the last famous person you were surprised to discover was actually still alive

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she was famous.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 13:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Anita O'Day: though I had never heard of her until the time I also learned that she was still alive.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 13:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Clive Dunn is the obvious one.

― Chriddof (Chriddof), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Dennis Hopper, every time.

― TOMBOT, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Mickey Rooney

― Bryan (Bryan), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

She was famous, yeah, but I thought she was alive and she's not.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

So I guess it's only half-inverted.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

J.D. Salinger, every time I hear it, I'm surprised.

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 15:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm always vaguelly confused that he even exists.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

George Jones.

― Carey (Carey), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Elvis Presley

― jewelly (jewelly), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 19:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Joe Namath - I could have sworn he had a heart attack years ago!

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 19:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Red Auerbach, who I had to make sure was still alive by going to Dead or Alive?

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 19:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Wait, didn't Studs Terkel die? That site lists him as alive. Or am I thinking of Irv Kupcinet?

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

That guy from the Von Bondies

― Lynskey (Lynskey), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 19:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I feel particularly bad for this, having been such a huge fan of his music, but only earlier in 2003 did I learn that Mr. Sly Stone in fact did not die sometime in the early 80s.

― nickalicious at granny's crib, Thursday, 25 December 2003 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Ursula Moray Williams

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Thursday, 25 December 2003 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Reg Varney

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Friday, 26 December 2003 19:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Dave Allen

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 26 December 2003 19:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I couldn't believe Christopher Lee was alive when I found out he was doing Saruman (and then the Star Wars dingus). He's like, 80!!!

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 26 December 2003 20:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Oops: Kupcinet just kicked the bucket about a month ago. Studs is alive and well.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 26 December 2003 20:01 (twenty-two years ago)

GENE WILDER. I swear he died.

― TEH ONE AN ONLEY DEANN GULBAREY (deangulberry), Friday, 26 December 2003 20:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Reg Varney's still alive?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 27 December 2003 02:01 (twenty-two years ago)

richard pryor.

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 27 December 2003 02:22 (twenty-two years ago)

i read something saying Nina Simone only died this year. Can that be right?

― isadora (isadora), Sunday, 28 December 2003 08:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Windsor Davies

― Ricardo (RickyT), Sunday, 28 December 2003 21:45 (twenty-two years ago)

gene wilder recently had a bout with cancer, which thank god he survived.

― s1utsky (slutsky), Sunday, 28 December 2003 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

five months pass...

Bosko Balaban Stats For Season

Name Bosko Balaban
Team Aston Villa
Total Appearances 0
Starts 0
Substituted 0
Total Minutes Played 0
Avg Minutes Played Per Start 0
Goals 0
Avg Goal Mins When Starting 0.0
Avg Mins Played/Goal Scored 0
Goals Scored As Sub 0
Number of Bookings 0
Total Booking Minutes 0
Avg Bookings Per Start 0
Number of Red Cards 0
Total Red Card Minutes 0
Avg Red Cards Per Start 0
Avg Booking Minutes When Starting 0.0

― bosko, Monday, 14 June 2004 16:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I was surprised that Bosko even lived.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 14 June 2004 16:15 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

Telma Hopkins!

but that was last week.

today it was ARNOLD STANG!!!!

don't know why i though telma hopkins died.

― tremendoid, Friday, 8 February 2008 06:25 (eighteen years ago)

Zsa Zsa Gabor just turned 91 a few days ago.

― Roz, Friday, 8 February 2008 07:03 (eighteen years ago)

abe vigoda

― remy bean, Friday, 8 February 2008 07:11 (eighteen years ago)

I think Ernest Borgnine is still at it too.

― nickn, Friday, 8 February 2008 07:52 (eighteen years ago)

doris day

― Frogman Henry, Friday, 8 February 2008 08:00 (eighteen years ago)

she's getting a grammy tomorrow

― tremendoid, Friday, 8 February 2008 08:03 (eighteen years ago)

two years pass...

Shirley Temple

― lol @ dog w/ sunglasses (Pillbox), Thursday, 23 September 2010 19:06 (fifteen years ago)

!!!

― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Thursday, 23 September 2010 19:07 (fifteen years ago)

Leonard skinner, but he's now dead.

― Your cousin, Marvin Cobain (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 23 September 2010 19:08 (fifteen years ago)

I was surprised that Bosko even lived.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, June 15, 2004 4:15 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark

dying here

had no idea Sam Beckett lived until 1989 until the other day

― CharlieS, Thursday, 23 September 2010 19:12 (fifteen years ago)

j.d. salinger, but then he died not long after i found out

― just1n3, Thursday, 23 September 2010 19:24 (fifteen years ago)

four months pass...

