Golden era to golden years: See the remarkable transitions of Hollywood legends in their 20s vs their 70s

Laurence Olivier was the golden boy of Hollywood's Golden era. From Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice to Rebecca and Hamlet, he brought brooding to the screen in a way that had never been seen before.

Laurence continued acting late into his life with roles in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, King Lear and his final role in 1989's War Requiem, which was released the same year that he died. 

The Vertigo actor found fame with lead roles in classic features like It's a Wonderful Life, Anatomy of a Murder and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. James Stewart was one of the crush-worthy stars of the Golden age with a soft-spoken manner and signature drawl.

His on-screen stardom carried over into the '70s with a star role on The Jimmy Stewart Show, The Shootist and The Big Sleep. His last role came in 1991, six years before his death, as a voice actor for An American Tail: Fievel Goes West.

Is there any Golden age celeb with more charisma and skill on the big screen? Early '50s hits like A Streetcar Named Desire, Viva Zapata! and Julius Caesar made Marlon Brando a star. 

With further roles in Guys and Dolls, The Godfather, Apocalypse Now and Superman, it's clear that Marlon possessed a star power like no other. The star sadly passed at the age of 80 on 1 July 2004.

Paul Newman may have played the 'macho man' on screen, but in real life he was widely known to be a kind and generous person, as well as a talented multi-hyphenate. Paul worked as a philanthropist, filmmaker, actor and race car driver throughout his varied and successful career.

He's best loved for hits like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting and Cool Hand Luke, as well as a nod to his love of racing with a role in Cars as the voice of Doc Hudson. The actor passed on 26 September 2008.

Katharine Hepburn might be a fashion icon now, joining Diane Keaton and Julia Roberts as the pop culture authority on how to style suiting, but her unconventional wardrobe and refusal to play Hollywood's rules made her a controversial figure at the time.

Despite these barriers to fame, Katharine remains a beloved figure of Old Hollywood with hits like Morning Glory, Little Women, The Philadelphia Story and Bringing Up Baby. She died at the age of 96 at her Connecticut home.

No one possessed a talent for a well-timed line like Cary Grant. The actor effused easy charm and an enviably suave manner, leading him to major roles in films like North by Northwest, To Catch a Thief and Charade. 

Unlike several Hollywood stars from the early years of cinema, he didn't carry on working well into old age. Cary took on his last role in 1966's Walk Don't Run, choosing to dedicate his time to raising daughter Jennifer. He later conducted a mid-'80s tour, A Conversation with Cary Grant, before he passed in 1986.

Elizabeth Taylor started her star career as a celebrated child actress in the '40s, later becoming a popular-if-controversial public figure as scrutiny landed on her private life, including her eight marriages to seven different men.

But it's her career that truly makes her impact on culture a permanent fixture. The actress appeared in hit features like Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Taming of the Shrew. Her career carried over into the 2000s, with TV movie These Old Broads. The actress passed in 2011 at the age of 79.