Think about all the celebrities you know. Chances are, most of them became famous pretty early in life. But, as you’ll see from the examples below, that’s not always the case. These celebrities didn’t become famous until later in life—sometimes much later.

Whether they started out in another industry or took a more circuitous route to Hollywood, these stars prove that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams. So, what did they do to achieve fame later on in their careers? Read on to find out!

Julia Child

Julia Child started her culinary career at the age of 36, when she moved to France with her husband. She attended Le Cordon Bleu cooking school and then went on to work at La Maison des Missionnaires de la Charite.

It wasn’t until she wrote her first cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, that she started to gain fame. The book was published in 1961 and became a bestseller. Julia Child’s TV show, The French Chef, aired from 1963 to 1973 and was one of the first cooking shows on TV. Julia Child was immensely popular and is credited with revolutionizing American cooking.

Vera Wang

Vera Wang is a world-renowned fashion designer who is best known for her wedding gowns. She originally wanted to be a figure skater but was forced to quit due to an injury. Vera then pursued a degree in art history from Sarah Lawrence College. After graduation, she landed a job as an editor at Vogue magazine.

Vera eventually left Vogue to start her own design label. It was then that she began to gain popularity for her unique and elegant designs. Vera has since become one of the most sought-after designers in the world, dressing celebrities and everyday women alike

Michael Mann

Before he was a famous actor, Michael Mann was just another struggling artist in Hollywood. He worked odd jobs to make ends meet and spent his free time auditioning for roles. However, Mann’s big break came later in life than most celebrities.

He didn’t land his first major role until he was in his early 30s. And it wasn’t until he was in his 40s that he achieved true Hollywood stardom. Today, Michael Mann is one of the most recognizable faces in the entertainment industry. But it’s important to remember that even the biggest stars had to start somewhere.

Brian Dennehy

Brian Dennehy is an actor who didn’t become famous until he was in his 40s. He has since appeared in a number of films and television shows, including “First Blood,” “Cocoon,” and “Dexter.” Dennehy attended Columbia University on a football scholarship, but he dropped out after two years to pursue a career in acting.

He initially struggled to find work, and he even considered quitting acting altogether. However, he eventually landed a role on the soap opera “Ryan’s Hope,” which led to other opportunities. Dennehy has been married three times and has five children. He is currently 84 years old.

Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli is one of the most successful classical singers of our time. He began his musical career as a teen, singing in local clubs and bars. However, it wasn’t until he was in his early 40s that he achieved international fame with his breakthrough album, “Romanza.”

Since then, Bocelli has released twelve more studio albums and has sold over 80 million records worldwide. In addition to his solo work, Bocelli has also collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, including Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, and Ed Sheeran. Despite his success, Bocelli remains humble and down-to-earth, saying that he is “simply a man who loves to sing.”

Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle became a global sensation almost overnight after her stunning performance on Britain’s Got Talent. Boyle had always loved to sing, but it wasn’t until she was 47 years old that she decided to audition for the show. Her audition quickly went viral, and her powerful voice captivated audiences around the world.

Since then, Boyle has released several albums and sold-out concert venues around the world. Her story is an inspiration to people of all ages who have dreams of becoming famous. While it’s never too late to chase your dreams, Boyle’s success shows that it’s never too late to achieve them either.

Steve Carell

Steve Carell is a popular actor and comedian who didn’t find fame until later in life. He first gained recognition for his work on “The Daily Show” in the early 2000s, and he soon began appearing in movies and TV shows. In 2005, he starred in the popular comedy “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” which propelled him to mainstream success.

Since then, he has starred in a number of hit films and TV shows, including “The Office,” “Despicable Me,” and “The Big Short”.  While Carell didn’t become famous until later in life, he has since established himself as one of the most versatile and successful actors in Hollywood.

Betty White

Betty White is a legendary actress who has been in the entertainment business for over 80 years. Though she is best known for her roles on television sitcoms such as “The Golden Girls” and “Hot in Cleveland,” she actually got her start in radio back in the 1940s.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that she really began to gain mainstream popularity. Even at the age of 97, Betty White is still going strong, appearing in films and TV shows and winning the hearts of fans all over the world. She is truly an inspiration to anyone who wants to achieve their dreams, no matter how old they may be.

