They have been inspirations to millions and yet, many are nowhere to be found these days. The 70s was a decade full of colorful personalities that put their unique stamp on pop culture. How are your favorite 70s stars looking, years later?
Lynda Carter – Then
Lynda Carter made her name when she prevailed at the Miss World USA pageant in 1972, winning the grand prize for Arizona. She followed up her pageant days by beginning an acting career, for which, she made her professional debut in Nakia in 1974. She may have gotten her start in a police drama, but it was being cast as Diana Prince in 1976 for the televised series, Wonder Woman, that detailed Prince’s superhero adventures that made Carter a bonafide star.
Lynda Carter – Now
Lynda Carter had no intention of disappearing after Wonder Woman ended, and has been working consistently since then. Carter took her talents to Broadway in 2005, when she took a turn in the role of Mama Morton in the long running revival of Chicago, the musical on which the 2003 film was based. The actress and musician went on tour in an act she titled An Evening with Lynda Carter in 2007. Most recently, she’s appeared in the TV show, Supergirl.
Stefania Sandrelli – Then
Stefania Sandrelli started working in the film industry at just 14-years-old, and soon landed her first major role in the film, Divorce Italian Style. Her performance in this film was such a hit with producers in the industry, that the Italian born actress was considered a star and featured in Bernardo Bertolucci’s drama films such as The Conformistand1900. Sandrelli was in such high demand over the years that she also appeared in French productions during her career.
Stefania Sandrelli – Now
Stefania certainly enjoyed her success over the years but decided to take time away from the limelight in recent years. While she does act occasionally, she is also still being awarded for her works and contribution to the film industry. She was honored with the Golden Lion for her Lifetime Achievement at the 62nd Venice International Film Festival in 2005. Away from acting, she has turned her focus to her long-lasting marriage with Italian singer Gino Paoli and their daughter, actress Amanda Sandrelli.
Catherine Bach – Then
Bach may be most commonly known for her iconic role as the gorgeous Daisy Duke on series The Dukes Of Hazzard, but many people do not recognize that her start was actually in the movie The Midnight Man. Bach’s role as Daisy Duke was so famous that she reportedly had her toned legs insured for one million dollars! When The Dukes Of Hazzard came to an eventual close, she starred in African Skies as well as other small movies to keep herself in the industry.
Catherine Bach – Now
Bach will forever be remembered as the original Daisy Duke but for the actress, those outfits are long gone. These days, Bach focuses on acting as well as her own business ventures, including her own line of jewelry which is available for purchase at department store Debenhams. In her acting, Bach guest-starred on TV series Monk and took on a cameo in comedy You Again. In 2012, soap opera, The Young and the Restless came knocking and wanted Bach to appear.
Sally Field – Then
Sally Field first hit the big time with her role in the 60s sitcom Gidget. Although the show was canceled after the first season, it put Field on the map and she was able to get work with ABC. She ended up getting a bit role in the show, The Flying Nun. Nevertheless, it took a whole decade before Field became a household name. It was her role in 1976’s Sybil, which truly made her an acting tour-de-force, winning an Emmy Award for the role in 1977.
Sally Field – Now
As a result of Field’s breakout roles in the 70s, she found it extremely easy to nail down work in the future decades. Another one of her most iconic performances came when she starred alongside Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit. However, it was 1979’s Norma Rae which most casual fans will remember her for. As a result, Hollywood hits such as Mrs. Doubtfire and Forrest Gump would follow. Her most recent notable role in the hit series Brothers and Sisters.
Cybill Shepherd – Then
Before enjoying a respectable career in acting, Memphis, Tennessee native Cybill Shepherd started off as a model. After winning Miss Teenage Memphis, Shepherd’s career took off with a role in 1971’s The Last Picture Show. She received rave reviews for her performance and was even nominated for a Golden Globe. The following year saw her star alongside Charles Grodin in The Heartbreak Kid. It wouldn’t take long before she tried her luck in a career in music, releasing her album Cybill Does It…To Cole Porter.
