Today, a few old YouTubers were among the first stars on this platform. These OG YouTubers are pioneers in making money from their online channels by creating content about anything they like.
In 2005, when YouTube started, it became one of the first chances for online creators to make money from YouTube content. There are lots of YouTubers who have become popular on YouTube and then faded away, and different trends have appeared and disappeared. But, many fans really miss the early days of YouTube and the creators who were famous back then.
So, if you’re a brand owner looking for old famous YouTubers for your influencer marketing or a fan who has been nostalgic for the creators who shaped a huge part of your childhood, This article is for you! Here we’ll provide a list of old YouTubers you forgot about!
Let’s get started!
The List of Old & Nostalgic YouTubers
In 2024, YouTube has been around for 19 years, influencing the childhood memories of two generations, Millennials and Gen Z. In this section, we’ll offer a list of old YouTubers from old gaming YouTubers to old beauty YouTubers.
1. Smosh (26.5M)
Even if you didn’t like Smosh’s videos, most people on YouTube knew they had a big impact. Anthony Padilla started a website called smosh.com in 2002, and later he and his friend Ian Hecox joined YouTube. They were known for making comedy and entertaining videos.
Anthony played a big part in making the Smosh YouTube channel popular. But in 2017, he left, and new people started showing up in their videos. Just before VidCon, Anthony and Ian announced that they were getting the Smosh channel back. Some viewers really liked the original members, but everything changed as people left, and new ones were replaced. Now, the channel has 26.5 million followers.
2. NigaHiga (21M)
Ryan Higa is one of the old popular YouTubers, American comedians, and actors. He goes by the username NigaHiga on YouTube. Ryan is famous for making funny videos, and they’ve been watched more than 3 billion times.
From 2009 to 2011, this funny YouTuber had the most subscribers on YouTube, second only to PewDiePie. Currently, he has more than 21 million subscribers. While he still makes videos on his main channel, he has also broadened his content and launched a new channel called HigaTV.
Now, let’s explore some old Minecraft YouTubers below!
3. SkyDoesMinecraft (11M)
Adam Dahlberg is one of the old popular Minecraft YouTubers, a video game commentator, and a former YouTube animator. His fame began with Minecraft videos, where he called the gold ingot ‘budder’ and expressed a strong dislike for squids in the game.
At Minecon 2013, he performed a Minecraft parody song called ‘New World.’ In addition to his gaming content, he is a musician named NetNobody. He played a significant role in popularizing the ‘budder’ trend and squids-hating in Minecraft, making him a favorite among both young Gen-Z and older Minecraft players. He currently boasts over 11 million subscribers on his YouTube channel!
Now, let’s look at one of the old Fortnite Youtubers who has the most subscribed YouTube channel among the Fortnite community!
4. Ninja (23.9)
Ninja, whose real name is Richard Tyler Blevins, is one of the popular and old gaming YouTubers and Twitch streamers. He’s famous for playing Fortnite on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Ninja has a massive following, with 19 million fans on Twitch and almost 24 million subscribers on YouTube.
He’s a big deal in the Fortnite community and holds the record for the most subscribers on YouTube in that gaming niche.
5. Juicystar07 (1.66M)
Blair Fowler, also known as juicystar07, was one of the old beauty YouTubers and lifestyle influencers, who began her channel in 2007. Many young women learned from her how to style their hair and apply makeup. After more than ten years of making videos, she stopped in 2020. In July, Fowler returned to YouTube and said she wanted to make videos again.
This female YouTuber shares updated makeup routines and her morning and nighttime routines. She also hoped that filming room tours of her new house would motivate her to finish decorating. Funny! The old YouTuber didn’t respond to requests for comments. Fans were excited about her possible comeback and talked about how much she influenced them as an early influencer.
When it comes to old makeup YouTubers, the name of Jeffree Star is the first one!
6. Jeffree Star (15.8 M)
Jeffree Star is not just one of the old YouTubers, he’s also dabbled in music, acting, and cosmetics, and has been a successful entrepreneur overall. People really like Jeffree for his personality and content, making him one of the most beloved old makeup YouTubers.
Jeffree began his YouTube channel in 2006, and now, he has over 15 million subscribers. Furthermore, he owns Jeffree Star Cosmetics, a makeup brand that sells over $100 million of products annually.
Let’s introduce one of the old YouTubers you forgot about!
7. Fred (3.01M)
When you refer to the old days of YouTube, there was a popular and energetic YouTuber named FRED, also known as Lucas Cruikshank. FRED was a fictional character played by Lucas, and he became famous in the early years of YouTube. Lucas decided to retire the character in 2013 because he couldn’t do the unique FRED voice anymore. Besides YouTube, FRED also gained exposure on Nickelodeon.
Starting in 2008, FRED was a big deal on YouTube, and whether you liked him or not, he became a significant part of 2000s nostalgia. Lucas even made a trilogy of FRED movies from 2010 to 2012. Although he’s not as popular as he used to be, FRED remains a well-known name on YouTube, leaving a lasting impression on millions of people. The last video on the FRED channel was posted several years ago, but his impact is something many won’t forget.
8. Charlie McDonnell (2.11M)
Charlie McDonnell, also known as Charlieissocoollike, was the first British YouTuber to get 2.11 million subscribers. She started making videos in 2007, where she did sketches and created ‘Fun Science’ videos. In 2019, she left YouTube to concentrate on writing for the screen.
