88 yo and still thriving! This hollywood legend’s secret to living boldly after decades

She's dazzled courtside at Lakers games for decades, her glamorous presence impossible to ignore.

At 88, Dyan Cannon continues to captivate, still turning heads with her signature blonde waves and designer outfits.

But behind the spotlight lies a story of Hollywood triumphs, personal struggles, and a vibrant life lived on her own terms.

Dyan Cannon, born Samille Diane Friesen in Tacoma, Washington, first became known to the world through her film career and a high-profile marriage to one of Hollywood’s greatest stars.

Yet, it was her resilience and pioneering spirit that defined her legacy far beyond the silver screen.

She was a familiar sight in Los Angeles—dressedblack top, leopard leggings, dangling cross earrings, and designer sunglasses

She has long been a devoted Lakers fan—considered the team’s second-most famous supporter after Jack Nicholson—and her dedication to the purple and gold has spanned decades.

Her rise to fame was anything but straightforward.

At 25, she caught the attention of Cary Grant after he admired her on the TV show Malibu Run.

Their meeting was electric, yet their romance, which began in 1961, soon revealed darker undercurrents.

She married Grant in July 1965 when she was 28 and he was 61.

Their daughter Jennifer was born in February 1966.

The marriage lasted only two years before Cannon filed for divorce in September 1967, finalised in March 1968.

The control extended deeply. Grant once followed her around the house for a day, giving constant feedback about how she was doing things wrong—including how she handled spigots and knobs.

Perhaps most disturbing was Grant’s insistence that she take LSD as part of his ‘therapy’.

‘Before we got married, he’d encouraged me to take LSD. I hated it but he said: “You and I have a child together and I want to make this marriage work”, so I took it again.

I reacted horribly and I knew I couldn’t do it any more.’

Grant’s frequent LSD use—reportedly about 100 times in therapy sessions—contributed to their marriage’s breakdown.

Cannon said: ‘In order to save our marriage, I did LSD and I wound up in the cuckoo bin as a result.

That’s not in the miniseries, but LSD is a killer.’

After their split, Cannon began to find her own voice.

‘I don’t think anyone took me seriously when I said I wanted to be an actress—before or after I married Cary,’ she admitted.

But her breakthrough came in 1969.

Her role as Alice Henderson, navigating the sexual revolution, earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and the New York Film Critics Award.

Her Hollywood career flourished in the 1970s: she starred in four films in 1971, including The Love Machine and Such Good Friends, the latter earning her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.

In 1976, she made history with Number One, a film she produced, directed, wrote and edited, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Short Film, Live Action.

The same year, her role in Heaven Can Wait brought another Oscar nod and a Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actress.

In recent years, Cannon continues to surprise.

At the 2024 Hollywood Beauty Awards, she openly discussed her active romantic life.

In 2025, she shared that she enjoys several ‘friends with benefits’, underscoring that love and passion do not fade with age.

Beyond acting, Cannon has written, directed and starred in the semi-autobiographical The End of Innocence (1990).

She also co-hosts the podcast God’s Table, alongside fellow stars.

Her charitable efforts include serving as international executive spokesperson for Operation Lookout, helping recover missing and exploited children.

She also supports wildlife rescue, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, California’s Special Olympics, and works weekly with recovering addicts.

In 2011, she published her memoir Dear Cary: My Life With Cary Grant, which became a bestseller and inspired the 2023 miniseries Archie.

Cannon was executive producer, ensuring her story was told with honesty and depth.

Today, Dyan Cannon stands as a Hollywood survivor who refused to be defined by her famous marriage.

She has broken barriers for women in film and continues living boldly at 88, proudly declaring herself the ‘#1LakerFan’ and living by the motto ‘LOVE WINS!’.

Her story is a reminder that life does not stop at any age.

Often, the best chapters are yet to be written.

If you’re curious about how to approach new relationships while protecting yourself emotionally and financially, there’s an insightful story that covers exactly that.

It explores the challenges and rewards of finding love later in life, including important tips on avoiding common scams.

This real-life perspective can help guide anyone navigating romance beyond their younger years.

Love in Later Life: Navigating New Romance, Scams and the Money Talk After 60