Cybill Shepherd – Now
The 70s saw Cybill Shepherd nail down some high-profile roles. One of her most notable roles came in the Roberto De Niro-led Taxi Driver. After this, she made a smooth transition from movies to the theater. A decade later, Shepherd would eventually make her return to Hollywood and ended up in ABC’s Moonlighting. She ended up winning a Golden Globe for the role and eventually earned Shepherd her own TV show, Cybill. She is now known for having starred in the TV show The L Word.
Meryl Streep – Then
After graduating from Yale, Meryl Streep found her first job in theater across from Mandy Patinkin and John Lithgow. After years as a stage actress, she found inspiration to become a film star after seeing Taxi Driver. Robert De Niro would eventually help her get her first major role as De Niro’s girlfriend in The Deer Hunter. She earned an Oscar nomination for her performance and never looked back. She would eventually earn a total of 20 Oscar nominations.
Meryl Streep – Now
Meryl Streep is truly one of a kind. No one comes close to her amount of Oscar nominations, leading Katharine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson by eight. She won her first trophy in 1979 for Kramer vs. Kramer, winning two more for Sophie’s Choice and The Iron Lady. She has had plenty of memorable roles from Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada to Karen Blixen in Out of Africa. Her trophy case is quite packed, and she is not done bringing home hardware.
Susan Dey – Then
Susan Dey made her television debut in the hit 70s TV show, The Partridge Family, where she played daughter, Laurie Partridge. The show ran between 1970 and 1974, during which time, Dey found herself earning several other roles here and there, though she was kept quite busy with The Patridge Family and its various spin off projects. Between 1986 and 1992, Dey was the star of the TV procedural drama, L.A. Law.
Susan Dey – Now
At 63, Susan Dey has retired from life as an actor after over 30 years in front of the camera. Though she continued to work steadily throughout the 80s and 90s with roles in shows like Love & War, as well as the TV movie Whose Child Is This? The War For Baby Jessica, Dey decided by the early years of the new millennium that she had had enough. Her last TV appearances were in the show Third Watch, which were released in 2004.
Alison Arngrim – Then
Alison Arngrim developed a reputation for being both a child actress and a child model. The talent also ran in the family, since Alison mother, Norma MacMillan, was a voice actor on animated shows like Casper the Friendly Ghost. In 1974, Arngrim burst onto the scene at 12 years of age with a role on Little House on the Prairie. What made her role as Nellie Oleson so interesting was that it was new type of character – the 70s bad girl.
Alison Arngrim – Now
Ultimately, Alison didn’t enjoy her time on Little House on the Prairie looking back. She described it as “like having PMS for seven years.” However, that wasn’t the only show she ended up on. Appearances on shows such as The Love Boat and Fantasy Island came before she became a standup comedian. Her next big career move came when she portrayed the daughter of Jimmy Carter, Amy Carter, in her comedy album. Alison has also been involved with AIDS awareness.
Jodie Foster – Then
Jodie Foster may still seem relatively young today, but this is mainly because she has been in the acting business since she was basically a toddler. Her first TV appearance came at three years old in a TV commercial. Although her brother Buddy was actually auditioning for a role, the casting agents saw something special in Foster. In 1976, when she was just a teenager, Foster ended up in 1976’s classic movie by Martin Scorsese, Taxi Driver. 12-year-old Foster starred alongside Robert De Niro in the classic movie.
Jodie Foster – Now
After her incredible performance in Taxi Driver, Foster received an Academy Award nomination. This would result in an illustrious career full of unforgettable roles. Just a few years later, she played the role of Clarice Starling in the critically acclaimed Silence of the Lambs, which earned her another Academy Award. Some of her more recent roles have come in movies such as the Spike Lee-produced Inside Man, which she starred in alongside Clive Owen and Denzel Washington. This was followed by a role in the Matt Damon-led Elysium.
Cher – Then
The one and only Cher hails from El Centro, California and burst onto the music scene with her musical partner Sonny Bono. At the time, the duo were also husband and wife and reached commercial success with their debut single “I Got You, Babe.” The 70s saw the pair host their own show The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, which had a weekly viewership of 30 million people. Cher stood out from other musicians because of her far-out dress sense.
