The oldest cast member in the 1990 film *Pretty Woman* was the legendary Hollywood veteran **Ralph Bellamy**.
### Specific Details:
* **Age at Time of Filming:** Ralph Bellamy was **85 years old** when the movie was filmed. (Principal photography took place between July 24, 1989, and October 18, 1989; Bellamy was born on June 17, 1904). By the time the film was released in March 1990, he was still 85, turning 86 later that June.
* **Role:** He played **James "Jim" Morse**, the principled and dignified owner of **Morse Industries**, a struggling shipbuilding company.
* **Character Context:** In the film, Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) initially intends to acquire Morse Industries to dismantle it and sell it off for profit. However, through his relationship with Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts), Edward has a change of heart. He ultimately decides to work *with* James Morse to save the company and build ships for the Navy instead of destroying it, marking a major turning point in the protagonist's character arc.
### Additional Context:
* **Final Performance:** *Pretty Woman* was Ralph Bellamy's **final film role**. He passed away on November 29, 1991, at the age of 87, roughly a year and a half after the movie's release.
* **Career Legacy:** Bellamy was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild and received an Academy Honorary Award in 1987 for his nearly 60-year career in the industry.
* **Comparison with Other Cast Members:** The next oldest notable cast members were significantly younger: **Amzie Strickland** (Matron) was 70, while **Héctor Elizondo** (Barney Thompson) and **Elinor Donahue** (Bridget) were both approximately 52 years old at the time of filming. Leading man Richard Gere was 40, and Julia Roberts was only 21–22.