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Her 2021 book, “Face: One Square Foot of Skin,” was born out of such a process. Bateman, who found fame as a young actor on the TV series Family Ties in the 1980s, entered her name into Google, which prompted an autocomplete of “looks old.” She was 43 at the time, and she transformed the initial vulnerability she felt about the perception of her appearance into an investigation of ideas about aging, interviewing more than 20 people for the book of vignettes challenging the idea of older faces being “unattractive.”

“Women at any age, no matter how old you are; there’s something ‘wrong’ with your face,” Bateman said of the messaging that permeates society’s narrative around aging. She added that she hopes that the book helps readers realize the misplaced fear behind that notion: “When I see people who are critical of me, I know they’re critical of themselves.”

Filmmaker, author and advocate Justine Bateman on what she wishes for her legacy: “I hope I will have created a map to getting from fear-based decisions to instinct-based decisions. … If everyone could really be themselves, this world would be so exciting.”

Bateman’s comments were part of a wide-ranging conversation with students in GESM 131g, “Seminar in Social Analysis: Aging and the Media.” The course, taught by USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology Instructional Associate Professor Caroline Cicero and USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Professor of Professional Practice Laura Castañeda, explores how aging and older people are portrayed in the news and entertainment media and how these portrayals impact individuals, their families, communities, and society as a whole.

Cicero, who first connected with Bateman via social media before inviting her to speak to the class, said Bateman’s perspective is a valuable one, especially for students facing a rapidly changing media landscape.

“While Justine Bateman is known by many as an actor in some of our favorite shows, what’s especially important for students is to hear Bateman’s point of view as a content creator, director, author, screenwriter,” Cicero said. “Her message of digging under the surface – our skin – to examine our fears about aging and ourselves is crucial as we navigate an overwhelming and endless terrain of social media, advertising, and attempts of many related industries to manipulate our fears for profit.”

Castañeda said the topic of aging and the media is becoming especially important because of our society’s changing demographics as well as recent news events that have brought aging and ageism into focus. In California, the population over the age of 60 is expected to reach 25% of the state’s total population in just six years.

“Aging is an element of diversity and inclusion that is often overlooked. But how media – news, entertainment and advertising – portray aging, can have a profound impact on public perceptions,” Castañeda said. “It’s more important than ever that media portray aging in an accurate and fair manner. Developing a course for first-year students seemed like a great way to tackle this important topic early.”

Bateman encouraged students to resist the stereotypes around aging, especially the idea that one’s creative or professional achievement is limited to a certain age. she said. “You may be dropped into a container [based on your age], but don’t let that dictate where you’re headed,” she said. “Most of what I’ve accomplished, I’ve accomplished after 50.”

At age 50, Bateman was a new UCLA graduate, having completed a bachelor of science in computer science. She called getting her degree “the most difficult thing I’ve ever done,” but added that it gave her “the biggest sense of triumph.”

Now, at 58, her experience in entertainment and storytelling blended with her technology knowledge gives her a unique understanding of artificial intelligence. She said she predicts it will one day automate content creation on a massive scale and deeply infiltrate other parts of life, and she strongly advocated for protections against AI during recent WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

In response, Bateman founded Credo23, a nonprofit organization that certifies film and television projects that are made without AI. The upcoming Credo23 Film Festival, for which Bateman is festival director, will feature only AI-free submissions and will share all festival proceeds with filmmakers.

Alongside her advocacy work, Bateman remains a busy filmmaker. The film adaptation of “Face,” for which she is writer, director, and producer, is currently in preproduction. She has no interest in retirement: “I hope I die while directing a film on a set,” she said. “To me, there are two ages: alive or dead. … Until you die, it’s your time, and you can get anything you want done.”

When a student asked Bateman what she hopes her legacy will eventually be, she reiterated her determination to eschew stereotypes and limitations based on fear.

“I hope I will have created a map to getting from fear-based decisions to instinct-based decisions,” she said. “If everyone could really be themselves, this world would be so exciting.”

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From snapshots of kids on Star Wars sets to a trio of small dogs trotting by a table bearing an Emmy statuette, the Hamill home gives a sense of the down-to-earth partnership and family life behind an out-of-this-world career in entertainment. For USC Leonard Davis School supporters Marilou and Mark Hamill, living and aging well calls for lots of love and laughter, the ability to let little things slide and an understanding of what matters most to them.

