In an age where social media followers can define your level of coolness, it's refreshing to see celebrities who have earned their stripes from decades upon decades of talent, kindness and zeal. On March 25, 2017, Sir Elton John turns 70 years old and joins an impressive list of celebrities who continue to define what being cool is really all about. How cool is Elton? Well, for starters, he's friends with Eminem, and in 2016, he collaborated with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on their song "Sick Love." Frontman Anthony Kiedis said he "fanboyed" out upon meeting the "Rocket Man." "As soon as he touched the piano, it was magical. You try not to be a fanboy, but it IS Sir Elton John," Anthony told The Sun. "He talked about everything and was really cool… It's a real honor for us to have him on the record." Keep reading to see other celebrities in their 70s, 80s and even 90s who continue to prove that age is just a number and that being legitimately cool has nothing to do with your social media following (although some of these guys have that too!).
Al Pacino: Born April 25, 1940
If we didn't put "Scarface" himself on this list, we'd all be in trouble. Al Pacino has been lighting up the big screen forever, but his role as Tony Montana in "Scarface" has made him a god of sorts to a lot of rappers. On the 20th anniversary edition of the "Scarface" DVD, Diddy claimed he'd seen the movie 63 times. Al's girlfriend, Lucila Sola, certainly knows that age doesn't define her man, as she's 39 years his junior.
Jack Nicholson: Born April 22, 1937
They don't get much cooler than Jack Nicholson, do they? The longtime actor is actually known as "Mr. Cool." A fixture on the sidelines at Los Angeles Lakers games, Jack is often sought out by young athletes who simply want to shake his hand. Jack's also one of the few people who can wear sunglasses indoors and get away with it.
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Harrison Ford: Born July 13, 1942
Harrison Ford was Indiana Jones, Han Solo and he's played the president of the United States. He also survived a plane crash in real life. How much more do you need? Seriously, you want to how cool Harrison is? He once punched Ryan Gosling's oh-so-handsome face while filming a movie and got away with it because, well, he's Harrison Ford. How he made amends with Ryan is even better. "He came by afterward with this bottle of scotch and I thought, 'Oh, I knew this was coming,'" Ryan told GQ. "And he pulled out a glass from his pocket, poured me a glass, and walked away with the rest of the bottle. So I guess he felt like he didn't connect enough to earn a whole bottle… They say don't meet your heroes, but I would say the addendum to that is '…unless they're Harrison Ford.'"
Sylvester Stallone: Born July 6, 1946
Sylvester Stallone is proof that being kind never goes out of style. He's regarded as one of the nicest folks in Hollywood, which is ironic for a guy who's biggest role was as a fighter. The industry cheered when he took home a Golden Globe in 2016 because of his talent, but also because everyone loves him. Even when it comes to fans, Sly is a good guy. He once spoke about the respect he has for fans who approach him on the street. "It takes a certain amount of guts to come up and if you tell those people to go away, I mean you've scarred them, you've burnt them," the "Rocky" star told Hollywood Outbreak. "If you say you're a nice guy, then you gotta walk the walk."
Robert Redford: Born Aug. 18, 1936
They don't really get more acclaimed than Robert Redford. Time magazine once branded the actor one of the "Most Influential People in the World," declaring him the "Godfather of Indie Film." Robert is the founder of the annual Sundance Film Festival, an event that lures a literal who's who of Hollywood and is the biggest indie film festival in the United States. He also has a Presidential Medal of Freedom. As he was approaching his 50th birthday three decades ago, he told Today, "I can't relate to age. And I think so much is in the mind anyway. I don't really think much about it. I suspect I should, but I don't."
Clint Eastwood: Born May 31, 1930
Clint Eastwood is so cool that you've almost forgotten about that time he once talked to an empty chair on stage at the 2012 Republican National Convention (something he later said he regretted). The man who played Dirty Harry has won five Oscars, all for his work behind the camera. He's earned the respect of the younger A-listers too. Clint attended the 2015 Oscars with Bradley Cooper (Clint directed "American Sniper," in which Bradley starred). "The fact that I'm here with Clint Eastwood, I can't believe it," Bradley said. Emma Stone was equally smitten, saying she "might faint" if the cinema legend introduced himself to her.
Paul McCartney: Born June 18, 1942
Sir Paul McCartney is in a league of his own — after all, he was a freaking Beatle! Paul is a living god and no one could present a lucid argument that stated otherwise. He's still cranking out music and Sir Paul has even recorded a song with Kanye West and Rihanna. In 2016, he played a gig at a biker bar two hours outside of Los Angeles in front of 300 people. Go on with your bad self, Mr. McCartney!
