40. After that initial success, Gervais went on to create and star in other series, including After Life, Extras, and Derek. 

(The Office via BBC)

 

Ty Burrell

Before he starred as the lovable Phil Dunphy on Modern Family, Ty Burrell was primarily a stage actor. He made a name for himself in theater starring in big productions like Macbeth, Coriolanus, Twelfth Night, and As You Like It. It wasn't until he was 42 years old that he booked a leading role on Modern Family. Over eleven years of starring on the series, Burrell transformed himself from a stage actor to a household name.

(Modern Family via ABC)

 

Regis Philbin

Regis Philbin is a recognizable name all over the world. Fans went into mourning earlier this year when the popular TV host passed away at 88 years old. But beloved as he was, Philbin didn't become famous until he was 57 years old. At that time, his first hit TV show, Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee, premiered. The 1988 show was an immediate hit, vaulting Philbin to super-stardom.

 

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Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart first made a name for himself in the entertainment space starring in plays along the British theater circuit. While he found success on stage, his roles didn't earn him worldwide fame. It was until he landed the role of Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation that he became a recognizable face in the entertainment industry. When he first starred in that role, Stewart was already in his 40s. Now, he's reprising the popular character in a CBS All-Access series dubbed Picard. 

(Star Trek: The Next Generation via CBS)

 

Dame Judi Dench

If you think 35 is too old to make a splash in the entertainment industry, you haven't seen anything yet. Dame Judi Dench didn't become a star until she was 61. Before that, Dench embraced her role as a stage actor in England. At 61, she was cast as M in the James Bond film GoldenEye. Just three years after her premiere on the big screen, Dench landed an Oscar for her work on Shakespeare In Love. 

(Skyfall via Sony Pictures Releasing)

 

NeNe Leakes

NeNe Leakes is most commonly associated with the Bravo series The Real Housewives of Atlanta, largely because that's the show that made her famous. Before embracing her role as a housewife, however, Leakes made minor appearances in movies and TV shows. However, these minor roles were never enough to vault her to stardom. It wasn't until she became a housewife at the age of 41 that people started recognizing her. Now, Leakes is one of the most beloved characters in all the many Housewives franchises.

 

Bryan Cranston

Bryan Cranston was the lead character on the hit TV series Breaking Bad. But before he played the dramatic role of Walter White, he rose to fame playing Hal on the comedic series Malcolm in the Middle. When he starred on that series, Cranston was already 44 years old. It was the perfect starting point for the actor that launched him into a prestigious career in both the dramatic and comedic entertainment sectors.

(Breaking Bad via AMC)

 

Wendy Williams

Although she's a household name today, Wendy Williams didn't get her own talk show until she was 44. Before that, she worked as a shock jock in the Virgin Islands, Washington, D.C. and New York City. After starring on The Wendy Williams Show, she was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2008.

 

Kim Cattrall

Kim Cattrall pursued a career in entertainment throughout the '80s, and she found a certain amount of success. She starred in roles on Police Academy, Big Trouble in Little China and Mannequin. However, none of these roles really pushed her into stardom. It wasn't until she landed the role of Samantha Jones on Sex in the City in 1998 that Cattrall became a big deal in Hollywood. When she started her role as Samantha, she was 42 years old.

(Sex and the City via HBO)

 

Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball is often heralded as comedy royalty. But the show that made her famous, I Love Lucy, didn't hit the air until Ball was 40. Once that show found success, Ball spent the next 40 years riding the wave of her fame in shows like Here's Lucy, Life With Lucy, and The Lucy Show. Although she started later in life, Ball had a prestigious career that most stars would envy.

 

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Helen Mirren

Much like other British actors, Helen Mirren started her career on stage, starring in plays in London's West End. In 1994, when she was 49 years old, Mirren made her way across the pond and starred in shows on Broadway. A few years later, now in her 50s, Mirren made the switch to the big screen. But she didn't establish her acting prowess fully until she won an Oscar for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen. When she won the award in 2006, Mirren was 61 years old.

(Catherine the Great via HBO)

 

Kathryn Bigelow

Kathryn Bigelow directed the 2009 movie The Hurt Locker. The film made her an overnight success, and she became the first woman to win an Academy Award for directing. When she came on board the film, she was 57. At that time, Bigelow had already directed a few other films, though none found the same level of success as The Hurt Locker. By winning the award, Bigelow aligned herself with other A-list filmmakers. It didn't matter that it took her a few years to get there.

 

Julia Child

Much like Martha Stewart, Julia Child was another star who established her celebrity through her lifestyle brand. Despite rising in popularity for her best-selling cookbooks, Child was bad at cooking in her 30s. She started her career as a copywriter, but her journey was interrupted by World War II. In 1948, after the war ended, Child decided to attend the famous Cordon Bleu cooking school. She wrote her first cookbook at 50 years old and launched a new career as a famous chef in 1961.

 

Billy Bob Thornton

When Billy Bob Thornton first pursued a career in acting, he had a hard time finding any success. In fact, his career was struggling so much that Thornton had to take two jobs, one in telemarketing and one in fast food, just to support himself between roles. In 1996, however, everything changed. At 41 years old, Thornton wrote, directed, and starred in Sling Blade. The film established Thornton as a real talent in the entertainment world and kicked off a successful film and television career.

 

Ang Lee

Before he directed big films like Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi, Ang Lee was a simple stay-at-home dad. After spending years with his kiddos, Lee decided to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time director at age 38. Despite being late to the game, Lee soon became an Oscar-winning director after his films hit the big screen.

 

Kathy Bates

While Bates floated around the entertainment industry for years, she certainly wasn't a recognizable face. That is, until she landed a role in the creepy adaptation of Stephen King's novel Misery. At that time, she was 42 years old. For her work on that film, Bates won an Oscar for Best Actress. She's now a well-known figure in the entertainment industry and has even taken on other creepy roles, including a part in American Horror Story. 

 

Joy Behar

Joy Behar is best known as one of the outspoken hosts of The View. Before that, however, Behar was just a simple stand-up comedian. She pursued her career with fervor, but didn't become a household name until she landed a spot on The View panel. At the time of her casting, she was 54 years old.

 

Melissa McCarthy

If you were a fan of Gilmore Girls, then you obviously knew Melissa McCarthy. She starred as the lovable chef Sookie, the best friend of Lorelai Gilmore. However, McCarthy didn't get the recognition she deserved, despite her place as a joyful character on the series. It wasn't until she starred in Bridesmaids that McCarthy found superstar success in the entertainment industry. Since then, she went on to star in many movies, cementing her place as a talented comedic actor. She's so popular that it barely registers in fans' minds that she was 41 during her appearance in Bridesmaids. 

(Bridesmaids via Universal Pictures)

 

Want to know more about your favorite celebs? Click HERE for 35 celebrities you never knew were left-handed.