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Time waits for no person, no matter how famous they are. Whether we like it or not, our favorite stars and most beloved celebrities are growing older, just like us. However, in our imaginations, they usually still look like their younger selves on the screen and on the stage, when they helped shape our childhoods and teenage years.

Dutch graphic designer Ard Gelinck gives us a fresh perspective on how stars change over time by creating natural-looking photoshopped images of them posing with their younger selves. The ‘Then and Now’ picture series is incredibly popular and has earned Ard a following of over 301k people on Instagram. What’s more, Ard’s work is so good that celebrities themselves express their love for his photoshops.

Ard was kind enough to answer Bored Panda's questions. He told us that it's definitely the cast of the hit TV show Friends that is the most popular among his fans. "They were and still are mega-popular worldwide because this show was aired all over the world." He added that his recent post with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez was also very successful because they got back together and this was all over the news. Ard also said that he had to find a "respectful and lovely way to honor" beloved actress Betty White who recently passed away.

Bored Panda also reached out for comment to celebrity expert Mike Sington who is known as Hollywood's Ultimate Insider. "Seeing our favorite stars we grew up with grow older and older along with us can be overwhelming, but with a change in mindset, it can be comforting too. Realize that stars are no different than you or me, we’re all growing older and older together, and it’s happening at the exact same rate," he said. Read on for our full interviews with Ard and Mike.

Scroll down, upvote Ard’s photoshops that you like the most, and let us know in the comments which younger-older star duos you think look the best. When you’re done with this article, we invite you to take a look at Bored Panda’s previous features of Ard’s work here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.

More info: Instagram | Twitter

#1

Betty White

Betty White

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varwenea
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Smart, kind, sharp, and simply beautiful person. 99 years is still too soon. We'll miss you. 🥀💔

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Ard explained that the images of beloved stars who passed away also get lots of reactions and lovely comments. "For example, stars like Amy Winehouse, George Michael, David Bowie, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant, and recently Betty White and Bob Saget remain very popular among fans," he told Bored Panda.

When it came to honoring Betty White, Ard decided to "put her back together with her other ‘Golden Girls’ friends on the clouds in the sky, as they are reunited in heaven."

#2

Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman

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Roger Haywood
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He has got to be the most down to earth man in Hollywood. Unmistakeable voice too.

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Bored Panda was also interested to learn more about Ard's favorite celebs who he thinks have gotten better at what they do with age.

"There are a few," he said. "For example, I think Harry Styles has gone through a lot of development in music style and his voice.

This also applies to Miley Cyrus, she has grown from a child star to a major global star. Lady Gaga surprised me in a positive way. She was very good in 'A Star Is Born.' But there are so many more..."

Celebrity expert Mike told Bored Panda that when celebrities age naturally, it takes the stress out of aging. "With the internet, everyone knows how old you are anyway. If you accept it, and not fight it, it makes life so much easier," he told Bored Panda.

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"With stars, aging naturally can actually help you get more work, contrary to what many think. Once a star’s face appears altered or 'worked on,' they actually lose work. Trying to fight aging can end a career."

#4

Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa

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Celeb expert Mike told Bored Panda that Meryl Streep is the "gold standard of celebrities." Over decades of work, she's definitely gotten better and better with age.

"And here’s the important part: she has wisely accepted her age, and has never tried to fight it. So we, as the audience, accept it too. That has led to her work being embraced and honored throughout her life, and ours too."

#7

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really think she should go back to red hair at some point! It suits her so much!!

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#8

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford

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Monty Is Fiennes
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look at those carpenters arms....my very first little girl crush.... I will always love you Han Solo, you bad man...

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"There are millions of photos from those celebs so the combinations are endless, you just have to see it," Ard told Bored Panda earlier that he won’t be running out of ideas any time soon.

"Sometimes, I react to a news item, a birthday, or day of death and then post an edit of that celeb as an honor or celebration," he told us how he decides what project to work on next.

The graphic designer explained that, on average, he spends around an hour working on most images. However, more complex photos obviously take far longer, for example, up to two or even three hours. Similarly, if the poses are easier to fit together, the time spent photoshopping a particular ‘Then and Now’ image can drop down to just half an hour. Ard said that sometimes the search he does for the best possible photos can take longer than the actual edits.

#13

Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais

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Eppe
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn, he had a cool David Bowie thing going when he was younger

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Kay blue
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a fan of his comedy but he's a cat dad and had a foster fail at the beginning of the pandemic.

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kate h
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THIS. This is my favorite. Here is a video https://youtu.be/EmJKRrtPJro (low quality but fabulous) Here is my favorite photo - our boy is on the right - just amazing! https://imgur.com/rjrH07m

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Jessica Mae
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love how he is looking over the shoulder at his older self and yes, Bowie vibes for days!

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The graphic designer suggests that the people hoping to do what he does start off by getting Adobe Photoshop and learning to use it. “Just begin and try and practice a lot until, in my case, you have the luck that a lot of people like it," he said that you won’t know what impact you can have on the world until you give it a try and put your work out there.

