Some famous people play a big part in the world's history as we know it. In other words, we are pretty sure the world would not be the same if it was not for them. Paradoxically, the iconic role of such people - in making history - tends to affect our perception of them. We might inadvertently forget the possibility of a live human being outliving the era of which they became a symbol. In such a way, famous people might surprise you by being your contemporaries. This very question was addressed by the Redditor Enginearz, asking: "What famous person from history is still alive?" Numerous comments helped to bring to mind the names of people who made history and are still with us as of 2023.
More info: Reddit
#1
Mumwifealcoholic said:
Ruby Bridges - she was one of the first black kids to go to an all-white school. There is a famous picture of that first day.
Ruby Bridges - she was one of the first black kids to go to an all-white school. There is a famous picture of that first day.
awkward873 said:
She wasn't one of the first, she was the first.
She wasn't one of the first, she was the first.
Copeteles commented:
[The girl was the first] in the USA.
[The girl was the first] in the USA.
MrsAshleyStark said:
Everyone seems to think that the civil rights movement and all events surrounding it were centuries ago because all the photos we’re shown are in b&w. Ruby is only 68.
Everyone seems to think that the civil rights movement and all events surrounding it were centuries ago because all the photos we’re shown are in b&w. Ruby is only 68.
VulfSki said:
Yeah, people really forget how recent that was. Same with slavery. On the scale of human history that just happened, and we still see the lingering effects today all over the US for sure.
Yeah, people really forget how recent that was. Same with slavery. On the scale of human history that just happened, and we still see the lingering effects today all over the US for sure.
HarmonicWalrus said:
Just to add, her teacher Mrs. Henry is still alive too! She's 90 years old now.
Just to add, her teacher Mrs. Henry is still alive too! She's 90 years old now.
239points
#2
random_username_96 said:
Jane Goodall and David Attenborough
Jane Goodall and David Attenborough
spudsnacker agreed:
Without these two, there are no nature documentaries
Without these two, there are no nature documentaries
DJ1066 commented:
Sir David Attenborough. The man’s a knight. Call him what he is.
Sir David Attenborough. The man’s a knight. Call him what he is.
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169points
#3
Ashtar-the-Squid commented:
John Hemingway: The last surviving airman of the battle of Britain. He is 103 years old.
John Hemingway: The last surviving airman of the battle of Britain. He is 103 years old.
Ivan Martynushkin: He helped with the liberation of Auschwitz. He is 99 years old.
Benjamin Ferencz: He was a prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials. He is 102 years old.
Gothmom85 replied:
I hate that people who survived, helped, or fought against the Holocaust are now slowly almost gone from this planet. With all the denial out there, it legitimately worries me.
I hate that people who survived, helped, or fought against the Holocaust are now slowly almost gone from this planet. With all the denial out there, it legitimately worries me.
Along with enraging me. I was privileged to take care of many survivors as a CNA in a Jewish facility. Several of which suffered from dementia. Let me tell you, the days or nights when the disease forced them to relive that horror were the toughest I ever faced, just trying to help them through it. I wish there was a way to take that fear and pain and force any denier to experience it instead. They were, each in their own way, some of the kindest, sweetest and most patient people I've ever met. I know of one who's still living and sharing her story and you couldn't ask for a better human being.
fshrbg said:
Ben Ferencz was just given a congressional gold medal.
Ben Ferencz was just given a congressional gold medal.
160points
#4
valeyard89 commented:
Keith Richards cannot be killed with conventional weapons
Keith Richards cannot be killed with conventional weapons
RbrCanty said:
There's a funny article from the onion about Keith Richards' maid being mentally prepared to find his body everyday since 1976.
There's a funny article from the onion about Keith Richards' maid being mentally prepared to find his body everyday since 1976.
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158points
#5
MaybeMabe1982 commented:
Mel Brooks!
Mel Brooks!
Ekoldr said:
That man is sharp as a tack at his age. I hope he stays with us for much longer.
That man is sharp as a tack at his age. I hope he stays with us for much longer.
