Nonagenarians Trivia Quiz

Answer: Carl Reiner

"2,000 Year Old Man" is a comedy recording performed by Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks in the 1960s. Reiner was born in the Bronx, New York in 1922. He was a comedy writer in the early days of television, writing for "Caesar's Hour", "Your Show of Shows" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show", where he played Rob's boss, Alan Brady. Carl is also the father of director (and "meathead") Rob, and the husband of Estelle ("I'll have what she's having").

Answer: Betty White

Betty White is one of America's national treasures. She was born in Illinois in 1922, and has had a career which spans eight decades. In 1953 she starred in her own TV comedy show "Life with Elizabeth". She was married to "Password" guru Allen Ludden from 1963 until his death in 1981. Betty has shined in roles like Sue Ann Nivens, Rose Nylund and Elka Ostrovsky, and provided us with a body of work which will never be equaled.

Answer: Angela Lansbury

Another great dame of stage, screen and television is the incomparable Angela Lansbury. She was born in London, England in 1925, and made her film debut in the 1944 film "Gaslight", where she made an indelible impression as Nancy, the maid. She appeared in other 1940s movies including "National Velvet", "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The Harvey Girls". My favorite role was her portrayal of the evil Mrs. Eleanor Shaw Iselin in "The Manchurian Candidate" in 1962.

Answer: Larry Storch

Actor and comedian Larry Storch was born in New York, New York in 1923. He was the voice of Phineas J. Whoopee on "Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales" from 1963 to 1966. Storch may be best known for his role as Corporal Agarn on the sitcom "F Troop" about a bunch of bumbling soldiers at a remote Army outpost. The show aired from 1965 to 1967, giving us the phrase "We're the Hekawi".

Answer: Dick Van Dyke

If you're old enough, you may remember the wonderful "Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961-1966) featuring Dick as comedy writer Rob Petrie. He became a household name. Dick was born in Missouri in 1925. After his success as Rob, he went on to the less successful "New Dick Van Dyke Show" in the 1970s, and "The Van Dyke Show" in the 1980s. From 1993 to 2001, Van Dyke played Dr. Mark Sloan, a crime-solving doctor.

But I still think of him as Bert, the chimney sweep with the bad accent, in "Mary Poppins" (1964).

Answer: Joyce Randolph

Who would have thought that Joyce Randolph would outlive her "Honeymooners" colleagues? Joyce was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1924. Her resume is short but distinguished. "The Honeymooners" aired for just one year, i.e., 1955 to 1956, with only 39 episodes filmed. Those shows would change the face of television forever, with Randolph playing Trixie Norton, wife of Ed (Art Carney) and neighbor of Ralph and Alice Kramden (Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows).

Answer: Tony Bennett

Singer Tony Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, but he was born in Queens, NY in 1926. He fought in the later stages of World War II before signing with Columbia Records and releasing his first number one hit "Because of You" in 1951. Two years later, Tony recorded the hit song "Rags to Riches", for which he became known prior to his signature song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" in 1962.

He also paints under his birth name, Anthony Benedetto.

Answer: June Lockhart

Who could forget the first mother on "Lassie" or Dr. Maureen Robinson, matriarch on "Lost in Space"? Both roles were portrayed by June Lockhart, born in New York City in 1925. June comes by her talent genetically, as her father, Gene Lockhart, was a character actor in films like "A Christmas Carol" in 1938. June's resume is a "Who's Who" of TV, and includes a stint on "General Hospital" from 1984 to 1998, "Beverly Hills, 90210", "Petticoat Junction" and so much more.

Answer: Jane Withers

Child actress, model and singer Jane Withers was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1926. Although she was one of the most popular child stars of the 1930s and 1940s, she may be better known today for her Comet commercials where she appeared as 'Josephine the Plumber'. Jane began acting at three years old. Among her earlier films are: "Bright Eyes" in 1934 (with Shirley Temple), "Ginger" (1935) and "Paddy O'Day" (1936).

Answer: Gene Shalit

Film critic Gene Shalit was born in New York, NY in 1926. Aside from his critiques on films and books, he is also known for his bowties, fuzzy hair and somewhat bizarre handlebar mustache, which makes Dali's upper-lip hair look sensible. Gene first appeared full-time on "The Today Show" on NBC in January, 1973, and retired in November, 2010. Shalit's criticisms were witty, to the point, and filled with puns and plays on words.

Answer: David Attenborough

Broadcaster, director and natural historian Sir David Attenborough was born in the United Kingdom in 1926. He is the younger brother of the acclaimed actor Lord Richard Attenborough. David is known for his television shows on the environment. In 2019, he won a Primetime Emmy as narrator of an episode of "Our Planet", and in 2018 he won for his narration of an episode of "Blue Planet II".

Answer: Cicely Tyson

The remarkable actress Cicely Tyson was born in Harlem, New York in 1924. She often broke through racist stereotypes to play strong, independent, black women. I can still remember Tyson playing opposite George C. Scott in a powerful early TV drama "East Side/West Side".

She has appeared in films such as "Sounder", "The Help" and "Fried Green Tomatoes" but, for me, her portrayal of a slave who becomes part of the civil rights movement in 1974's "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" was unforgettable.

Answer: Prince Philip

In the 21st century, everyone seems to concentrate on the age of Queen Elizabeth II, seemingly forgetting that Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is five years her senior. Philip was born in Corfu, Greece in 1921, into Danish and Greek royal families. His family was exiled from Greece when Philip was an infant.

He was educated in Europe and joined the British Royal Navy in 1939. Philip first met Elizabeth in 1934, but they didn't start corresponding until 1939 (when she was thirteen). They were married in November 1947.

Answer: Eva Marie Saint

Actress Eva Marie Saint was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1924. She first came to fame with her appearance in 1954's "On the Waterfront" where she played opposite Marlon Brando, and won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role. Among her other movies are: Alfred Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" (1959), as Clark Kent's mother in "Superman Returns" (2006) and "Winter's Tale" in 2014.

Answer: Norman Lear

I couldn't leave out one of my favorite nonagenarians, i.e., the wonderfully creative, pioneering writer, director and producer, Norman Lear. Lear was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1922. After his military service as a radio operator in World War II, he became a writer on the CBS show "Honestly, Celeste!" in 1954.

The show was cancelled after eight episodes but Norman was undeterred and went on to create some of TV's best comedies, e.g., "All in the Family" and "Maude".