Morgan Freeman

He was born in 1937 in Mississippi and started his acting career in the 1960s. However, it wasn’t until the 1980s that he started to get roles that would make him a household name. He starred in movies like The Shawshank Redemption and Driving Miss Daisy and won an Academy Award for his performance in Million Dollar Baby.

Today, Freeman is still going strong, with roles in upcoming films like The Dark Knight Rises, and Now You See Me. At the age of 75, he shows no signs of slowing down. Morgan Freeman is an inspiration to anyone who wants to pursue their dreams, no matter how late in life they may start.

Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais is a British comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He is best known for his work on The Office, Extras, and Derek. Gervais has said that he didn’t mind starting his career later in life because it gave him time to learn and grow as an artist. He also believes that his success is due in part to the fact that he isn’t an “overnight sensation.”

Instead, he has worked hard to build a successful career over many years. Gervais is an example of a celebrity who didn’t get famous until later in life. Although he may not have found fame as early as some of his counterparts, he has nonetheless achieved great success in his field.

Martha Stewart

After graduating from college, she became a stockbroker and then started her own catering business. It wasn’t until she published her first book, “Entertaining,” that she began to gain notoriety. Stewart was convicted of lying to investigators about a stock sale. She served five months in prison. After her release, Stewart returned to her company.

In the years that followed, Stewart built a media empire, hosting several TV shows and launching a successful line of home products. Today, she is one of the most well-known celebrities in the world. While Stewart didn’t achieve fame until later in life, her success is an inspiration to many people who dream of becoming famous.

Steve Buscemi

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1957, Buscemi initially worked as a firefighter before turning to acting in the 1980s. He appeared in a number of films throughout the decade, but it was his role as Mr. Pink in Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 film “Reservoir Dogs” that earned him widespread recognition.

Since then, Buscemi has gone on to appear in a number of high-profile films, including “Fargo” (1996), “The Big Lebowski” (1998), and “Boardwalk Empire” (2010-2014). Buscemi has also directed several films, including “Trees Lounge” (1996) and “Animal Factory” (2000). Steve Buscemi is an actor who illustrates that it’s never too late to achieve success in Hollywood.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis didn’t become a household name until she was in her 40s. But her road to fame was a long and difficult one. Born in a poverty-ridden area of South Carolina, Davis had to drop out of high school to help support her family. She eventually made her way to the Juilliard School, where she honed her craft and became one of the most respected actresses of her generation.

Davis has gone on to win multiple awards, including an Oscar, for her work in film and television. And she shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. With her talent and drive, Viola Davis is an inspiration to anyone who has ever dreamed of achieving success in Hollywood.

Rodney Dangerfield

People always say that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams. That sentiment is definitely true for Rodney Dangerfield and Joy Behar, two celebrities who didn’t find fame until later in life. Dangerfield was a stand-up comedian who began performing in the 1950s, but he didn’t become a household name until the 1980s with his appearances on shows like The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live.

Behar, meanwhile, was a magazine writer and editor in her 20s before she started working as a co-host on The View in 1997. At the time, she was already in her 50s. Both Dangerfield and Behar prove that it’s possible to find success at any age.

Stan Lee

Stan Lee was an American comic book writer, editor, and publisher who didn’t achieve widespread fame until later in life. Born in 1922, Lee began his career working in the comics industry in the 1940s. He soon rose to prominence, becoming one of the most prolific and influential writers in the medium.

In the 1960s, Lee co-created some of the most iconic characters in comics history, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, and the X-Men. These characters went on to star in their own successful movies, making Lee a household name. Although he passed away in 2018, at the age of 95, Stan Lee’s legacy continues to live on through his many creations.

Frank McCourt

McCourt didn’t start writing until he was in his 60s, but he went on to become a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. McCourt’s story is an inspiration to people of all ages who are chasing their dreams. He was the oldest of seven children and grew up in poverty. His family struggled to make ends meet, and McCourt had to drop out of school at the age of 14 to get a job.

It wasn’t until he retired from teaching that McCourt decided to pursue writing full-time. His first book, Angela’s Ashes, was published when he was 66 years old. The book is a memoir about his childhood in Ireland and won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most successful actors of all time, but he didn’t have an easy road to success. Jackson struggled for years to make it in Hollywood, working odd jobs and struggling to pay the bills. His big break came when he was cast in the film “Pulp Fiction”. Jackson’s career took off and he went on to star in some of the most popular films of all time.