Mick Jagger: Born July 26, 1943
Mick Jagger knows he's on the rock'n'roll Mount Rushmore. The Rolling Stones frontman continues to run all around the stage as he tours with his iconic group. People of all ages travel near and far to see his band. Hopefully, he stays young at heart for a long time, because he recently became a new father again — for the eighth time — at the age of 73!
Keith Richards: Born Dec. 18, 1943
Much like his band, there is no stopping Keith Richards. The Rolling Stones guitarist is infallible. There once was a false story in 1973 that claimed he had a blood transfusion to swap out his drug-infused blood for clean blood. Keith said it's false, but has admitted that he helped spin the rumor out of humor. "Some things get better with age," he once said, "like me." Game. Set. Match. Keith Richards.
Goldie Hawn: Born Nov. 21, 1945
"I don't remember the first time I didn't love her!" Those are the words of Amy Schumer about Goldie Hawn. For generations, Goldie has been a top name. It's hard to find a single time when Goldie wasn't loved or fawned over by, well, everyone. That's actually how she got cast in 2017's "Snatched" opposite Amy. "I met her on an airplane a couple of years ago and told her there's a movie I really want to make with her," Amy told the Los Angeles Times. "And she was very nice. 'Okay, honey.' She probably thought I was a psycho. 'Okay, crazy person.' Then I'd meet her at different things, saying, 'We're making this movie together,' and I think, eventually, some people got in her ear and told her I wasn't crazy, that I make things."
George Takei: Born April 20, 1937
George Takei is still the coolest geek around. The "Star Trek" alum is a beloved fixture on Facebook and Twitter. His quirky humor and constant devotion to fighting for equality is something people love about George. He even has is own line of emojis. He also appeals to the over-50 crowd with a YouTube show called "Takei's Take," which is an original AARP web series. In the series, George explains technology. Sulu, we salute you.
Lily Tomlin: Born Sept. 1, 1939
One of the funniest women of the millennium, Lily Tomlin can do it all, and she still is, as she stars opposite her longtime pal Jane Fonda in "Grace and Frankie." She earned Emmy nominations for her work on the series in 2015 and 2016. Lily is great in basically everything she does, but she really shines in comedy. One of her best lines: "I've always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific."
Sean Connery: Born Aug. 25, 1930
Perhaps no one is cooler or smoother in cinema than James Bond, which, by default, makes Sean Connery one dapper, dapper man. The man has been knighted by the queen! Polls have named him "Scotland's Greatest Living National Treasure." In 1999 when Sean was 69, People magazine dubbed him the "Sexiest Man of the Century." Sir Sean doesn't try to be cool, he just is.
Michael Caine: Born March 14, 1933
In 2013, the upscale Classic Driver magazine blasted out a headline that read, "Is Sir Michael Caine the coolest man on the planet?" Granted, it's subjective, but prove otherwise. Go ahead, we'll wait. Michael has played a womanizer, a crook, a secret agent, Batman's butler and slew of other fascinating people. He's flexed his funny bone in "Austin Powers" and is known to make fun of his own voice, which is often imitated, never duplicated. Those who know him will tell you that he's also one of the classiest guys around.
Betty White: Born Jan. 17, 1922
Betty White is a national treasure. The "Golden Girls" star has enjoyed a Hollywood career that's lasted for more than 70 years and she's still just cruising along. You could argue that she's a bigger star now than ever before and that her appeal spans generations. In 2009, some millennial audiences were introduced to her when she starred opposite Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in the comedy "The Proposal," an underrated film. She was in a Super Bowl commercial the following year for Snickers. She parlayed that into a gig hosting "Saturday Night Live." And, if you haven't seen the GIFs of her dabbing, you haven't lived.
Dolly Parton: Born Jan. 19, 1946
Being thoughtful and generous are traits we should all strive to have. Enter Dolly Parton. In 1995, the singer and actress founded the Imagination Library, a program that mails children age-appropriate books every month from birth till their fifth birthday. Never mind the fact that Dolly is a full-blown brand in and of herself (music, movies, theme parks, etc.), this shows you the kind of heart she has. She's also quite funny, as her friends will tell you. Before the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards, she was asked about performing with Katy Perry that day. "It's a country music show, and I am Dolly," she said. "But anyway, we're doing a little medley of some things. We won't be stripping or anything."