Cher – Now
Now in her 70s, Cher’s star never stopped shining. Her career in music continued with hits like Half-Breed, Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves, and Dark Lady. Cher became so big that she eventually landed her own Las Vegas show. She reportedly drew up to $330,000 a week for the show. She eventually meandered into an acting career, winning an Academy Award for her role in Moonstruck. In 2013, Cher released Closer to the Truth, her first album in 12 years. She went back on tour in 2017 for the Classic Cher tour.
Barbra Streisand – Then
Stars generally do not shine as bright as Barbara Streisand. Alas, the Brooklyn born singer and actress rose from near homelessness to become one of the most multitalented individuals on earth. Streisand was one of the most successful female recording artists in the business at the close of the 70s. At the time, only Elvis and the Beatles sold more records than her. She was working at a theater when she caught on to a rumor about an audition for singers, which prompted her interest in singing professionally.
Barbra Streisand- Now
Barbara Streisand is so successful that she is a member of the prestigious EGOT club, having won a Grammy, Emmy, Tony, and Oscar. Of course, Streisand does not have only one of each trophy. She has 10 Grammy Awards, five Emmy Awards, and two Oscars. In addition, she has earned multiple Peabody Awards and was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor. She became the first woman to write, direct, produce, and star in a film in Yentl.
Talia Shire – Then
Talia Shire was born into what would become a powerful film family. Her first major role was in her brother Francis Ford Coppola’s instant classic The Godfather. Shire was nominated for an Oscar for her reprisal of the role in its sequel in 1974. Shire would be unable to escape her next role as she would become attached to one of the greatest film franchise of the 70s and 80s. As Adrian Pennino, the girlfriend/wife of Rocky Balboa, Shire became etched in film history.
Talia Shire – Now
Shire showed up as Adrian in four more sequels to the original Rocky as well as the third installment of The Godfather. Talia continued to act but not in roles of that magnitude. Now, she has the pleasure of watching her son Jason Schwartzman, and her nephew Nicholas Cage carry on the family’s legacy as movie stars. Most recently, Talia appeared in the directorial debut of her son Robert in Dreamland (2016). Her son Jason also starred in the film.
Ellen Burstyn – Then
Ellen Burstyn began her career as a stage actress on Broadway in the late 50s. She eventually began working with Lee Strasberg’s famed The Actors Studio. Seven years after enrolling at The Actors Studio, Burstyn won a Tony for lead actress in Same Time, Next Year. After Oscar nominations for The Last Picture Show and The Exorcist, Burstyn finally heard her name called, winning for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her career was just getting started too.
Ellen Burstyn – Now
Burstyn eventually earned her own television show, although The Ellen Burstyn Show was canceled after one season. In 2000, Burstyn appeared in one of her darker roles as Sara Goldfarb in Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream. She was nominated for another Oscar for the strong performance. She became the center of an Emmy controversy in 2006 for her Emmy nomination for Mrs. Harris. She only appeared in the TV movie for 14 seconds and had 38 words of dialogue.
Olivia Newton-John – Now
After Grease, Newton-John gave her career a makeover similar to that of her character Sandy. Her albums became a bit edgier and poppy and became massive hits. Her album Physical went double platinum and the title track stayed atop the Billboard Hot 100 list for ten weeks. She still tours to this day, mostly in the United States and Australia. In 2012, Newton-John teamed up with John Travolta for a Christmas charity album. In 2015, she charted a single on the Dance Club Songs chart with her daughter.
Rene Russo – Then
The blonde bombshell graced the covers of fashion magazines such as Vogue and Cosmopolitan before transitioning into film during the late 80’s. Russo’s film debut was in 1989 when she appeared on the big screen in the comedy film, Major League in 1989. She later starred in the 1990 film, Mr. Destiny, and her breakthrough role came when she was cast in the film Lethal Weapon 3, where she played a strong, female assassin.
Rene Russo – Now
After spending time gracing the big screen, Russo took a brief break from acting in 2005. Fortunately, she returned and starred in Thor in 2011 as Frigga, Thor’s mother. She returned to the same role in the sequel Thor: The Dark World two years later. In 2015, Renee appeared in the hit comedy film, The Intern and, showing no signs of slowing down, she appeared alongside Morgan Freeman in the 2017 film, Just Getting Started.
