DICK VAN DYKE, MARY TYLER MOORE AMERICA'S IDEAL GRANDPARENTS, SAYS BANKERS LIFE AND CASUALTY COMPANY SURVEY
Thursday, December 9, 2004
New Survey for
Grandparents Day Shows Haley Joel Osment is Americans' First Choice
for a Celebrity Grandson and Honors Julie Andrews as the Celebrity
Aging Most Gracefully
CHICAGO (September 12, 2004) - Americans seem
to prefer grandparents who embody traditional values, according to
a recent survey sponsored by Bankers Life and Casualty Company to
commemorate Grandparents Day, Sunday, Sept. 12.
In a questionnaire asking people to choose from a list of
celebrity pairings, 49 percent of respondents said they would most
like to have Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore as their
grandparents. Sandra Day O' Connor and Anthony Hopkins were chosen
by 15 percent of respondents, followed by Alan Greenspan and Carol
Burnett at 13 percent. Only 10 percent of Americans would prefer to
have grown up as grandchildren of the unlikely pair of Ozzy
Osbourne and Angela Lansbury.
When asked to weigh in on the aging process, almost 45 percent
said Julie Andrews is the celebrity they think is aging most
gracefully. The "Sound of Music " and "My Fair Lady " star was
followed in the survey by two men whose long acting careers have
established them as rugged, all-American heroes to millions around
the world. Paul Newman was named by 20 percent of respondents as
the celebrity who is aging the most gracefully, while Robert
Redford followed with 16 percent. Three percent named Joan Rivers
and one percent chose legendary rock and roller Keith Richards.
When it comes to grandkids, Americans' sixth sense kicked in.
When asked to choose from a list of celebrity kids and teens, 34
percent of the respondents said they would most like to have Haley
Joel Osment ( "The Sixth Sense, " "Pay it Forward ") as a
grandchild. Boy-wizard Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter movies) came
in second with 30 percent approval, while Mischa Barton (the OC)
was favored by just 4 percent of the respondents.
Bankers contracted with Synovate to poll 481 males and 519
females via eNation. The survey has an error margin of plus or
minus 3 percent.
Established in 1879 and headquartered at the historic
Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago, Bankers Life and Casualty
Company focuses exclusively on the financial security needs of
seniors. The company offers a broad portfolio of health and life
insurance and retirement savings products designed especially for
seniors. These products are distributed through a national network
of professionally trained company agents. Visit us online at www.bankers.com.
Contact: |
Linda Heacox
312-396-7666
l.heacox@banklife.com |
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