GROWING BOLDER WITH

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Paul Reiser

His has been a dream career. Paul Reiser created and starred in the acclaimed NBC series, “Mad About You,” which garnered him Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations during the show’s initial run in the 1990s. The hit series was so beloved that he and his co-star, Helen Hunt, brought it back as a limited series in 2019.

Reiser also has starred in film classics, such as “Diner” and “Aliens,” and in hit TV shows, such as “Stranger Things” and “The Kominsky Method.” He’s the author of several books, including “Couplehood,” which sold more than 2 million copies and reached No. 1 on the “New York Times” bestseller list.

Despite a career most actors would never dare dream of, Reiser never forgot his first love: stand-up comedy. In recent years, he’s hit the road again and feels like he’s finally come home.

“I put stand-up comedy on the back burner after ‘Mad About You’ got started,” Reiser said. “However, now that I’m back on stage, I see it’s what I’ve needed and what I’ve been missing, only I didn’t realize it all these years.”

He said the lesson is to never stop finding a way to do what you were meant to do.

“We’re all lucky if we find the right vocation for our brains; and for me, it’s stand-up.” Arlinda McIntosh never considered a career in fashion. As she toiled for years as a receptionist, her only creative outlet was doodling sketches.

Then, her husband left her; and McIntosh became a single mom. With the rent due and money running low, one of her friends had an idea: Since McIntosh knew how to sew, why didn’t she make some clothes and sell them to her friends?

“I had $28 and went to a cheap fabric store,” McIntosh said. “I used that fabric to make five dress jumpers. My friends paid me $25 each!”

Soon, more friends and friends of friends were clamoring for her clothes. A company was born: Sofistafunk. Now, she designs pieces for everyone from Sean Combs to Mary J. Blige.

McIntosh wasn’t done reinventing herself. As she kept designing, she wanted to show off new pieces to her growing social media fans and didn’t always have the money to hire models. On a whim, she posted photos of herself on Instagram (@funkingafter50) wearing her designs, and her sales skyrocketed.

“I can tell my story better than anyone,” she said. “Why do I have to look young? Why can’t I just be?”

Now, she’s one of the top 50+ influencers on social media. Her lesson? Believe in yourself.

Jon Kopaloff / Stringer via Getty Images

Arlinda McIntosh

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George Wallace

For decades, stand-up legend George Wallace has been making us all laugh. He’s the comedian most comics cite as their favorite, including his best pal Jerry Seinfeld.

It’s a long way from his childhood in Atlanta, Georgia. By the time Wallace was 18, both of his parents had died, so he headed north to pursue his dreams.

“My parents instilled me with the idea that I should enjoy my life, and just do the right things and stay away from people and things that are bad for you,” he said.

After honing his skills in New York, he headed to Los Angeles. Acting roles and tours with the likes of Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson followed. Then lightning struck. He headlined a record-setting, 10-year stint at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.

Wallace continues to find new ways to reach new audiences. He’s regularly included on Funniest People on Twitter lists. Wallace says he’s just enjoying the ride.

“We come into this world with a birth certificate, but we don’t have an expiration date,” he said. “If you keep living, you’re going to die. That’s why you have to live every day, have fun and laugh it off. If you try to live a good life and work toward your goals, you’ll be a success, no matter what you do.”

Photo Courtesy of George Wallace

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Joyce Carpati

Joyce Carpati has been an opera singer, marketing director for “Cosmopolitan” magazine, a wife, mother and grandmother. She’s glamorous, witty and wise; and well into her 80s, she continued working as a beauty consultant.

Carpati says she believes in the power and strength of aging and wishes more women would embrace growing older.

“I don’t believe in all of this anti-aging everything,” she said. “Of course, I wear some makeup and some creams that will give me some moisturizer; but I don’t believe in all these anti-aging products. I just like being how I am.”

The way she is, is inspirational — so much so that photographer Ari Seth Cohen featured her prominently in his documentary, “Advanced Style,” which focuses on fashionable older women.

“I wish people wouldn’t try so hard to look so young,” Carpati said. “It usually backfires. I think what you need is the right attitude, and the right hat can’t hurt!”

She added, “I love gray hair, and I think it suits most women. Of course, if you want to use hair color, that’s your prerogative. You have to embrace aging, ladies. Be happy with who you are. Every day, get up, get dressed, look at yourself and say, ‘I look good.’”

Carpati is living proof that confidence is the best accessory.

Photo: Ari Seth Cohen