In October 2022, McDonnell shared on Instagram that she is a transgender woman and prefers to be referred to using she and they pronouns. In a video in January, she talked about her experience of coming out and how YouTube played a role in that journey. Now that she’s done that, she mentioned feeling positive about returning to YouTube because she can now show her authentic self on the platform.
9. PewDiePie (111M)
Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg is an old popular YouTuber known for his Let’s Play videos and Vlogs. He held the record for the most subscribers on YouTube for almost 6 years, but someone else has now surpassed him with 257 million subscribers. As of March 2023, PewDiePie has over 111 million subscribers.
In January 2017, PewDiePie made a significant change in his content and attitude with a video titled ‘Forced Positivity.’ In the video, he honestly discussed the topic, admitting his own mistakes and weaknesses with self-awareness and humility. Now he’s focusing on Comedy, Reaction Videos, Meta-Commentary, and Satire, with less emphasis on Gaming content.
10. Markiplier (36.3M)
He’s one of the old gaming YouTubers who is famous for his cheerful and fun personality in his videos. While he mainly makes videos about video games, over time, he started to show a more genuine side of himself. People really like Markiplier’s friendly personality and the endless entertainment in his videos.
His YouTube channel has more than 36 million subscribers and features over 5,000 videos for viewers to enjoy. Markiplier started his YouTube channel in 2012, and from the beginning, his videos have always been pretty funny. Even though he now makes different types of content, he hasn’t changed the entertaining personality that fans have come to appreciate.
Check out his channel and enjoy!
The List of Old YouTubers over 30
By now, we’ve introduced top experienced and old YouTubers who started sharing videos from YouTube’s early days. Now, it’s time to explore the senior and the oldest YouTubers by the age who also created their channel back to the beginning of the platform.
11. Judy Graham (58.7K)
Judy is an 80-year-old knitting enthusiast who runs the YouTube channel ‘knittingtipsbyjudy’. He started sharing her knitting expertise on November 23, 2007 and is still active with a growing fan base of over 58K subscribers.
She has been knitting since she was 13 and even owns a successful company, Topaz Knitwear, known for creating knitted clothing for celebrities and popular shows. Judy’s journey into YouTube began when her son wrote about seniors using the internet and social media. Now, her channel features regular uploads, typically once a week or more. One of her most popular videos is a tutorial on the cast-on technique, slowed down for better learning.
12. Shirley Curry (1.3M)
Shirley Curry is 81 years old and has a YouTube channel under her name. She started uploading videos on July 8, 2015, and she is still active. Her first video showcased pictures from her holiday at Cedar Hill, but it was the second video, a Let’s Play of Skyrim, that brought her fame with 1.4 million views.
Her channel has gained over one million subscribers. Although she initially focused on Skyrim, Shirley now plays various games with good 3D graphics and realistic human characters. This old YouTuber uploads several videos each week, and her channel continues to grow in popularity.
13. Peter Oakley (101K)
Peter Oakley, an 87-year-old man from England, started a YouTube channel called geriatric1927 in 2006. Even though he is no longer active, his videos are still popular. Peter shared stories from his life, especially about his experiences during the war and his younger days. His first video, uploaded on August 5, 2006, has over 3.2 million views.
Unfortunately, he passed away from cancer on March 23, 2014. Despite his absence, people still watch his videos, and he is remembered as the grandfather of the Internet.
14. Tim Rowett (2.07M)
Tim Rowett, who is 73 years old, runs a YouTube channel called Grand Illusions. He is one of the old YouTubers who started uploading videos on July 9, 2008, and he’s still active.
Tim has been collecting cool and unusual toys for over 30 years, and his channel is all about showcasing these quirky games and fascinating trinkets from his collection.
In Tim’s videos, he introduces a toy, demonstrates how it works, and often explains its features. One of his most popular videos is called ‘Tim Whistles,’ where he showcases some unique whistles in interesting shapes. Grand Illusions has over 2M subscribers. Tim usually uploads a new video at least once a week.
15. Lill Droniak (518K)
An 87-year-old woman named Lill Droniak, also known as Grandma Lill, is part of a YouTube channel called Kevin and Lill. They make vlogs and reaction videos together, with Lill’s grandson Kevin handling the filming, editing, and uploading.
The channel started on October 7, 2011, with Kevin posting the first video. Lill joined the channel a year later in a car vlog, and their popularity soared between 2013 and 2014 due to Grandma Lill’s funny personality and their close relationship.
As of now, the channel has over 518,000 subscribers, and they consistently upload videos every Sunday and Thursday.
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To Wrap Things Up
Considering that YouTube has been around since 2005, you can see how much early YouTubers have evolved. The old YouTubers became important figures in the community and left a lasting impact on the platform. This article will highlight 10 old popular YouTubers in different niches from gaming to beauty and makeup.
FAQs
Jawed Karim, born on October 28, 1979, is an American who helped create YouTube. He was the first one to put a video on the site, called ‘Me at the zoo,’ on April 23, 2005. People have watched this video more than millions of times.
Here are the names of the oldest YouTubers by the age mentioned in this article:
Judy Graham (80 years old),
Shirley Curry (81 years old),
Peter Oakley (87 years old),
Lill Droniak (87 years old),
Tim Rowett (73 years old).
The first video ever posted on YouTube is called ‘Me at the Zoo.’ It was uploaded on April 23, 2005, at 8:31:52 p.m. PDT (or April 24, 2005, at 03:31:52 UTC). The 19-second video shows Jawed Karim, one of YouTube’s founders, who was 25 years old at the time. He’s standing in front of two elephants at the San Diego Zoo in California and talking about their long trunks.
