Gen Z’ers and Millennials can’t stand most celebrities, but Boomers actually love these 10 celebrities. Why? Because they grew up with them and they are familiar to them, so they really don’t understand why their younger counterparts don’t like the same things that they do. The moral of this story? Just because something was popular decades ago doesn’t mean it will ever be popular again. So take heed, Gen Z’ers and Millennials—look past your parents’ favorite celebrities if you want to be cool!
1) Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston has been an A-list actress since the 1990s and is known as one of Hollywood’s best-loved leading ladies. Not only was she a part of the Friends cast, but she has starred in many different movies throughout her career.
Aniston is also a huge part of many boomers’ lives and they couldn’t love her more for it. She’s had a successful marriage to Brad Pitt and even though their divorce might have left some people sour, it’s not stopping the older generation from loving her.
Gen zer’s are not too keen on Aniston though, with many thinking that she is overrated and out-of-date.
2) Will Smith
Smith’s work spans a variety of genres, including action, comedy, and drama. He has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Smith was known as the King of Rap for his success with rap music. According to Newsweek, he was the most powerful actor in Hollywood in 2005. The next year, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He has received four Emmy Awards, three Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award.
3) Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock is a highly acclaimed American actress, filmmaker and activist. Born in 1964, she has starred in a variety of roles from romantic comedies to action films. She has been nominated for four Academy Awards and was the recipient of the 2009 Cecil B. DeMille Award for her work in Hollywood. Sandra made her name playing high-strung characters who find themselves in precarious situations and working their way out with panache. Her most famous movie roles are those of Sandy Olsson from ‘Speed’, Dr Ryan Stone from ‘Gravity’, and Lucy Kelson from ‘Miss Congeniality’.
4) Tom Hanks
One of the best-known Hollywood actors is Tom Hanks. A baby boomer, this man was born on July 9th, 1956, and has been a part of our lives for over thirty years. He is best known for his roles as Forrest Gump (1994), Chuck Noland (2000) and Robert Langdon (2006). He also appeared in You’ve Got Mail (1998), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Philadelphia (1993) and Turner & Hooch (1989). More recently he has done voice work as Woody in Toy Story 3 (2010) and Cars 2 (2011). He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for Philadelphia in 1993, which he shared with Denzel Washington.
5) Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts is an actress and producer of films who was born and raised in America. Her film roles include Erin Brockovich (2000), Mystic Pizza (1988), The Pelican Brief (1993) and Sleeping with the Enemy (1991). Her father was of Welsh descent and her mother had Scottish ancestry. She was born in the Georgia town of Smyrna to B.B. and Walter Roberts. One of her maternal great-great-grandfathers, Ira Bredemus, was also one of the first African Americans to enroll at West Point and graduate second in his class. As a child, Roberts wanted to be a ballet dancer but she grew too tall. When her acting career began in the late 1980s, she became famous as an actress after appearing on Broadway as Celie in The Color Purple and playing Amelie by herself onstage. She has been awarded three Golden Globe Awards for her work as an actress. two for Erin Brockovich (2000) and Mona Lisa Smile (2003); one for Pretty Woman (1990).
6) Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington is a 77-year-old actor and director best known for his roles in the movies Philadelphia, Glory, Training Day, and Malcolm X. His films have grossed over $2.5 billion worldwide and he’s been nominated for three Academy Awards. Not to mention, he’s married to Pauletta Pearson since 1989. In fact, Denzel is one of the few actors who has won an Oscar as well as a Tony Award. In 2005, Time Magazine named him one of the world’s most influential people. Clearly, this guy is a force to be reckoned with.
7) Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood is a Hollywood icon. He has starred in more than 50 films and directed over 30 more. It’s no wonder that he’s been an American treasure for so long. Clint Eastwood is loved by the generation that grew up with him and those who are old enough to remember seeing him on TV or in the movies as a kid. Gen Z’ers, on the other hand, see Clint Eastwood as old-fashioned and too stuffy for their tastes. The fact that he doesn’t really have a presence online doesn’t help either. Sure, we may have all watched his movies when we were younger but now we’re older and smarter (or at least think of ourselves that way).
8) Meryl Streep
There is no doubt that Meryl Streep is one of the greatest actors of all time. The three-time Oscar winner has been captivating audiences for decades with her performances in films such as The Devil Wears Prada and Julie & Julia. She’s also starred in more recent hits, including the 2016 film Florence Foster Jenkins, which tells the true story of an heiress who pursued a dream to become an opera singer. And don’t forget about her Golden Globe Award-winning performance in The Iron Lady. It’s been years since Meryl was last seen on screen but we can only hope she’ll return soon!