"I love the reactions from all over the world and see and read how it can make people smile and make them even emotional sometimes. Also, the list of celebs who shared my work is getting longer and longer. The biggest stars like Madonna, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Jones, Michael Douglas, Tina Turner, Rob Lowe, Gary Barlow, Ricky Gervais, and Snoop Dogg have all shared my creations and that also keeps me excited and gives me the energy to keep on doing this,” he shared.

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#21

Britney Spears

Britney Spears

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Walking On Sunshine
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well this one is sort of bittersweet isn't it? I'm glad she finally gets to be who she wants to be. And I think any family that does this to their child, especially for money, should burn in hell.

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Ard shared his first ‘Then and Now’ picture over 10 years ago. At first, he focused on featuring celebs from the Netherlands. However, after getting a very warm reception, the graphic designer decided to photoshop stars from around the world as well.

"About 5 years ago, I edited pictures for a lot of Dutch celebrities and it was a success, so I then started working with foreign celebrity photos. The first one was Madonna, and she even posted my image on her own Instagram,” he told Bored Panda earlier.

#23

Alanis Morissette

Alanis Morissette

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#27

Brian May

Brian May

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Paul Ellis
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nah, that's Mozart on the right of the pic. The other one is some anonymous renaissance dude who wandered into the photo-shoot.

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#31

Alyssa Milano

Alyssa Milano

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Katie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First time I saw her acting was when I started watching Charmed, and then my crush began 😂 She's freaking beautiful!

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#37

Ralph Macchio

Ralph Macchio

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#40

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp

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Daria B
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would've preferred to see the Edward Scissorhands role picked as the younger self, if you're going for full the full make up look anyway.

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#42

Liza Minnelli

Liza Minnelli

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WHStoneman
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2 years ago (edited)

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Looks like old Liza bought/got the Joker smile!

#43

Henry Thomas

Henry Thomas

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Cinnamon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He was so good in the series The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix. Worth a watch.

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#47

John Stamos

John Stamos

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Meghna Mohan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Full House, was and is my favourite childhood memory, rest in peace Danny Tanner. Uncle Jesse here was my first crush 😘

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#50

Charles Chaplin

Charles Chaplin

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#55

Haley Joel Osment

Haley Joel Osment

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#58

Jack Nicholson

Jack Nicholson

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#60

Carice Van Houten

Carice Van Houten

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Tosca Sombroek
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, the picture in the middle is from a Dutch series she produced in which she plays the role of a troubled prostitute. So no, that is not what she looks like!

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#61

Anthony Michael Hall

Anthony Michael Hall

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Dodo
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember watching The Breakfast Club in the early '00s and not being able to understand how the geeky kid was the awful boyfriend from Edward Scissorhands. And I still can't believe it.

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#62

Roger Taylor

Roger Taylor

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#63

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Christmas just finished and i personally still need some time without Mariah....

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#68

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

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Queenie-Poo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He was a teenage heartthrob and incredibly handsome as a 50yo. But he almost doesn't look like the same person!

#69

Debbie Gibson

Debbie Gibson

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ispeak catanese
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm surprised she still has her original nose, but without it she'd probably be unrecognizable.

#70

Cole Sprouse

Cole Sprouse

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Vicky Z
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wanna feel old? He is now the same age as Ross when he played his father in friends in the first seasons

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#73

Don Johnson

Don Johnson

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Dre Mosley
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm surprised there hasn't been a "Miami Vice" reboot. I'm not asking for one, but it just seems like something they'd do.

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#74

Geri Halliwell

Geri Halliwell

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#75

Harry Styles

Harry Styles

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#76

Lily Collins

Lily Collins

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#79

Madonna

Madonna

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Nugua
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They should have taken one of the recent pics... I was really shocked by the change that happened sometime in the last two years.

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#80

Paul Simon

Paul Simon

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JuJu
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Graceland it one of the best albums ever. This man is a genius

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#81

Drake

Drake

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Allen Lavine
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Drake is a good rapper but I find it so funny when he try's to Make a gangster song you can't scare me if your Canadian (I'm going to f you up A ....put you in one of our free hospital A)

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#85

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix

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Ted Rifenburg
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He was legendary in walk the line, I liked him in Joker, but he did a absolutely great job portraying Johnny Cash

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#86

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato

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Ted Rifenburg
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She looked good with some weight on her,. Idk why women think being string beans is sexy, give me a little thickness

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#87

Michael Bublé

Michael Bublé

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#88

John Mayer

John Mayer

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#90

Ruud Gullit

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#95

Jochem Myjer

Jochem Myjer

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#96

Simon Le Bonn

Simon Le Bonn

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Ron Cadieux
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2 years ago

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#99

Jim Kerr

Jim Kerr

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Ted Rifenburg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lmao he looked like a butch lesbian, ( no offense to lesbians)

#101

Terence Wilson

Terence Wilson

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#103

Angela Schijf

Angela Schijf

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#104

Jim Bakkum

Jim Bakkum

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#106

Donnie

Donnie

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Becky Moore
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're not famous here in the UK. Maybe they're relatives of whoever did this list :P

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