Keeping Family in Focus

Married since 1978 and the parents of three grown children, the Hamills have always made family their first priority, says Marilou, a member of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology Board of Councilors. Her biggest piece of advice for younger people with children: Slow down and enjoy being in the moment with your kids.

“I know I enjoyed my kids, but I just think, gosh, it went too fast. People often say that to young parents — ‘Enjoy it because it’ll go so fast’ — but do they really get it?” says Marilou, who met Mark during her career as a dental hygienist before leaving dentistry to focus on starting their family. “I wish I could have a little time machine and go back just for an hour here and there in their lives and relive it again.”

Even as Mark’s career as an actor took him across the country and overseas, Marilou and the children — Nathan, Griffin and Chelsea — would accompany him whenever possible. Staying connected was paramount.

“We were always together; I would never go off and just not see the family shooting something for months and months,” Mark says. “You have to stay engaged with your children and listen to them as separate people. I’m proud of the fact I have three grown children that don’t all hate my guts — that’s an accomplishment, right there.”

Photo/Christina Gandolfo

A Spotlight on Aging

Advocating for causes close to their hearts has also been an important part of their life together, and their number one involvement with charities is for education, Marilou says. She is active in a wide range of community and educational organizations, including USC, daughter
Chelsea’s alma mater (BA ’11, MCM ’13).

An invitation to visit the USC Leonard Davis School, where Marilou toured laboratories and spoke with faculty about their cutting-edge research, played a big part in their decision to support the study of aging, she explains.

“I was just fascinated with the research that the faculty are doing, and with the fact that I was getting older and not younger, it just became a perfect fit,” Marilou says.

Marilou and Mark are 68 and 72, respectively. She also notes that a friend younger than her is living with Alzheimer’s disease, so the impact of aging is not far from her mind.

“A very popular saying is, ‘You’re as young as you feel.’ I think we feel young, and then you look in the mirror — or what really gets me is a video,” she says.

And, of course, aging is a complex topic throughout the entertainment industry. Mark has had the unique experience of portraying his most famous character, Star Wars hero Luke Skywalker, at both younger and older points along the lifespan in the franchise’s feature films. He also played a younger version of the character in the series The Mandalorian with the aid of sophisticated digital technology.

Reprising his role as Luke in Star Wars Episodes 7, 8 and 9 presented an important opportunity to portray aging onscreen, he says.

“I just thought it was healthy for young people, especially, to see the natural process of aging, because you’re frozen in time and your life goes on, and yet they keep showing pictures of you when you were 24,” Mark says. “That was the most appealing aspect of going back to that character — that you could then see him in his 60s.”

Reflecting on his decadeslong career also offers a lesson in not limiting oneself with predetermined notions about what it’s like to get older, he adds.

“As Alec Guinness put it to me in a letter, ‘Ah, the ravages of old age’ — he was talking about having some sort of surgery. And it’s ironic, because when I worked with him, he seemed like a grandfather to me; he seemed like an older man,” Mark says. “And then someone pointed out to me, ‘When you came back to do the first sequel, you were the same age or a year older than Guinness was in the original Star Wars.’ That was kind of shocking to me, because your view of what you’re going to be like in 20 years doesn’t really match up. At 20, I didn’t imagine what I would be like at 40 or 50 or 60 until I got there.

“And that’s the surprising thing — you don’t suddenly change. You’re the same person. You might have to accommodate certain physical limitations or the fact that you don’t see or hear or remember as well as you did. But it doesn’t change who you are as a person.”

A Supporting Role in Gerontology Education

Along with the USC Leonard Davis School Board of Councilors, Marilou is a current member of the USC Associates Board of Directors, the Town and Gown of USC Board of Directors, and is the vice chair of the USC McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative Board of Councilors. She has been honored with numerous awards for her volunteer work, including the USC Alumni Association’s Widney and President’s awards, and in 2020, Marilou was also inducted into the prestigious USC Skull and Dagger.