TroutforPrez commented:
Right on, just wrote that up, his influence through examining some s**t we do, and helping us learn by owning the absurdity through laughing is priceless, man’s a savior.
Right on, just wrote that up, his influence through examining some s**t we do, and helping us learn by owning the absurdity through laughing is priceless, man’s a savior.
125points
#6
Back2Bach said:
Jimmy Carter - 98 years old
Jimmy Carter - 98 years old
Most_Basic_Takes commented:
Yeah well Scooby doo can do-do, but Jimmy Carter is smarter
Yeah well Scooby doo can do-do, but Jimmy Carter is smarter
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113points
#7
aslrules said:
Julie Andrews.
Julie Andrews.
dazzlinreddress said:
She's a musical legend
She's a musical legend
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110points
#8
CaptinDerpI commented:
How the hell is Ozzy Osbourne still alive
How the hell is Ozzy Osbourne still alive
hayster said:
And still making music
And still making music
19Claudio commented:
He is going on a world tour soon. His new album is quite good and his most recent live performances were good. Not as good as in his prime time with Black Sabbath, but he definitely didn't lose his creativity despite as he has gone through a lot.
He is going on a world tour soon. His new album is quite good and his most recent live performances were good. Not as good as in his prime time with Black Sabbath, but he definitely didn't lose his creativity despite as he has gone through a lot.
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104points
#9
HMKingHenryIX said:
Paul and Ringo
Paul and Ringo
A_Man_Who_Writes commented:
Which is crazy to think about. Two pioneers of modern music are still alive. Two guys who influenced virtually every musician since, and by extension influenced all of popular culture. You can see them, talk to them, touch them, etc.
Which is crazy to think about. Two pioneers of modern music are still alive. Two guys who influenced virtually every musician since, and by extension influenced all of popular culture. You can see them, talk to them, touch them, etc.
YouGoThatWayIllGoHom said:
Only slightly germane to the topic at hand, but the Paul McCartney and Wings album "Band on the Run" contains a song called "Picasso's Last Words."
Only slightly germane to the topic at hand, but the Paul McCartney and Wings album "Band on the Run" contains a song called "Picasso's Last Words."
The lyrics are indeed what are thought to be Picasso's last words, but that's not the part that hit me.
What hit me was that it was a contemporary tribute. The song was recorded in the fall of 1973. Picasso died in April 1973.
When I saw that I was like "wow I was at least 100 years off," lol ... We tend to think of famous artists as coming from forever ago since their work is so timeless.
But, like, I remember the day Salvador Dali died (1989). He had a Pacemaker. That's ... Very Much Modern.
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102points
#10
ChrisTinnef commented:
Traute Lafrenz, the last living member of the German anti-Nazi resistance group "White Rose" (most well-known members were the siblings Sophie and Hans Scholl, who were executed by the Nazis when they were identified).
Traute Lafrenz, the last living member of the German anti-Nazi resistance group "White Rose" (most well-known members were the siblings Sophie and Hans Scholl, who were executed by the Nazis when they were identified).
StockingDummy added:
She went on to have a long career in medicine and she's now retired in South Carolina.
She went on to have a long career in medicine and she's now retired in South Carolina.
Successful-Pea3309 commented:
103 years old! That's interesting.
103 years old! That's interesting.
OldGodsAndNew said:
On the flip side, I've been trying to find out if there are any Nazis still alive. Helmut Oberlander, Gerhard Sommer and Oskar Groening all died in the last 5 years and were probably the last surviving officers/military officials, but there's at least 1 woman - Irmgard Furchner - who was a concentration camp secretary and just got found guilty a month ago.
On the flip side, I've been trying to find out if there are any Nazis still alive. Helmut Oberlander, Gerhard Sommer and Oskar Groening all died in the last 5 years and were probably the last surviving officers/military officials, but there's at least 1 woman - Irmgard Furchner - who was a concentration camp secretary and just got found guilty a month ago.