Louie Anderson

― Godzilla vs. Rodan Rodannadanna (The Yellow Kid), Friday, 18 February 2011 06:17 (fifteen years ago)

He was on Tim & Eric a year or two ago.

― Wacky Way Lounge (Evan), Friday, 18 February 2011 06:41 (fifteen years ago)

Kenneth Mars, but once again after he was dead.

― Your cousin, Marvin Cobain (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 18 February 2011 07:56 (fifteen years ago)

Jane Russell

― Alba, Friday, 18 February 2011 09:00 (fifteen years ago)

Clive Dunn

― Alba, Friday, 18 February 2011 09:01 (fifteen years ago)

(still)

― Alba, Friday, 18 February 2011 09:02 (fifteen years ago)

len lesser

― flopson, Friday, 18 February 2011 09:03 (fifteen years ago)

Herbert Lom

― Alba, Friday, 18 February 2011 09:12 (fifteen years ago)

(I keep being surprised, sorry)

― Alba, Friday, 18 February 2011 09:12 (fifteen years ago)

One of the people who was in Hitler's bunker when he shot himself
Lee Harvey Oswald's wife (not even that old - still in her sixties)

― Ismael Klata, Friday, 18 February 2011 09:31 (fifteen years ago)

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Jeremy Isaacs (born 1932). Yes I'm rewatching The World at War.

― Alba, Thursday, 9 April 2026 19:47 (one month ago)

Freddie "Brown Bread" Foreman, gangster and associate of the Kray Twins, 94.

― Clarinet Cop (Tom D.), Wednesday, 15 April 2026 11:12 (one month ago)

Burning Spear, 81

― Ward Fowler, Friday, 17 April 2026 09:40 (one month ago)

Dennis Skinner, born 1932.

― Alba, Friday, 17 April 2026 13:44 (one month ago)

I was positive he died a couple of years ago

― Overtoun House windows (aldo), Friday, 17 April 2026 19:24 (one month ago)

Bernard Purdie, 86. Bonus points for my discovering he’s still alive from an ad for Newport Jazz, where he is on the bill!

― Lavator Shemmelpennick, Tuesday, 21 April 2026 22:27 (one month ago)

I think he still often works Broadway gigs!

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 21 April 2026 22:31 (one month ago)

Madge Hindle, 87.

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 22 April 2026 21:26 (one month ago)

Clem Cattini, original drummer with the Tornados, 88.

― bored by endless ecstasy (anagram), Thursday, 23 April 2026 08:45 (one month ago)

RIP. Played on a bunch of hit records such as "The Hurdy Gurdy Man" iirc.

― Galactic Poetaster (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 23 April 2026 23:47 (one month ago)

That's a nice sentiment, but he's still alive

― Josefa, Friday, 24 April 2026 00:57 (one month ago)

So apparently there's no consensus on who played drums or guitar on "Hurdy Gurdy Man," the Wikipedia page is a complete jumble of accounts.

― Josefa, Friday, 24 April 2026 01:10 (one month ago)

Thelma Barlow, 96.

― Clarinet Cop (Tom D.), Friday, 24 April 2026 11:52 (one month ago)

Joe McGrath, director of "The Magic Christian" et al, 98.

― Clarinet Cop (Tom D.), Friday, 24 April 2026 17:10 (one month ago)

Two-thirds of the 60s Catwomen:

Julie Newmar, 92
Lee Merriwether, 90

― cryptosicko, Saturday, 2 May 2026 02:25 (one month ago)

I've just found out my 'Uncle' Michael - actually my first cousin once removed, apparently - is still alive at 90. Well, he's famous to me.

― Clarinet Cop (Tom D.), Saturday, 2 May 2026 10:20 (one month ago)

Rachel Robinson, widow of baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson, 103

― henry s, Sunday, 3 May 2026 14:29 (one month ago)

Frank Sedgman is still with us at 98. A player from an impossibly remote era who Dan Maskell would often mention in passing. The generation before Emerson/Laver/Rosewall/Roche/Stolle/Newcombe.
Of the first sixteen singles champs to be presented on Centre Court in the 2000 parade, he's the only one left.

― Michael Jones, Sunday, 3 May 2026 17:14 (one month ago)

Carl Yastrzemski, 86, made an appearance at today's Red Sox game.

― whimsical skeedaddler (Moodles), Saturday, 9 May 2026 02:54 (four weeks ago)

Child killer and suspected serial killer Sidney Cooke, 99.