As part of their mission to help students realize their educational dreams, Marilou and Mark have created scholarships at several institutions, including at the Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles City College, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, USC School of Dramatic Arts, and Town and Gown of USC. Most recently, the couple established the Marilou and Mark Hamill Family Scholarship at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

“I love the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology! The school has several of the most highly cited researchers on the planet, and it’s just fascinating what they’re doing and continuing to do,” Marilou says. “Dean [Pinchas] Cohen is just amazing, and I’m happy to be involved. We love helping students that maybe wouldn’t have the opportunity to attend gerontology school; I really am pleased to help students that otherwise might not have the chance to go to USC.”

In October 2022, she and Mark were recognized for their support of gerontology education with the Dean’s Medallion, the USC Leonard Davis School’s highest honor, at the school’s annual Scholars and Benefactors Luncheon.

“There’s no greater gift than education,” Marilou said in her keynote remarks during the event. “The gift we give them now will pay off over and over. We’re investing today in the leaders of tomorrow.”

Mark also addressed the crowd of students, faculty, and supporters during the luncheon, taking the opportunity to laud Marilou and her service to USC.

“I am so fortunate to do what I love to do with the best partner I could have,” he said at the time. “This is another item on the list of reasons to admire Marilou.”

Photo/Steve Granitz (WireImage)

Flipping the Script on Getting Older

While much of society’s wider conversation on aging deals with declines and limitations, both Marilou and Mark say that getting older can be freeing.

“You learn to not sweat the little stuff. And Mark used to always say that to me, but I’d worry about everything,” Marilou recalls. “Now, it doesn’t matter. If I can’t find something, I’ll find it, or I won’t. Who cares?”

“That’s the motto of my life,” Mark adds. “Who cares? Nobody! So just get over it and enjoy life. Life’s too short and then you die; it’s really a terrible ending for anybody that’s paying attention. But the longer you’re here, the more you appreciate what you have.”

Among the best parts of getting older: less self-consciousness, less worry about ultimately inconsequential things, and a greater appreciation for what really matters, according to the couple.

“That’s why people say, ‘Live in the moment,’” Marilou says. “You sometimes wonder, ‘I’d like to know when I’m going to die.’ And they say, ‘No, you don’t; just live every day as it’s your last.’ And that’s what you’ve got to do.”

“I’m just happy to be here because the alternative is so much worse,” Mark adds. “One thing that’s great about getting older is the older you get, the less you care in terms of, ‘Oh, how am I coming off?’ It’s one of those things where you’ve earned the right to be the way you want to be.”

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Be it Boomers, those members of the post WW2 baby boom, or Zoomers, the term for the digital-natives of Gen Z, why do we need these labels in the first place? In short, the terms make life easier.

For a statistician or an academic, the ability to group individuals by age makes seeing trends and shared characteristics much simpler. Corporations use this quick and simple identification as a way to target certain populations. Knowing a handful of things about a group of people—for instance, adults over 50—means advertisements or products can be designed to draw in this desired demographic; fifty-six cents of every dollar spent in the United States in 2018 came from someone 50 or older, according to a recent AARP report, which projects that amount is only expected to increase.

Though they provide a rough picture of demographic group, social labels, whether they pertain to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or age, deemphasize the individuality that makes every person unique and fail to recognize the breadth of individuals in each cohort, cautions Paul Nash, an instructional associate professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. In context, an individual born years prior to 9/11 will have a completely different experience of gallivanting around or breezing through the airport than someone born years after who is used to security in every inch and cranny of an airport. This too may differ from cohort to cohort.

“When we group people, we make generalizations that are stereotypes but are not going to be appropriate for everyone in the group, yet still the labels get applied,” said Nash. “When we judge people on group membership rather than individual characteristics, traits and behaviors, then we are doing them a disservice.”

Generation vs. Cohort

Even the term “generational label” has deviated from historical or age-related categorization to more of a familial designation.

“While we use “Baby Boomer Generation” often, the term was born out of the fact that those born post-WWII were babies in this era,” said Instructional Associate Professor Caroline Cicero. “Now, we think of Baby Boomers in relationship to aging, and generationally as parents and grandparents. People born within a span of years, or who experienced some other milestone event at a common time, are in fact technically a cohort rather than a generation.”

