Old GM?

Is it possible for someone to start playing chess at a later stage in their life say for example 50 years old and still make it to Grand Master level?

Yes, there may not be many precedents but yes it is

I recommend changing your approach though. Don't set grandmaster as your goal. Start by trying to become a decent player. Once you're decent, try break 2000. When you're at 2000, move on to the next goal and so on.

But what do I know, I'm only a lowly 1500 player with less than a years experience 

I imagined that it would take quite a lot of stamina to become Grandmaster, but then I know guys over 70 that can still run pretty decent 10k times! I suppose it's all about drive and determination - something I think younger people have more of.

I dont think its ever been done so I would have to vote no. 

There's a first time for everything. 

So how old do you think the cut off period is? 30? 40? 42?

You're an excellent example of birth being that "certain age"

Ooooh!

Still, I'd love to see some guy take up chess at age fifty and become a GM by age sixty or seventy. That would be cool. 

 GM Viktor Korchnoi would slap you lol.

This got me thinking; who was the youngest GM?

Youngest Prodigy: Samuel Reshevsky

Youngest GM: Magnus Carlson

Youngest Expert: ?? Some 10yr old in California  

Youngest Potential: Bobby Fischer

Youngest Class C: ??? some 6yr old whos niw 20somethin and hes a NM.

So Magnus Carlson was the youngest GM.

 Yeper unless thers someone who achieved GM at 12 I don't know about.

Why?

He was 13. The youngest ever was Karjakin. He was 12.

In fact, the youngest ever, pre-computer dominance, was Judit Polgar.

Hypothetically would these GMs still have made it had they not learned chess until later in life?

Excuse me, it's widely known that Karjakin is the youngest GM ever.

As to the topic: I don't think anyone will ever make it to GM after starting at 50.

I have trouble dismissing the possibility. Who, 50 years ago, would have believed a 12 year old GM was possible?