At 65, author, producer, television host, and entertainment historian Herbie J Pilato does not spend much time thinking about growing older. In fact, he would likely tell you that age itself is one of life’s greatest misconceptions.
For Pilato, strength is not measured by a number on a birthday cake. It begins much deeper.
“Strength, vitality and energy come from spirit,” he says. “I believe we are immortal souls. Age is just a number created by this world.”
That philosophy has become the foundation of how he approaches life, health, and wellness. Earlier this year, when celebrating his milestone birthday, Pilato intentionally named the event his “Forever Young” Birthday Gala. It was not simply a catchy theme; it was a declaration of how he chooses to live. Yet his journey has not been without hardship.
For fifteen years, Pilato served as the primary caregiver for his parents through the final chapters of their lives. Following their deaths, he found himself adrift. “I was like a lost puppy after my parents died,” he recalls. “I had really sacrificed my prime years to care for them, and I don’t regret one moment of that, because I think I became a better person in the process.”
After his mother died, twelve years after his father, Pilato says he gave up on life for a time. He was eating white cream donuts, drinking soda, reaching for sweets, and no longer exercising.
“I had always been athletic and I always loved to dance, which I inherited from my father,” he says. “But one day, about a year after my mom died, I was driving my car, and I went over a few bumps on the road, and my chest started to shake. I realized I had developed ‘man boobs,’ and that was the game-changer. I knew I had to get my act together, and reboot my health.”
In that moment, he realized it was time to reclaim his health.
Since then, walking has become one of his greatest wellness tools. It is simple, accessible, and effective. “Walk at least once a day, and ideally after every meal,” he advises. “Walking is the easiest exercise to experience, and it doesn’t cost a dime.”
While many people struggle with consistency as they age, Pilato credits self-awareness for helping him stay on track. “The mirror doesn’t lie,” he laughs. “Dressing room mirrors especially.” His humor is characteristic of the warmth that friends and colleagues know well. Despite a successful career spanning book, television, journalism, producing, and public appearances, Pilato remains remarkably grounded. “I try to live as regular a life as possible,” he says. “I enjoy conversations beyond Hollywood. I love hearing about other people’s lives and experiences.”
That perspective may stem from lessons learned while caring for his parents. At a time when some questioned whether he was sacrificing his own future, Pilato remained steadfast.
“I never felt God would abandon my life and career because I cared for my parents,” he says. “And He didn’t.” In fact, he believes those years ultimately strengthened his work as a writer and storyteller.
Pilato has never viewed age as a barrier to reinvention. At 58, he launched his own classic television talk show, Then Again with Herbie J Pilato. His hair was thinning and had turned gray, but that did not stop him.
“I’ve never really thought about age ever stopping me in my career,” he says. For him, the answer goes back to family and faith. “When I had essentially placed my life and career on hold to care for my parents, people would ask, ‘Herbie J, what are you doing? When are you going to move on with your own life?’ I told them, ‘I’m fine. You just worry about yourself.’” Pilato did not care for his parents for inheritance or reward. He cared for them because he loved them.
“My mom and dad had nothing of what this world calls secure,” he says. “I took care of them because I loved them. And in turn, God never abandoned me, my life, or my career.”
Those caregiving years did not diminish him. They deepened him. They gave him wisdom, emotional range, and material that continues to shape his books, screenplays, and creative work. When asked whether strength also comes from self-control and knowing one’s limits, Pilato is clear. “It certainly is important to have a measure of self-control,” he says, “but I have never thought in terms of limitations. Ever.”
Today, his wellness routine extends far beyond physical activity. Prayer, meditation, gratitude, and positive thinking are equally important. “There isn’t room in my brain for a negative thought,” he says. “If one sneaks in, I confront it, deal with it, and then kick it out.”
Perhaps most importantly, Pilato believes kindness and laughter are essential ingredients for a healthy life. “Respectful loving-kindness is the common thread for every relationship,” he says. “And if you lose your sense of humor, especially self-deprecating humor, you’re sunk.”
When asked what has surprised him most about entering his mid-sixties, his answer is thoughtful, “Sometimes the lessons we thought we learned in previous years, we find we have to keep learning.” It is a reminder that growth does not stop at any age.
As our conversation came to a close, I asked Herbie what living well truly looks like, not simply living longer, but living fully. His answer arrived without hesitation, “A big ol’ smile with a cheerful, carefree and sincere spirit.”
In a culture often obsessed with fighting age, Herbie J Pilato offers something far more powerful: the reminder that youthfulness is less about years and more about attitude, purpose, gratitude, discipline, humor, faith, and love.
And perhaps that is the real secret to staying forever young.
Editor’s Note: Herbie J Pilato is an award-winning author, producer, television host, and entertainment journalist known for his work chronicling classic television history. His message is simple but profound: move your body, nurture your spirit, choose kindness, and never stop believing that your best chapters may still be ahead of you.