The blurriness of these designations fuels the flames of arguments even within families, where the typical discussion at the dinner table has transformed into a debate stage between the young and old; People are quick to assume that age determines beliefs or values. Academics like Cicero say it’s important to differentiate between generations and cohorts because, despite the subtle word change, the specificity allows for different groups to come to terms with each other outside of their negative perceptions. For instance, a young person who was under the assumption that many old people fail to care for climate change would be surprised and delighted to have that stereotype broken altogether.

Do Labels Fuel Ageism?

“I think that the media has gradually transformed each label into an insult and stereotype rather than a simple categorization,” said Kaitlyn Yi, a sophomore majoring in Lifespan Health. “It’s all based on how the media reflects that specific generation, and then after that, it’s all a bandwagon effect from there.”

The discourse that has been fostered by this in-group and out-group mentality presents challenges to intergenerational unity – think of the OK Boomer and Gen X Karen memes of recent years. And in many cases, it’s understandable to see why younger cohorts and individuals would cultivate a “sense of anger and disillusionment with older groups,” according to Cicero. From the environmental climate change crisis to the fears of economic collapse or wealth inequalities, younger groups may believe that they are in a position of vulnerability as they now begin to age.

The stereotypes thrown around at each age group appear to have also contributed to this sense of powerlessness and generalization. Older adults may be perceived to be overly traditionalist, “wealth-hoarding” or frail in comparison to the entitled, “lazy” millennial. The issue of labelling does not only affect older individuals but people of every age, and younger people can recognize the duality of cohort terminology and its effects.

“Personally, I’m conflicted,” said Student Gerontology Association President and Human Development and Aging senior Ryan Doyloo. “On one hand, there are many generational characteristics that can be attributed to these cohorts that help gerontologists and demographers identify trends. But at the same time, I think the issue isn’t the labels but the prejudice fueling it.”

Fighting Prejudice, Embracing Aging

Some people may enjoy the titles given to them, but embracing a title and identifying with a certain stereotype are two completely different ideas. For instance, an older individual may identify with being a “boomer” but not conform to what a younger person’s stereotype of a “boomer” is.

Nash emphasized how society values the notion of youth. The aging narrative continues to be one based on negativity, highlighting physical impairment or sensory loss rather than treating it as a developmental process. Ageist rhetoric continues to dominate the conversation around aging, which challenges any push towards breaking social stereotypes. This battle ultimately affects us as individuals who live in a society in which many people and institutions devalue aging and encourage a biological fight against age and time. Forbes’ “30 under 30,” anti-aging skin products, and articles highlighting “age-defying” individuals all play into the defamation of growing old.

“The way to counter [ageism] is to be aware of our stereotyping and our implicit biases,” Nash said. “We can do this by actively engaging with the groups we are referring to which enables us to challenge some of the assumptions and see the rich depth of the individuals rather than the shallow platitudes provided by stereotyping.”

It’s important to be aware of significant differences across cultures as well. Instructional Assistant Professor Min-Kyoung Rhee spoke on how the Confucian values of filial piety and showing respect to older adults have established an expectation of respect from young people through proper language, including honorifics, and gestures such as bowing, hand-kissing, or taking on the major responsibility for taking care of their aging parents in some Southeast and East Asian cultures. However, Rhee also mentioned that demographic changes and adoption of Western ideologies slowly break down these traditional expectations.

“Younger generations are expecting more egalitarian mutual respect, rather than authoritarian respect,” Rhee said. “Thus, it’s becoming more difficult to expect younger generations to respect older adults in traditional ways. While the cultural influence of filial piety still persists in Eastern cultures, the way of showing respect seems to be changing.”

Rhee also agrees with the notion that these cohort labels, while supportive of marketers and business professionals, are responsible for collectivist ideologies. She calls on others to be mindful about adopting or applying those concepts to other cultures.

“This is particularly so for many older Americans who are foreign-born, whose major external events experienced during their young adult years in their original countries may be significantly different from the older adults who were born and raised in the U.S. even though they’re in the same age category,” Rhee said.

There is also a strong need for intergenerational discussions to reduce age-related tension and build a foundation of respect between each and every cohort.

“It is important for individuals from different generations and cohorts to be able to speak, listen, and learn from each other,” Cicero said. “Intergenerational exchange and dialogue can build understanding and a collective future.”