Pam Dawber – Then
Pam Dawber appeared in many sitcoms during the early days of her career but is best known for her role in Mork and Mindy alongside Robin Williams. The Detroit born actress originally moved to New York to make it as a model and appeared in a number of television commercials during this time. However, her breakthrough role came when she starred as Mindy, and this led her to appear in sitcoms such as My Sister Sam in 1986, where she played the role of Samantha Russell.
Pam Dawber – Now
The wife of Mark Harmon has continued to act and be involved in several projects alongside her actor husband. Dawber has also been busy as the spokeswoman for the Big Brothers and Sisters of America over recent years. She reunited with her former co-star, Robin Williams, in 2014 when they appeared on the comedy show, The Crazy Ones, and she played Williams’ love interest on the show. She also made a surprise guest appearance on The Odd Couple,, in an episode which was in tribute to Garry Marshall.
Candace Bergen – Then
Candace was born into a star-studded household since her mother was a famous model. Bergen followed in her footsteps by starting her career as a model and landed herself the cover of Vogue magazine, but then landed her film debut in 1966 in the movie The Group. Her acting career accelerated from then on and she was in movies such as The Sand Pebbles, Soldier Blue, and The Wind and the Lion, Carnal Knowledge.
Candace Bergen – Now
It seems that Bergen was even more in demand as the years went on, and the actress went on to star in a few episodes on HBO’s popular series, Sex and The City. Candace also appeared in films such as Sweet Home Alabama, Miss Congeniality, The Women, and Bride Wars. Having starred on Broadway in the past, she returned in 2010 to the revival shows of plays such as The Best Man and Love Letters.
Lily Tomlin – Then
Lily Tomlin may be known for her acting roles on screen, however, she started out her career as a stand-up comedian. Her breakout acting role came when she performed on the variety show Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In in the 70s. In 1974, Tomlin appeared in her first film where she portrayed Linnea Reese in Nashville. Her film debut role won her several awards and nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Lily Tomlin – Now
Having started her acting career in the 70’s, Tomlin is still no stranger to the film and television industry and continues to act. She currently stars on the Netflix series, Grace and Frankie, as Frankie Bergstein, and stars alongside popular actress, Jane Fonda. The award-winning actress had been awarded three consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2015, 2016, and 2017 for her performance as Frankie. Tomlin has appeared in films such as Huckabees (2004) and Grandma (2015).
Glenn Close – Then
Glenn Close is an award-winning actress who rose to fame in the 70’s for her stage performance of Love for Love. No stranger to the silver screen, Close made her film debut in 1982 when she appeared in The World According to Garp, for which she was nominated an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She earned the same nomination for her supporting roles in The Big Chill (1983) and The Natural (1984), and was nominated an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Fatal Attraction (1987).
Glenn Close – Now
Glenn Close continues to act to this day and appeared in films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and The Wilde Wedding. She is, of course, well known for her portrayal of Cruella de Vil in the Disney hit and ultimate classic, 101 Dalmatians. This role earned Close a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy. While Close has won many awards, she has also had more Oscar nominations without a win than any other living actor.
Joni Mitchell – Then
Joni Mitchell is considered one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and won an alliance of fans for her hit song, “Big Yellow Taxi.” After releasing her 70s album, Blue, Rolling Stone. rated this record as one of the best albums of all time. AllMusic stated: “When the dust settles, Joni Mitchell may stand as the most important and influential female recording artist of the late 20th century”. She has also won an impressive nine Grammy Awards.
Joni Mitchell – Now
Joni Mitchell has been a huge influence on many artists today including Ellie Goulding, Katy Perry, and Corrine Bailey Rae due to her incredible talent. In 2003, Rolling Stone labeled Joni the “72nd greatest guitarist of all time,” but by 2007, Joni released her last studio album titled Shine. Sadly, in 2010 Joni admitted she has Morgellons syndrome, an “incurable disease” as she called it, and in 2015, Joni suffered an aneurysm at home but after being hospitalized, she healed at home and gained strength.