Today, Jackson is one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood. He is proof that even if you don’t get famous until later in life, it’s never too late to achieve your dreams.

Kathryn Joosten

Joosten began her acting career in her 20s with small roles on television shows like “Maude” and “The Rockford Files.” However, it wasn’t until she was cast as Karen McCluskey on “Desperate Housewives” that Kathryn Joosten became a household name. Joosten won two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of the feisty widow, and she also appeared in films like “Finding Nemo” and “The West Wing.”

In 2012, Joosten sadly passed away from lung cancer at the age of 72. Even though she was only in the spotlight for a relatively short time, Kathryn Joosten left a lasting impression on audiences around the world.

Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm didn’t become a household name until he was in his early 30s, but he’s since become one of the most recognizable faces on television. Hamm got his start in commercials and minor television roles, but it was his breakout role as Don Draper on the AMC drama “Mad Men” that made him a star.

He’s also an accomplished voice actor, lending his voice to animated films like “Minions” and “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.” With his dashing good looks and undeniable talent, it’s no wonder Jon Hamm has become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men.

F. Murray Abraham

1. Murray Abraham is an actor who didn’t achieve widespread fame until he was in his forties. His breakout role came in the 1984 film Amadeus, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.

Since then, Abraham has appeared in a wide range of films and television shows, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, Homeland, and inside Llewyn Davis. He has also had success on the stage, appearing in productions of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Ibsen’s Peer Gynt. At the age of 79, Abraham is still working regularly and is widely respected for his versatility and talent.

Steven Seagal

Steven Seagal is a action movie star who didn’t gain widespread fame until he was in his 30s. Before becoming an actor, Seagal was a martial arts instructor in Japan. He also holds a black belt in 7th-dan Aikido, which is a Japanese martial art. In addition to his accomplishments in the martial arts world, Seagal is also a musician and has released two albums.

Later in his career, Seagal began to get roles in Hollywood movies. His first major movie role was in the 1988 movie Above the Law. Since then, he has starred in many successful action movies, such as Hard to Kill and Under Siege. Over the course of his career, Steven Seagal has become one of the most famous action movie stars in the world.

Christoph Waltz

For some, fame and fortune finally arrive later in life. This was certainly the case for Christoph Waltz. Although he had been working steadily as an actor since the 1970s, it wasn’t until 2009 that he finally achieved international recognition. That year, Waltz won an Academy Award for his supporting role in Quentin Tarantino’s film Inglourious Basterds.

Since then, he has gone on to star in a number of high-profile films, including Django Unchained and Spectre. At the age of 62, Christoph Waltz is finally getting the recognition he deserves. And it’s clear that he’s just gettin g started.

Ann Dowd

Ann Dowd is an American film, television, and stage actress. Dowd began her acting career in the early 1970s with small roles in regional theater productions. In the 1980s, she began to land larger roles in Off-Broadway and Broadway productions. She is best known for her role as Aunt Lydia in the Hulu series “The Handmaid’s Tale”.

Ann Dowd has been nominated for several awards, including an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. While Dowd did not achieve widespread fame until later in her career, she has since become one of the most celebrated character actresses working today.

Regis Philbin

Regis Philbin didn’t become a household name until he was in his 50s. Philbin first gained fame as the co-host of “The Joey Bishop Show” in 1967. He then went on to host a series of popular game shows, including “The Newlywed Game” and “Family Feud.” But it was his stint as the host of “Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee” that made him a true superstar.

Even in his later years, Philbin remained a fixture on TV, appearing as a guest host on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and hosting his own web series, “Rege’s House.” Philbin may have been late to the game, but there’s no doubt he made the most of his time in the spotlight.

Joy Behar

Before she was a co-host on ABC’s The View, Joy Behar was a comedian working the club circuit. She didn’t become a household name until she was in her 50s, but she has since become one of the most recognizable faces on television. Behar started her career as a stand-up comic, and she soon began making appearances on late-night talk shows.

In 1997, she landed her own talk show on Lifetime, which ran for four seasons. After the show was cancelled, Behar made occasional appearances on The View before becoming a full-time co-host in 2015. Even at the age of 76, Behar is still going strong, and she shows no signs of slowing down.