The year 2022 will mark the 100th birthday of actress and comedian Gracie Allen. Known to fans as Annie and to the wider world as Gracie Allen, the entertainer was born on February 6th, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois.
The same year, another American, singer and actress Doris Day, will be turning 101 years old. And on January 31st, 1923, actor Jack Benny will celebrate his 92nd birthday. Since his birth, many celebrities from across the world have enjoyed a long and illustrious careers, finding themselves at the top of their chosen professions well into their 90s and even early 100s.
But while many stars have been celebrated for their longevity, there is one who bucks the trend. Actor and comedian Robert Pattinson will celebrate his 42nd birthday in 2022. What is the secret to Pattinson’s incredible long life and continued success in the entertainment industry?
Stay Active
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Pattinson shared the importance of staying active. “I think everyone has a different way of staying fit, and I think that’s what makes it interesting, is that people can choose how they want to spend their time,” he said. “Some people like to work out while listening to music, some people like to read books, and some people like to go for bike rides with their friends. So, I think it’s important to find what works for you and stick with it.”
Pattinson is certainly not the only celebrity to promote a healthy lifestyle. Over the past decade, celebrities have taken up yoga, encouraged people to get active, and touted the benefits of a healthy diet. In 2022 alone, we’ll see many stars opening up Instagram accounts dedicated to sharing their fitness inspiration and routines.
A Devoted Wife
Another factor that might have contributed to Pattinson’s longevity is his dedication to his wife. The actor has been married three times, the first two marriages ending in divorce. However, he has gone on to marry his third wife, actress and musician Amal Alamuddin, whom he had met on the set of the 2014 film, The Rover. The pair were married in a private ceremony in Venice, Italy in 2017.
As a former model, Alamuddin is no stranger to gracing the covers of international fashion magazines. In 2019, she will celebrate her 36th birthday and will become a full-time mother. Whether she chooses to stay at home with her child or return to working in the film industry, the pair have chosen a path that will certainly benefit their child as they establish their family. With children from previous marriages, the couple have at least four children together: a 14-year-old son, Robert Junior, and three daughters, India (8), Essie (6), and Rosa (4).
A Family Man
Along with his wife and family, Pattinson is also the father to two sons from a previous relationship. The actor has spoken about his desire to be a good father. “I want to be a real dad and be there for my children and show them that I care,” he said. “I want to be the person who is there for them when their friends abandon them or when they’re feeling scared.”
But even if he doesn’t work in films, Pattinson has plenty of opportunities to spread his parenting skills and be there for his sons. He has numerous properties, including a home in Paris and a lake house in Saint-Tropez. The family also spends a lot of time in Italy, where Pattinson was born and raised. Perhaps it’s no wonder then that the actor has cited Richard Simmons and his famous comedy bit about being a father as one of the major influences on his life. In the skit, Simmons suggests that being a father is more difficult than you’d imagine. “I think it’s more difficult to be a good father than it is to be a good husband, because you’re responsible for your own actions, whereas with a husband, you can always rely on someone else to take care of you,” Simmons says in the skit. “I think it’s more difficult to be a good father than it is to be a good husband, because you’re responsible for your own actions, whereas with a husband, you can always rely on someone else to take care of you.”
While Simmons’ words might haunt fatherhood itself, the role of a father is an important one to embrace. Being a devoted father is all the more crucial now that fatherhood has become such a prominent theme in recent years. From the Baby Yoda charm to the Lion King’s Mowgli, the role of a father is changing. And what’s more, it’s one that fathers are embracing. In fact, a study of 2000 parents cited “responsibility, security, confidence, and affection” as the top qualities most parents wanted their children to have as they grew up.
The study also found that 69 percent of the respondents wanted to be involved in their children’s social life as much or more than their partner did. And while just 17 percent of the parents were okay with their children going to school only half the day, more than three quarters (77 percent) wanted their children to attend full-day classes.
A Confident Voice
When asked by THR about his approach to comedy, Pattinson shared that he doesn’t really have one. “I like to explore all sorts of topics, so I think it would be unfair to say that I have a specific comedy routine that I do or don’t do,” he said. “I think it’s more that I just try to be as truthful as possible with my observations, and hopefully people will enjoy my honesty.”
Pattinson’s candor extends to interviews as well. In an interview with British tabloid The Sun, the actor spoke about his desire to appear like a “normal” person onscreen. “I always want to be able to relate to the people I’m acting with and the people who are watching,” he said. “If I can instill in them a bit of empathy or understanding, then that’s half of my mission accomplished.”
While it might be easy for some celebrities to live in the spotlight all their lives, Pattinson has always been happy to stay under the radar. One thing is for sure: with his incredible track record in Hollywood, there is no question that the world will be watching when he turns 43.