Louise Fletcher – Now
Despite her success, nothing was more important to Fletcher than her family and after giving birth to her sons, she decided to take an 11-year hiatus from acting. At 83-years-old, Fletcher is still acting and in 2009, she appeared in in the NBC series Heroes as the physician mother of character Emma Coolidge. In addition, in 2011, Fletcher returned to screens in the hit series Shameless. To this day, Fletcher shows no signs of slowing down in her career.
Aretha Franklin – Then
After signing a record deal in 1960, Aretha Franklin quickly became known for her powerhouse voice and catchy songs which were all the rage in the 70’s. Her songs Respect, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, and Think brought her a huge amount of success, 112 charted singles on Billboard including 77 Hot 100 entries, 17 top ten pop singles, 100 R&B entries and twenty number-one R&B singles, becoming the most charted female artist in the chart’s history.
Aretha Franklin- Now
Aretha Franklin has left an incredible legacy, selling 75 million records worldwide and landing a place on most Greatest Artist Of All Time lists. At 75-years-old, Franklin continues to perform to thousands every night on tour and is still recording new songs. In addition to her music, Franklin received an honorary degree from Harvard University in 2014 as well as honorary doctorates from Princeton University in 2012, Yale University in 2010 and Brown University in 2009.
Karen Lynn Gorney – Then
Karen Lynn Gorney first gained fame when she starred in the iconic Saturday Night Fever alongside John Travolta in 1977. The film was arguably one of the best classics of all time and put the actors on the map. Following her performance, Gorney went on to take on guest-roles on TV shows including Law & Order, The Sopranos and Six Degrees. However, Gorney did not see the same success after the movie as Travolta.
Karen Lynn Gorney – Now
After her prime years, Gorney took a hiatus from acting and when she returned, things weren’t as successful. In recent years, Gorney ventured out of acting an into singing and went on to release three albums: Used to Love You Madly, Hot Moonlight!, and The Dance of the Deadly’s. In addition, she crossed the pong to appear on British Talk show Loose Women in 2007 to promote the anniversary of Saturday Night Fever. Following this, she appeared in stage productions in New York.
Patti Smith – Then
Patti Smith was an influential singer in New York City in the punk rock movement with her 1975 album Horses. Moreover, Smith was widely known for her infusion of poetry in her work and her most famous song was Because In The Night which was co-written by Bruce Springsteen. The song reached number 13 on the charts in 1978 and was an integral moment for Smith as it allowed her to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
Patti Smith – Now
In 2010, Patti ventured out of music and her memoir Just Kids won her the National Book Award. In 2012, Smith provided the lead vocals on Red Hot Chilli Peppers bassist’s debut solo album, proving that she still has her amazing vocals. In 2013, Smith had the honor of meeting Pope Francis and The Vatican announced that Smith would play at the Concerto di Natale, the official Vatican Christmas Concert, on December 13, 2014. Smith also provided vocals on The Hunger Games movie soundtrack.
Diana Ross – Then
Diana Ross rose to fame as the lead singer of powerhouse group The Supremes during the 1960s and became Motown’s most successful stars. Ross was instrumental in paving the way for other African American artists to maintain mainstream success. The group went on to release a ground-breaking twelve hit singles which reached the number one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the 1970s, Ross left the group to start her solo career and saw huge success with all of her songs and albums.
Diana Ross – Now
Diana Ross has some of the most iconic and memorable songs of all time, leading her to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Through her time with The Supremes, combined with her work as a solo artist, Ross has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, earning her a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. In December 2016, Billboard magazine named Ross “the 50th most successful dance artist of all time.” At 73-years-old, Ross still performs today.
Susan Anton – Then
Susan Anton was known as a blonde bombshell and competed in a number of beauty pageants in the late 1960s. Moreover, Anton appeared in a number of commercials for “Serta’s Perfect Sleeper mattress,” and was a recognized singer for product jingles. After taking on approximately 30 appearances on Merv Griffin’s TV shows, she was given her own show together with country singer Mel Tillis. Her 80s single “Killin’ Time” took a spot on the country charts.