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Here are some recommendations from Caroline Cicero, professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and an expert in visual representations of older adults.

“With all the recent focus on the frailty of older people and the need to shutter them inside or distance ourselves from them, it’s wonderful to see these older actors representing stories from around the world, showing us not only that creative artists can contribute powerful work well into their 80s but also that the characters they portray have intensely important and meaningful intergenerational stories that educate, entertain, and elevate all of us,” says Cicero, who teaches a class on the life course and the arts.

• The Life Ahead (streaming now): Almost 70 years after her first film appearance, 86-year-old Sophia Loren stars in this movie about a Holocaust survivor and former sex-worker and the bond she develops with an orphaned child.
• The Father (February 26): Octogenarian actor Anthony Hopkins stars with Olivia Colman in a critically-acclaimed story about a father’s decline into dementia. The film shines a light on the challenges of caregiving, a difficult issue that has come to the fore during this pandemic.
• Da Five Bloods (streaming now): Fifty years after their tours of duty, four Black veterans return to Vietnam to retrieve the remains of their fallen squad leader. Though the film is filled with flashbacks, director Spike Lee, makes no attempt to de-age his older actors. “Delroy Lindo’s performance stands out in this film about memory and generational trauma,” says Cicero. “Passage of time and subconscious wounds of war drive Lee’s story and overpower concern about whether an actor’s natural wrinkles have been digitally removed. Appearances by the late Chadwick Boseman reinforce the cruelty of time and lost opportunity.”
• The Mole Agent (streaming now): This film follows Sergio Chamy as he moves into a Chilean assisted living community and keeps an eye on residents. It’s a surprising documentary and spy movie all in one.
• The Artist’s Wife (streaming now): Lena Olin and Bruce Dern star as married artists facing the intense challenges brought on by an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and the struggle to fulfill legacy making career expectations.
• Minari (In some theaters now but streaming in February): This Sundance award winner from writer/director Lee Isaac Chung tells the engaging story of a Korean immigrant family struggling to build a life in rural Arkansas and how their routines are altered by the arrival of their spirited grandmother, played by Korean star Yuh-jung Youn.
• Nomadland (streaming in February): Frances McDormand stars in this highly acclaimed film adapted for the screen and directed by Chloé Zhao, and based on journalist Jessica Bruder’s subculture study of people living on the road. Sixty-three-year-old McDormand’s absorbing performance as an unemployed, houseless “old woman” is catching the eye of critics and reveals unending beautiful landscapes across the American West.

“While we are missing the communal experience of watching these films in theaters, it’s beautiful that we can travel around the world and across the US with these actors, filmmakers, and cinematographers who bring travel and human connection to life for us,” says Cicero.

Top: Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins in “The Father” (Sony Pictures Classics)

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For more healthy advice, see our previous holiday tips: 2016, 2017, 2018

Focusing on the positive

Research from Mara Mather, a professor of gerontology and psychology at the USC Leonard Davis School, and colleagues, reveals that older adults, due to a sense that time left in life is limited, tend to focus on positive information more and seem to notice negative information less than younger adults.

“With this reframed mindset, older adults rethink their priorities, want to spend more time with loved ones and focus on things that are more important to them emotionally,” said Mather. “Somehow, despite the many challenges of getting older, on average, older adults experience more positive affect than do younger adults.”

Mather calls this paradox of aging the positivity effect. Older adults’ perspective may provide lessons on how to maintain a good mood even in the presence of negative information. A trait that could be especially useful at large family gatherings – and all year round.

Connecting through food

Preparing and eating food together during the Thanksgiving holiday can also unite different generations, according to Cary Kreutzer, an associate professor of gerontology and pediatrics and the director of the Master of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan and Longevity Program.

Older generations can teach younger family members about their family recipes or traditions.

“Have the new generation record videos of the food prep that they can save for years to come,” Kreutzer said, adding that the younger ones have something new to share, too.

“Or, the newer generation — focused in media and technology — can find information online about cultural variations on traditional recipes for their grandparents.”

