Rod Taylor(1930-2015)

Taylor had completely retired from acting when Quentin Tarantino offered him the role of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Inglourious Basterds (2009). At first, Taylor declined the part, suggesting that Tarantino should cast Albert Finney (who had played Churchill to great acclaim in La tempête qui se prépare (2002), but eventually the director talked him into it.

"Pretending to still be the tough man of action isn't dignified for me any more. There comes a time when you're over the hill and there are plenty of great looking younger actors who can take your place. The action stars of today are making some wonderful films. There are no 'I could do it better' feelings in me. The younger they come, the better they get. That's why Olympic records are broken." (from a 1987 interview)