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Taking Ages Off IMDb Doesn't Fix Hollywood's Ageism Problem

So much more is needed!
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By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

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Raimund Koch via Getty Images

California Governor Jerry Brown just signed a bill that will require IMDb Pro to remove the ages of actors listed on the site when asked to. The bill was promoted by SAG-AFTRA as a way to combat age discrimination, but, as noted in Deadline Hollywood and elsewhere, it’s limited in scope and will likely face a 1st Amendment challenge.

The bill applies only to “commercial online entertainment employment providers” that charge a “subscribers” fee, as does IMDb Pro. Other online publications that can be viewed for free are exempt from the law.

Age discrimination has been a major problem in the entertainment industry. Sites like IMDb at StudioSystem are used by casting decision-makers, said SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris on the union’s website. As bill author Assembly majority leader Ian Calderon said, “Unfortunately, it is common practice for casting directors and producers to use web sites such as IMDb and IMDb Pro to access information about actors, which can contain age information that should not be part of the casting decision.”

IMDb Pro ultimately may have the last word, though. The site could skirt the law just by canceling the contract of those who don’t want their ages listed on the site, because the law does not apply to free sites like IMDb. And then those casting decision-makers wouldn’t have to know the actor’s age ― or anything else about them including the fact that they exist.

So while a step in the right direction, it’s hard to imagine that this measure will stop age discrimination in Hollywood any time soon. 

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Before You Go

7 Celebrity Dads Who Embraced Fatherhood After 50
Hugh Grant(01 of07)
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The British heartthrob has had a string of high-profile relationships over the years. But in 2011, at 51, Grant finally became a first-time father. Fast forward to 2016 and Grant is a father of four.

Grant has said fatherhood has made him "much nicer." (credit:Anthony Harvey via Getty Images)
Rod Stewart(02 of07)
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For the legendary crooner, fatherhood has been the journey of a lifetime. Stewart's oldest daughter, actress Kimberly Stewart, is 36, while his youngest is just 5.

"I've got eight children and I think I am appreciating it more now in old age than I ever did before. I really cherish those moments," Stewart said in an interview earlier this year. (credit:Desiree Navarro via Getty Images)
Michael Douglas(03 of07)
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At 56, Douglas became a father again to his second son. A daughter followed soon after.

Douglas' wife Catherine Zeta-Jones says a second chance at fatherhood has meant he's able to spend more time with the children. Douglas has said he was more career-oriented when his oldest son, Cameron, was growing up.

"There's no way to articulate or define the joys of fatherhood," Douglas said in a 2014 interview with People. "It's just a gorgeous, wonderful feeling of unequivocal love." (credit:POOL New / Reuters)
Ronnie Wood(04 of07)
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Last month, the Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood became a father again, to twin girls. Wood, at 68, is now a father of six.

And he won't be a hands-off dad to the newborns. Before their birth, Wood gushed that he'd be changing diapers and hoped one day his kids would go on tour with him.

"I’m unbelievably lucky and unbelievably blessed. I love all my kids," Wood told HELLO!. "I love being a dad and to have this happening is just wonderful. I'm a lucky guy." (credit:Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images)
Alec Baldwin(05 of07)
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Baldwin has been adding to his brood with wife Hilaria. In addition to his 20-year-old daughter, Baldwin has become father to two more little ones in his 50s. And just earlier this year, they announced they'll be expecting another bundle of joy soon.

He's called fatherhood in his 50s a "second chance." (credit:Wendell Teodoro via Getty Images)
Stevie Wonder(06 of07)
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At 64, the singer became a father for the ninth time! Wonder actually has grandchildren older than some of his younger children.

He's said being a father is about guiding his children while still being a friend. (credit:Gregory Pace via Getty Images)
Quincy Jones(07 of07)
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Jones has seven children, but his youngest was born just shy of his 60th birthday.

He's said to have been a more involved parent with his youngest, saying he's doing "pretty good" with the whole fatherhood thing. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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