Susan Anton – Now
Despite being a main feature around the 1970s, Susan hasn’t pumped the breaks at all when it comes to her career. Anton hosted the “Great Radio City Hall Spectacular” in Las Vegas for 5000 shows and had several roles on TV series including Baywatch and Law and Order in 1990. In addition, Anton’s most recent movie Sharkanado: The 4th Awakens. Although the movie was not received well, she still has a love for acting. Susan resides in Las Vegas with her second husband.
Farrah Fawcett – Then
Farrah Fawcett was the blonde bombshell that everyone had plastered over their walls. Fawcett got her start in commercials and small roles in television series until she was recognized by big time producers. In 1976, she won the role of Jill Munroe on famed series Charlie’s Angels which made her a superstar. With the likes of her infamous red swimsuit and flowing blonde hair, everyone wanted to be like Fawcett and she was one of the biggest stars of the 70’s.
Farrah Fawcett- Now
Following her stint on Charlie’s Angels, Farrah moved on to movies and appeared in Dr. T & the Women, as well as a Broadway production of Bobbi Boland. Following this, Fawcett took on roles in popular series’ including Ally McBeal and Spin City as well as The Guardian which earned Farrah her third Emmy nomination in 2004. Sadly, Farrah’s life was cut short and after a battle with cancer, Farrah passed away in 2009, leaving an incredible legacy behind her.
Nancy McKeon – Then
Nancy McKeon first began acting in commercials, and it was her luck that other producers liked what they saw after she appeared in a commercial for Hallmark greeting cards. McKeon is gifted with the ability to cry on command, which can be important for emotionally driven acting roles. It was that skill that helped her land her most famous role to date, Jo Polniczek in the hit sitcom, The Facts of Life.
Nancy McKeon – Now
None of Nancy’s other projects quite took off like The Facts of Life, McKeon still made a number of TV and film appearances throughout the years. Some of her acting gigs were TV shows Can’t Hurry Love, as well as Style & Substance, The Division. She was also in the show Sonny with a Chance between 2009 and 2010, one of her most recent roles. Acting seems to run in the family, as McKeon’s brother has also appeared in front of the camera.
Morgan Fairchild – Then
Morgan Fairchild made her first credited acting performance in 1973, when she joined the cast of Search for Tomorrow as Jennifer Pace. Her profile continued to rise as an actress throughout the 1970s and 1980s after she starred in both Dallas and Flamingo Road. Fairchild played Constance Weldon Semple Carlyle in Flamingo Road between 1980 and 1982.
Morgan Fairchild – Now
In recent years, Morgan Fairchild became known to younger audiences after she appeared in the 90s breakout sitcom, Friends, as Chandler Bing’s mom, Nora Bing. Fairchild has continued acting, with credits in dozens of TV shows and movie throughout the years, while also serving on the board of the film actor’s union, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. In 2017, Fairchild appeared in several episodes of Days of Our Lives where she played Anjelica Devereaux.
Barbara Bach – Then
Barbara Bach shot to stardom after she appeared alongside James Bond in The Spy Who Love Me. Bach played Anya Amasova, one of the many Bond girls to appear in the film series over the years. It seems that Bach was drawn to the world of private investigation as she played a spy in her own right when she was cast a Maritza Petrovic, star of the movie Force 10 from Navarone.
Barbara Bach – Now
Barbara Bach is not the only woman who also became famous for who she married. Bach became Mrs. Ringo Starr when she tied the knot with the Beatles superstar in 1981. The two kept their nuptials simple, marrying in a small civil ceremony. Surprisingly, the couple have managed to stay together. Starr has said, “I think I love Barbara as much [today] as I did [when we met], and I’m beyond blessed that she loves me and we’re still together.”
Tamilee Webb – Then
Tamille Webb stands out from the rest of her 70s star cohorts because she gained fame after releasing a series of workout videos. Webb’s videos became increasingly popular, especially due to the clever names she coined for the different videos, which included both Buns of Steel and Abs of Steel. Webb was primed to become a hot commodity as fitness videos became the item du jour of the 1980s in the United States.
