It\u2019s an unspoken\ntruth in Hollywood: if you\u2019re over the age of fifty, you should probably\nconsider looking for work elsewhere. Of course, there are always exceptions to\nthe rule, but in their constant quest to remain relevant, directors often look\nfor younger, fresher, talent to fill their roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Age is often\nseen as a liability, and Hollywood is no exception. One study<\/a> found that among all 25 of the Best-Picture nominated movies from 2014-16 (1,256 speaking roles), only 148 characters were seniors. Only 33 were senior women. And when characters are<\/em> cast in speaking roles, they are likely to play into stereotypes and be subject to ageist jokes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How do we confront this? What\u2019s an aging actor to do? Well, they could follow the Laurence Fishburne<\/a> model. The talented actor got his big break in 1979 when he appeared in Apocalypse Now<\/em> at just 17. He\u2019s managed to stay in the spotlight ever since, appearing in blockbuster action films as The Matrix <\/em>and John Wick <\/em>series and cult classics like Kings of New York<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n