Celebrities Who Died Just Before Turning 100

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Around 100 years ago, only 150 people in England and Wales could say they had celebrated their 100th birthday, per The Telegraph. By 2023, the number of people in England and Wales who had celebrated their centenarian birthday went up to a whopping 14,850, according to the Office for National Statistics. Additionally, Boston Medical University notes that 2021 statistics compiled by the Population Division of the United Nations showed that an estimated 89,739 people (0.027% of the U.S. population) were centenarians. 

Even that small portion showed that the number of centenarians had doubled over the past two decades. Over the years, many celebrities came incredibly close to joining that small but growing section of the population. Sadly, they missed the milestone by just a couple of months. Needless to say, living to 99 is no easy feat, either. J.P. Morgan's 2024 Guide to Retirement estimated that a 65-year-old man had a 21% chance of living to 90 and a 65-year-old woman had a 33% chance of celebrating the milestone birthday. To join that small group, many celebrities have consistently adopted healthy habits throughout their lives. 

According to Harvard Health Publishing, the building blocks of nutrition, regularly exercising and eating a nutrient-rich diet, could go a long way toward longevity. On a similar note, staying hydrated, having a good sleep schedule, limiting alcohol, and quitting smoking could also greatly benefit longevity. Now, there's no denying that many celebrities who have made it to 99 have followed many of these practices. However, their stories have hinted that there may be more to longevity than the basics.

Betty White passed away at the age of 99 in December 2021, only a few weeks before her 100th birthday. During a January 2018 Parade interview, Betty White said the key to staying young forever was simple: "Enjoy life." The "Golden Girls" star strongly believed that everyone would be better off looking for the positives in their life, rather than zeroing in on the negative. 

Notably, even studies have revealed that optimists may actually live longer. While discussing longevity with Yahoo! in January 2017, White strongly urged people to keep their minds occupied as they aged and to shake off the belief that the world revolves around them.

Zsá Zsá Gabor passed away in December 2017, about two months short of her centenarian birthday. In the "Moulin Rouge" star's 1991 book "One Lifetime Is Not Enough," she wrote that her positive thinking had helped her overcome many challenges in life, explaining, "I have always been able to survive by telling myself that no matter how bad things are, they will one day be better." 

With that mindset, Gabor was able to find the silver lining in just about every curveball life threw her way. The iconic socialite endured numerous health struggles through her life and even had chronic dementia in the final five years of her life, per People.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, passed away at the age of 99 in April 2021, almost exactly two months before his 100th birthday. According to The Telegraph, when the late royal's 90th birthday rolled around in 2011, royal expert Ingrid Seward explained that he had remained spry in his older years because he had prioritized physical activity throughout his life and stuck to a nutrient-rich diet. 

Philip's preferred forms of movement reportedly were horseback riding, walking, and an 11-minute workout program called the 5BX Plan. Notably, a 2026 study in The Lancet found that even five minutes of physical activity could lead to a 6% reduction in total deaths in a study population.

99-year-old Bob Barker passed away in August 2023, about four months shy of his centenarian birthday. Speaking to The Vegetarian Times in October 2012, Barker said that two things had kept him healthy enough to host "The Price is Right" in his late 80s: regular exercise and a vegetarian diet. 

The iconic game show host was notably one of the many '70s icons who ditched meat before it was trendy and became a vegetarian in the '70s. Over the years, Barker had also experimented with numerous forms of movement, including karate, strength training with lighter weights, and bodyweight exercises.

June Foray died in July 2017, only about two months short of her milestone 100th birthday. During a 2013 interview with the Los Angeles Times, "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends" voice actor was asked why she continued working into her 90s. "It's fun to work," the iconic voice actor replied. "Thank goodness. I don't have to work." 

However, she didn't shy away from admitting she also liked making money. Notably, a 2017 study in Geriatrics & Gerontology International found that women who continued working in their older years were less likely to require long-term care and face cognitive decline that impaired daily activities than those who did not.

Eddie Albert passed away in May 2005, about a year away from his centenarian birthday in April 2006. In a chat with the Los Angeles Times, the "Green Acres" star's son said that although he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's in his final years, he had continued to prioritize physical activity and even played basketball about a month before his passing. 

Additionally, during a May 1988 interview with The Morning Call, Albert said he continued to garden in his 80s because he wanted his food to be free of pesticides. However, the benefits of gardening weren't just limited to his diet, as he also experienced the stress melting from his mind as he watched his gorgeous garden.

Lillian Gish died in February 1993, months after her 99th birthday in October. Back in 1966, the New York Times asked the then-67-year-old silent film icon if retirement was on the table. "Retire? If you want to die, retire and die of boredom," she replied. Staying true to her word, Gish continued to work into her 80s. 

At 84, she told UPI that she still did not plan to throw in the towel on her 8-decade-long career. It's worth noting that a 2017 study in JAMA Network Open found that older adults with a greater sense of purpose had a lower risk of all-cause mortality than those who didn't.

Mitch Miller passed away in July 2011, weeks after turning 99. Speaking to The Sun Sentinel in January 1993, the iconic conductor chalked up his longevity to two things: his genetics and his passion. "I think it's a matter of working at what you love," Miller said. "That's what counts." 

A 2022 study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences noted that genetics could account for around 40% of longevity. Additionally, a 2015 study in The Annals of Behavioral Medicine concluded that people who followed their passions were less stressed out and happier in life overall (which could go a long way for lifespan).

Hugh Downs died in July 2020, a couple of months after turning 99 in February. Speaking to the Hartford Courant in April 2005, the former "Today" show anchor rolled his eyes at society's obsession with youth in an era where older people were making positive strides and living longer.

Ultimately, he urged people to shrug off the age-old adage, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Downs notably dispelled that notion with his actions, undergoing astronaut training at the age of 77 to cover Senator John Glenn's space return. Moreover, Downs had remained a fixture on TV until his late 70s and kept himself busy with philanthropic endeavors afterward.