From the glamour of Hollywood royalty to the rock and roll outlaws of the music scene, there are countless iconic stars who, despite their untimely deaths, continue to inspire and captivate us today. What if these legendary figures were still alive? How old would they be if they were still here today? Read on for a look into what age each of these icons would be if they were alive right now.
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model, and pop culture icon and has been called the world’s most iconic sex symbol. When she passed away in August 1962, Monroe was only 36 years old. If she were still alive today, she would be 95 years old.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley was an American singer, songwriter, and actor, who is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in popular culture. He sadly passed away in August 1977 at the age of 42. If he were still alive today, he would be 85 years old.
James Dean
James Dean was an American actor who, despite a short acting career and an untimely death, is still regarded as an icon of teenage disillusionment and the ‘epitome of the American rebel’. Dean passed away in September 1955 at the age of 24. If he were still alive today, he would be 89 years old.
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy was an American politician and the 35th President of the United States. Kennedy was tragically assassinated in November 1963, just three years into his presidency, at the age of 46. If he were still alive today, he would be 107 years old.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was an American civil rights leader who was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement in the 1960s. He was assassinated in April 1968 at the age of 39. If he were still alive today, he would be 95 years old.
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool, who went on to become one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. By the time all four members passed away, John Lennon (December 1980, age 40), Paul McCartney (June 2020, age 77), George Harrison (November 2001, age 58) and Ringo Star (February 2020, age 81) had, respectively, lived to see a total of 156 years between them. If all four members were still alive today, they would be aged 109 (Lennon), 80 (McCartney), and 83 (Harrison and Star).
John Wayne
John Wayne was an American actor and filmmaker, who had a career spanning over five decades during which he appeared in over 175 films. Wayne passed away in June 1979 at the age of 72. If he was still alive today, he would be 118 years old.
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, who rose to fame as the frontman of iconic grunge band, Nirvana. His untimely death in April 1994 at the age of 27 immortalized Cobain as a symbol of youth culture and alternative rock. If he were alive today, he would be 50 years old.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana was a member of the British Royal Family and, following her divorce from the Prince of Wales, is known as the ‘People’s Princess’. Diana passed away in August 1997 at the age of 36. If she were alive today, she would be 59 years old.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger is an English singer, songwriter, and musician who, as the frontman of rock band The Rolling Stones, is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential rock stars of all time. Jagger is now 77 years old, but if he had passed away in his early years, he would have been 64 years old.
The contribution of these music and film icons has helped shape the cultural landscape of today, and their legacies continue to be celebrated in modern popular culture. Whether they would have been able to achieve all the same incredible feats had they been alive today is something we will never know, but it’s fascinating to imagine what age these legends would be if they were still here today.