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99points
#11
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Last human to hold the title of Tsar, as leader of the Kingdom of Bulgaria. He was exiled along with his family when the Soviets invaded Bulgaria in 1944. In 1990, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Simeon returned from exile to Bulgaria and July 2001, was democratically elected prime minister. The private citizen is now 85.
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97points
#12
William Shatner doesn't look it but that dude is in his 90s wth
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97points
#13
Willie Nelson, he’s pretty much the snoop dog of country music cause he is known to smoke a f**k ton of weed
blueboxpolice commented:
Known to be the only person to make Snoop say, "Nah, man I've had enough"
Known to be the only person to make Snoop say, "Nah, man I've had enough"
In reference to smoking weed.
TheOneHundredEmoji said:
That is a little reductive as he is a legendary talent in his own right but you aren't wrong about the weed thing.
That is a little reductive as he is a legendary talent in his own right but you aren't wrong about the weed thing.
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97points
#14
psontake commented:
Lech Walesa
Lech Walesa
wufoo2 said:
Gold medalist in geopolitics
Gold medalist in geopolitics
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90points
#15
Harrison Ruffin. Who? He’s John Tyler’s grandson. John Tyler the 10th president of the US’ grandson.
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84points
#16
Odd_Adhesiveness4804 said:
Clint Eastwood and Dick Van Dyke
Clint Eastwood and Dick Van Dyke
RedstoneRay said:
The whole crew from Unforgiven is still alive: Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, and Gene Hackman.
The whole crew from Unforgiven is still alive: Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, and Gene Hackman.
Ccaves0127 said:
Dude works like a racehorse. He makes like two movies a year and he's f*****g over 90 years old.
Dude works like a racehorse. He makes like two movies a year and he's f*****g over 90 years old.
Apparently, his grandfather lived to the age of 92 so when Clint's dad died in his 50s it shook him to the core and motivated him to just work his ass off
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82points
#17
mukaltin commented:
Buzz Aldrin, and I’m not even American
Buzz Aldrin, and I’m not even American
the_digital_merc said:
I ran sound for him during a speaking event he did back in the early 2000s. He gave me a set of wings. I was like 22. Coolest thing ever.
I ran sound for him during a speaking event he did back in the early 2000s. He gave me a set of wings. I was like 22. Coolest thing ever.
xenedra0 commented:
I was at an event for pilots a few years back and he came waltzing in with his son - sat down at the table right next to me. It was so surreal. Even more surreal was watching his son trying to make him behave, like he was a child. For example, Buzz wanted to throw a frisbee he had across the room and his son had to keep knocking his hand back. Seems he's only still here physically speaking, not so much mentally anymore :(
I was at an event for pilots a few years back and he came waltzing in with his son - sat down at the table right next to me. It was so surreal. Even more surreal was watching his son trying to make him behave, like he was a child. For example, Buzz wanted to throw a frisbee he had across the room and his son had to keep knocking his hand back. Seems he's only still here physically speaking, not so much mentally anymore :(
77points
#18
snowflake247 said:
Yuri Oganessian. He's the only currently living man with an element on the periodic table named after him.
Yuri Oganessian. He's the only currently living man with an element on the periodic table named after him.
controlc-controlv said:
Oganesson
Oganesson
mfb- commented:
Element names are likely "forever" - his name will be in chemistry and physics books for as long as we have books (printed, digital or otherwise).
Element names are likely "forever" - his name will be in chemistry and physics books for as long as we have books (printed, digital or otherwise).
74points
#19
The_REAL_McWeasel commented:
Sophia Loren is still kicking.
Sophia Loren is still kicking.
Additional_Meeting_2 said:
She starred in a movie couple of years ago too which got Oscar buzz even if not a nomination. I think her son directed it.
She starred in a movie couple of years ago too which got Oscar buzz even if not a nomination. I think her son directed it.
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70points
#20
SENDCUTECATPICS said:
Carol Burnett.
Carol Burnett.
MissHibernia said:
She was just featured on Finding Your Roots
She was just featured on Finding Your Roots
dangler001 said:
Took me a little while to recognize her in Better Call Saul
Took me a little while to recognize her in Better Call Saul
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66points