Challenging Stereotypes

Intergenerational interaction can provide benefits, like reducing social isolation and loneliness, and it can combat misconceptions and stereotypes that people may hold about people of different ages, according to psychologist Paul Nash, an instructional associate professor of gerontology at the USC Leonard Davis School who has worked  on World Health Organization (WHO) projects to address ageism.

“We can change attitudes through mutually meaningful intergenerational communication and contact,” says Nash. “In doing this we can challenge assumptions about the other age group and change the social narrative around ageism which will ultimately benefit every age group.”

Among Nash’s tips:

• “Remember that communication styles may differ between generations. Slang and popular colloquialisms change frequently so avoiding these can facilitate a much more meaningful and worthwhile dialogue.”
• “Don’t let incidences of ageism slide, call them out and highlight them whether they be against younger people or older adults.”

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That’s the heart of the research conducted at the Resilience Lab at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. The scientists there are studying groups that range from troubled youth to cancer survivors to understand how we succeed at life despite significant adversity.

“Everyone has the goal of survival, but most people are trying to do better than just survive, despite or even because of life challenges,” said Thalida “Em” Arpawong, a research assistant professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and a member of the Resilience Lab faculty. “I want to see who is succeeding at doing better, and for longer, in terms of their emotional and cognitive health. And I want to find out how they are doing it.”

Resilience research: Why do we thrive?

Resilience research has been growing for about four decades. Researchers in the 1970s noticed that some children in tough circumstances seemed to thrive, and they wanted to know why. Psychologists started by studying kids, but now resilience research has branched out to understand resilience in adults, young and old, and even among whole populations.

At USC, Arpawong and her colleague Joel Milam have been looking at how people respond to trauma. Some people emerge from tragedy and horror with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the researchers said. Yet others recover well from trauma and even flourish.

“In my class, in most talks on this topic that I do, if I say, ‘Who here is familiar with PTSD?’, just about everyone’s hands goes up,” said Milam, associate professor of research preventive medicine at the Keck School. “Then if I ask, ‘Are you familiar with post-traumatic growth?’ maybe two or three hands go up. Well, PTSD is the less likely outcome. Post-traumatic growth and resiliency are the norm.”

Post-traumatic growth is what happens, Arpawong said, “when people undergo a life-altering, profound experience that they perceive as negative, but ultimately, they find a way to thrive and do better than expected, given these experiences.” Milam’s research shows that survivors of childhood cancer, for instance, are likely to report that cancer had some positive impacts on their plans for their future. Their parents, however, were more likely to do poorly after recovery. That could be because their children’s cancer derailed their own plans and often affected their finances, he said.

Beyond pop culture, what is resilience?

The path to post-traumatic growth is paved with resilience. In pop culture terms, that means bouncing back from something challenging. Scientifically speaking, Arpawong said, “it’s a positive response process to some type of challenge or adversity.” And that happens when people are able to manage specific stressors in their lives and put purpose to them.

Lowering stress involves activating what’s called the parasympathetic nervous system, Milam said. That’s the system of nerves that enable people to “rest and digest.” One immediate way to do that, in the face of a stressful situation, is to take a long, slow, deep breath. That simple step can slow down your heart rate, he said. Longer-term techniques include starting a meditation practice, as well as practicing mindfulness by slowing down and noticing what is going on around you. “With the fostering of attention and present moment awareness, a lot of these pathways to greater well-being become more attainable,” he said.

Journaling also can help. People who are struggling can reframe their own story — and where they’re headed in their life — by seeing their experience in a different, more positive light. One example is a question Milam and colleagues have used in their interviews with cancer survivors. They ask, “Some people say that they have found some benefit in their struggle with cancer. Given what happened to you (or your family), do you think that this is possible? If yes, how so?”

Why some communities are uniquely resilient

Some communities tend to produce more resilient members than others, and researchers are studying why. Latinos, for instance, are more likely than others to grow after experiencing trauma, Milam said. Many Latinos come from communities that value religious faith and family. Faith and strong family connections are linked to post-traumatic growth, he said, probably because they tend to translate into a solid support network for someone who is struggling.

Ultimately, the most resilient people are those who come into a trauma well prepared, he said. These “thrivers” have strong support networks. They also put setbacks into perspective, and troubles don’t sway them from their long-term goals. As Milam puts it, “You have meaning in life.”

