NEW YORK - A new study finds that seniors on the big screen are an "endangered species" and frequently the target of stereotypical jokes.

The analysis being released today by the Media, Diversity and Social Change Initiative at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism finds that people 60 or older are significantly underrepresented in movies.

The study found that while nearly 19 percent of the population is 60 or older, just 11 percent of some 4,066 speaking characters in the 100 top U.S. films of 2015 were. Only 10 roles considered leads or co-leads were held by actors 60 or older. Only three of those 10 featured women (Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren and Lin Shaye).

On the plus side, few senior characters were shown with health-related issues or cognitive impairment.