Famous White Haired Actors and News Personalities

When they were in their 20s or 30s, the like of Channing Tatum and Ryan Gosling were seen as “great eye candy,” but at the end of the day, nothing can surpass the elegance, glamor, and character of handsome white-haired or salt and paper hair men who get better with age.

“There’s just something about a mature man who not only looks amazing, but also seems like he’d always be on time with his mortgage payment,” said Jess Catcher of Woman’s World.

Like wine that tastes fine as it ages, we can’t deny that these white-haired celebrities, male actors and news personalities are gorgeous to look at.

Like clockwork, it will always dawn on us that men will arrive in another level of hotness as they reach a certain age. Interestingly, having white hair is not only a matter of style but also a matter of choice as they manage to embrace the inevitable in terms of their age. 

Looking at the most famous Hollywood models, actors, and news personalities around, we can find that many have managed to embrace the transition to salt and paper or full white-haired men.

“Silver foxes are among the sexiest older men on the planet. A bit of gray streaked into a full head of hair on a man with weathered good looks? Swoon,” added Ranker’s Carly Kiel.

List of famous white-haired actors and news personalities

1. Anderson Cooper

When he was in his 20s, American TV personality Anderson Cooper was sporting ashy hair. When he was in his 30s, he slowly got his salt and pepper hair color, and now in his 50s, he already missed his brown hair as it now turned white.

Anderson Cooper, born on June 3, 1967 in New York City, New York, U.S.A., belonged to an illustrious family in New York City. 

He is the son of writer Wyatt Emory Cooper and heiress Gloria Vanderbilt. In 1989, Cooper finished his B.A. in political science from Yale University. In 1990, he was employed as a fact-checker for Channel One News. As a news personality, Cooper traveled to Southeast Asia for various stories and features, including the political upheaval in Myanmar.

In 1994, Cooper became part of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). From a reporter, Cooper was hired as a co-anchor for the World News Now, ABC’s overnight news edition. Cooper then joined the channel’s reality show, The Mole, as its host. In 2001, he became part of CNN as a reporter until he finally hosted his own news program Anderson Cooper 360°. He received commendations and awards because of his integrity, dedication, and passion for his journalistic works.

2. Jay Leno 

Jay Leno in 2019

Jay Leno is a famous American host of late-night talk show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, starting in 1992.  Before becoming famous in his shows, Leno previously worked in some nightclubs.

In 1995, Leno was able to beat David Letterman’s show for the Emmy awards. Leno is known for his white hair, high-pitched voice, and a large chin. He was raised in Andover, Massachusetts. 

He is the son of Angelo Lino and Catherine Muir. His paternal grandparents were from Italy. When he was a kid, Leno had dyslexia. In his 5th-grade report card, his teacher wrote: “If Jay spent as much time studying as he does trying to be a comedian, he’d be a big star.”

He graduated at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, in 1972. Leno and his wife, Mavis, have no children following a mutual decision. On the other hand, Leno loves classic motorcycles and cars.

He is one of the select few who owns McLaren F1 supercar. Leno is also a super fan of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Patrick Rondat.

3. George Clooney

George Clooney in 2016

As a humanitarian, activist, and multi-awarded actor, George Clooney is known for his salt and pepper hair. This style adds to his appeal at Hollywood. Born George Timothy Clooney on May 6, 1961, in Lexington, Kentucky, Clooney has German, English, and Irish ancestry. 

Clooney spent most of his time in Kentucky and Ohio during his younger years. He finished his secondary studies at Augusta High School. During his student years, Clooney was active in basketball and baseball. He even tried out for the Cincinnati Reds. However, he was not offered a contract.

Clooney’s TV shows and movies include E/R (1984), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), One Fine Day (1996), Batman & Robin (1997), Out of Sight (1998), The Thin Red Line (1998), Three Kings (1999), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), The Perfect Storm (2000), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), Ocean’s Twelve (2004), Ocean’s Thirteen (2007).

His first director’s role was in the film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002). He bagged his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Syriana (2005). From 1989 to 1993, Clooney was married to actress Talia Balsam. He married lawyer and activist Amal Clooney in 2014.

4. Steve Martin 

Steve Martin at MerleFest in 2010

Steve Martin was born on August 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas, USA. He grew up in Inglewood and Garden Grove in, California. Before becoming a famous actor, musician, producer, and comedian, Martin previously worked at the Magic shop of Disney’s Fantasyland in 1960.

Martin garnered numerous awards, including five Grammy’s, Primetime Emmy’s, and an Honorary Academy Award.

He received the Kennedy Center Honors,  AFI Life Achievement Award, and Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Martin became part of the list of 100 greatest stand-up comics by Comedy Central in 2004.

5. Richard Gere

Richard Gere at a United States House of Representatives member party on December 6, 2017

American actor and humanitarian worker Richard Gere was born on August 31, 1949, in Philadelphia. Gere is the second of five children of a homemaker and an insurance salesman, both descendants of Mayflower.

Before becoming an actor, Gere was into music and gymnastics. He left college to pursue his dream of acting. He then landed in some musical shows and other plays before he started his movie career.

His Hollywood movies include American Gigolo (1980), An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Pretty Woman (1990), and Runaway Bride (1999), among others. In 1991, Gere was selected by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. In 1999, he was picked as the magazine’s  Sexiest Man Alive.

Furthermore, Gere is also a successful music writer and pianist. For many years, Gere has been a big supporter of a global non-governmental organization, “Survival International”. Gere is also known around the globe as a prominent personality in advertising campaigns for charity works.

6. Jon Stewart

Tracey Stewart, Jon Stewart Photo courtesy of Anthony Turner, Montclair Film Festival

Born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz in New York City, New York, USA, Stewart moved to Lawrenceville, New Jersey, during his childhood years.

In 1984, he finished his studies at the College Of William And Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He had his first role on the Larry Sanders Show (1992). His role as host rose to stardom when he hosted the Daily Show (1996)/Comedy Central in the 2000s.

In his TV show, Stewart was known for his sardonic humor. He talked about news and politics while injecting his sarcasm and sharp wit in between.