But even without strong support, it’s still possible to turn trauma into something positive, Arpawong said. Successful stress management programs strive to help people see traumatic events within the scope of their whole lives. The idea is to incorporate these events into their life story rather than trying to ignore them and push on forward. Ultimately, she said, the goal is for people “to recognize their own strength in having gone through this, gaining along the way a greater sense of spirituality, engaging more in activities they find interesting, and changing the direction of their lives as a result.”

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The trio are the subjects of Care to Laugh, a documentary that follows the younger Trejo as he strives to establish himself in the LA comedy scene while serving as the sole caregiver for his parents. He monitors his diabetic mom’s blood glucose levels before stepping on stage, mows lawns for dad’s gardening business between auditions, and brings them to out-of-town shows when they can’t stay home alone.

“My parents took care of me, and now I’m doing it for them,” said Trejo.

There are currently 40 million caregivers in the U.S., and 10 million of them are millennials like Trejo, according to Jeffrey Eagle, vice president of AARP Studios, which produced the film to shine a light on caregivers’ stories.

“We are trying to effect change,” Eagle said at a recent screening hosted by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and the USC School of Cinematic Arts as part of the USC Age-Friendly University initiative.

Comedian Jesus Trejo, USC Leonard Davis faculty member Caroline Cicero, and Jeffrey Eagle, vice president and executive producer producer at AARP Studios.

In a post-screening discussion moderated by USC Leonard Davis School Instructional Associate Professor Caroline Cicero, Trejo and Eagle touched on the challenges of caregiving, the importance of family, and the healing powers of laughter.

“I’m very lucky that I’m able to bring it on stage, so it almost seems like therapy,” Trejo said.

Through his humor and his honesty, he aims to help others as well.

“I hope people watch this and know they are not alone,” he said.

• For caregiving resources, visit USC Family Caregiver Support Center
• For more age-friendly events and information, visit USC Age-Friendly University Initiative
• For more about the film, visit Care to Laugh

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“Stan Lee’s delightful cameo appearances add a human touch to these big-budget franchises while also reminding us that older adults remain relevant,” says assistant professor Caroline Cicero, an expert on aging and popular culture at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. Lee’s popularity can also help to shine a light on serious issues, like the allegations of elder abuse and financial fraud that have played out in court and the media over the past year, she added.

Writer and director Scott Derrickson cast Lee as a chuckling bus passenger in his 2016 megahit Doctor Strange.

“At age 95, Stan Lee is witty, active, and in my experience, always kind. He’s a true legend. A timeless artist,” said the USC School of Cinematic Arts alumnus. “Stan Lee’s creative legacy was long-ago secured by becoming the imagination behind many of the most renown comic book characters in American history. But with the unprecedented popularity of Marvel movies, he is perhaps the single most influential artist in pop culture history.”

Earlier this year, Lee also appeared as a casino gambler in the box office record-crushing Black Panther, and Cicero notes he was not alone among mature actors. Forest Whitaker’s Zuri, Angela Bassett’s Ramonda, and tribal elders played by Isaach De Bankolé, Connie Chiume, Dorothy Steel, and Danny Sapani, all displayed the wisdom and influence of older people in their Wakanda community.

“Aging characters and their concerns rarely drive the story in Hollywood’s big-budget commercial movies, but when they do appear, they typically exhibit familial and mentoring legacies, provide through-lines to earlier films and connections to origin stories,” said Cicero, noting that this connection is especially strong in Star Wars the Last Jedi.

“Palpable regret and sincere nostalgia and longing endure when Mark Hamill and, especially, the late Carrie Fisher appear on screen as Luke and Leia,” she said.

Action figures can be found beyond fiction this summer. The acclaimed film RBG depicts Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a real-life role-model with rock-star status at age 85. The documentary John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls showcases heroism in a different way, highlighting McCain’s struggles, from being a POW in Vietnam and undergoing the ever-toxic political climate to the diagnosis of his brain cancer. Won’t You Be Neighbor? about the beloved television personality Fred Rogers, has been an unexpected hit, striking a sentimental chord with critics and viewers alike.

Cicero says the success of these films should encourage other filmmakers to spotlight older adults.

“We all age,” she said. “These actors and individuals represent all of us.”

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