― nate woolls, Saturday, 9 May 2026 03:25 (four weeks ago)

But will there be a national celebration a la David Attenborough when he hits 100?

― Clarinet Cop (Tom D.), Saturday, 9 May 2026 06:20 (four weeks ago)

Roy Thinnes, 88.

― Michael Jones, Sunday, 10 May 2026 21:06 (three weeks ago)

Shirley Jones (Partridge Family, Oklahoma, etc) is 92

― Mark G, Monday, 11 May 2026 09:56 (three weeks ago)

(Elmer Gantry!)

― The Man Who Sold the Unisphere (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 12 May 2026 22:13 (three weeks ago)

Michael Heseltine, 93.

― bored by endless ecstasy (anagram), Wednesday, 13 May 2026 03:17 (three weeks ago)

Saw something in the news about Gerhard Schoeder the other day. I'd have sworn he'd died a few years ago.

― Zelda Zonk, Wednesday, 13 May 2026 03:44 (three weeks ago)

Linda Blair, 67.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 14 May 2026 20:19 (three weeks ago)

Match Game edition:

Bart Braverman, 80
Elaine Joyce, 80
Gary Burghoff, 82

― cryptosicko, Friday, 15 May 2026 02:38 (three weeks ago)

james sloyan, who got conned at the beginning of The Sting and played a bunch of different star trek parts, is 86

good cleft chin

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https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/4/4f/Alidar_Jarok.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20181208231658&path-prefix=en

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― mookieproof, Friday, 15 May 2026 03:15 (three weeks ago)

xp Since you went there...

Joyce Bulifant, 88
Lee Meriwether, 90
Fannie Flagg, 81
Jo Anne Worley, 88

― Josefa, Friday, 15 May 2026 03:16 (three weeks ago)

Burghoff and Alda surely the last remaining MASH castmembers?

― an uncharacteristically irritated Mr. Rogers (stevie), Friday, 15 May 2026 08:10 (three weeks ago)

I was crazy about MASH as a kid, even had the big retrospective book, and what I remember from that book, which was hugely deferential to the show, is that it was fairly clear Burghoff did not get on with the rest of the cast.

― an uncharacteristically irritated Mr. Rogers (stevie), Friday, 15 May 2026 08:11 (three weeks ago)

Hush my mouth! BJ's still alive

― an uncharacteristically irritated Mr. Rogers (stevie), Friday, 15 May 2026 08:12 (three weeks ago)

And Jamie Farr! I'm really living up to the spirit of the thread title, aren't I?

― an uncharacteristically irritated Mr. Rogers (stevie), Friday, 15 May 2026 08:13 (three weeks ago)

Ernest Saunders, born 1935.

― Alba, Saturday, 16 May 2026 20:25 (three weeks ago)

susan cooper turned 91 today

― mookieproof, Sunday, 24 May 2026 01:49 (one week ago)

the better informed can put me right style-wise but does marshall allen (102) count as the oldest bebop man still busy touring?

or did he skip bebop & plunge straight into wild space style?

― mark s, Thursday, 28 May 2026 08:36 (one week ago)

Lee Friedlander, 91

― Andy the Grasshopper, Thursday, 28 May 2026 16:38 (one week ago)

rosemary harris, 98 going on 99

also learned that she's the mother of actress jennifer ehle, had no idea.

― the manda-whore-ian and hoe-gu (voodoo chili), Thursday, 28 May 2026 16:45 (one week ago)

And born in Ashby-de-la-Zouch!

― Tom D, focussed with getting on with the job (Tom D.), Thursday, 28 May 2026 17:07 (one week ago)

extremely few people, let alone notable [jazz] musicians, have reached 102

bebop is just a label

be content with his sheer existence imo

― mookieproof, Friday, 29 May 2026 03:59 (one week ago)

Margaret Court, 83

― jaymc, Friday, 29 May 2026 04:05 (one week ago)

Mike Elliott, Jamaican-British saxophonist, co-founder of the Foundations, 96.

― Tom D, focussed with getting on with the job (Tom D.), Saturday, 30 May 2026 10:33 (one week ago)

Mike Stoller, 93.

And while I'm here...

Gaby Rodgers, actress and for many years Jerry Leiber's wife (and great-niece of Husserl!), 98.

― Tom D, focussed with getting on with the job (Tom D.), Saturday, 30 May 2026 11:08 (one week ago)

Saw pictures of Mike out and about promoting/attending his recent Broadway Show, Beaches, I think.

― Dr. Winston O RLY? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 31 May 2026 04:58 (six days ago)

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