What a Bunch of Older Actors Managed to Create

“I see our cast of characters as playful and vital despite the inevitable dents along the way, “ Connell says. “They may be old in clock years, but they are still very much young at heart. While they each deal with the obstacles of aging in their own ways, old rivalries, ambitions and never-forgotten romantic attractions lead to some amusing and dangerous corners.”

Inevitably, there’s a crossover between our own experiences and those of the characters we play. We dealt with the death of a close friend when original cast member Mitch Ryan (Dark Shadows, Dharma & Greg) passed away. When an actor in our series was diagnosed with cancer, one of the characters underwent cancer treatment. Another character dealt with widowhood through the actor’s real-life experience of losing a spouse.

All the vagaries of aging — aches/pains/falls/memory lapses/loss of libido and quests to satisfy a bucket list of now-or-never aspirations and experiences — figure into the world of our characters, and in our own lives. One example is our personal struggles with adapting to new technology.

For some of us, who began our careers in the 1960s era of “live” TV, mastering the technical intricacies of recording scenes together from three different time zones gives a whole new meaning to “staying connected.” As challenging as learning new digital skills can be, Connell points out the importance of keeping our brains flexible by doing things we aren’t accustomed to doing.

“Neuroplasticity is stimulated by novelty and challenge, and getting neurons to fire together that usually have no communication with one another,” he says.

When our own aging neurons miscommunicate during recording sessions and we suddenly find ourselves facing a blank screen (as too often happens!), we turn to Todd Felderstein, our technical director, to get us back online. Not only are we developing new skills at this stage of life, but we’re also reinforcing memory, expanding emotional range, sharpening analytical thinking and engaging in teamwork, all attributes that carry over into our daily lives and slow down the aging process.

“Creative pursuits, whatever they are, stimulate all aspects of our lives,” Sullivan says. “I think sometimes we miss the fact that making a good cup of coffee can feel creative. To me, staying creative, connected and having fun are vital components of aging well.”

Sonny Van Dusen discusses how reconnecting with old actor pals and our director, Asaad Kelada (Family Ties, Who’s the Boss?), is a joyful and uplifting experience. “I play an aging ex-leading man who was a famous womanizer and still believes he's romantically viable. Now THAT'S acting!”

For me, there is immense joy and comfort in staying close to friends I’ve known since “way back when.” Sonny and I were students in the same college theatre department, and David, Susan and I were all in the cast of Dark Shadows, a show celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Reuniting from distant parts of the country to work in a medium not imagined when we began our careers is stimulating and fun, keeping us relevant and reminding us of why we got into this crazy profession in the first place.

Each new script is as unexpected and enriching as life itself, invigorating my imagination, teaching me something new about myself and rejuvenating my wonder in the world around me. Please join us for new episodes of What Friends Do: The Old and the Restless.

What do YOU do to stay connected and feel relevant as you age? Let us know in the comments below.