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

The Smothers Brothers

Ann Blyth, from the original Mildred Pierce, turns 93 today.

Newton N. Minow, head of the FCC under President Kennedy, known for describing television as a “vast wasteland” (95).

this is the cover of an album with tony bennett and bill evans in 1977!

https://i.imgur.com/QUbrCWk.jpg

he has had 23402 martinis

Lalo Schifrin

Wow

Louis Gossett Jr.

Jack Hedley (90), lead actor in the 1977 BBC series Who Pays the Ferryman?

Sirhan Sirhan

Scottish film and TV director, Joseph McGrath, 93.

Vera Miles, 92.

Tom, I've often wondered: what is your methodology for finding all these not-dead people?

Usually I'm watching a film they were involved in and that drives me to check up on Wiki.

Ah, gotcha. Was secretly hoping for some sort of agency of the not-dead.

In the case of the last two, "The Great McGonagall" (abysmal) and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance" (not abysmal).

New memoir out from Hayley Mills, 75.

Funnily enough, I was just watching "Carry On Jack" with Juliet Mills, 79, and Bernard Cribbins, 92.

Hailey Mills MERELY 75!

Geoffrey Chater, English actor, appeared in numerous TV programmes and films, best known role as the chaplain in "if....", 100 years old earlier this year.

Sandra Day O'Connor, 91

yet again on his death Jean Paul Belmondo . I keep thinking that people have died years earlier. Jus been watching his early stuff and not really watched much contemporary French stuff though Maybe I'll change that now I'm getting into subtitles again.

Eva Marie Saint, 97

Duane Eddy, a mere 83.

But Link Wray has passed, correct?

Yes, Link Wray is definitely dead

Benny Golson, 92.

Art Rupe, who started Specialty Records (Little Richard, the Soul Stirrers, many, many others), is 104.

Lou Donaldson still around at 94!

xp

Toni Basil is older than Debbie Harry, but just barely

Julius "Dr. J" Erving, a mere 71.

Trinidadian Calypso Singer Mighty Sparrow (real name: Slinger Francisco) - aged 86

Oh wow

Yeah I imagine famous Calypso singers as all being from the 30s-50s, looks like he was right at the tail end of that.

Betty White (99) once again

"Slinger" definitely deserves a revival as a baby name

Sparrow played NYC last month!

Here's the lead from a review of the Mighty Sparrow show I saw in 2006:

When I told my grandmother and mother (both from Trinidad and Tobago) that I saw the Mighty Sparrow at Harbourfront Centre last Friday, they said the same thing: “Isn’t he dead?”

Ricou Browning, who swam underwater as “The Creature” in The Creature from the Black Lagoon and sequels. Also directed the underwater scenes in Thunderball among other film work. Is 91 and in declining health. Someone on Twitter suggested that he would appreciate fan mail now.

^actually it was his daughter who suggested sending fan mail

Don King! I swore he died like ten years ago. Turned 90 last month.

Walter Abish, 89.

Wow

Pat Boone!

George Logan aka Dr Evadne Hinge of Hinge and Bracket. Patrick Fyffe who played Bracket died in 2002.

Steve Stranges don't seem to reach the age of 60, on the whole.

yet again surprised by an obit. Melvin Van Peebles one was in the Guardian yesterday. I saw him live in the late 90s during a poetry festival in Dublin which also featured Nick Cave . I had thought he had passed a few years ago so was surprised to see that
Love the lp stuff which was compiled as Rated X By AN All White Jury. I think that's his first 3 solo lps. At least the non s/trk ones cos Sweet Sweetback predates the ones included i think.

George Logan aka Dr Evadne Hinge of Hinge and Bracket. Patrick Fyffe who played Bracket died in 2002.

I wouldn't have thought he was that old and he isn't really. I'm surprised to discover he's from Rutherglen though!

I was surprised how young he was, I expected he was born in the 20s or 30s. The grey make up worked a treat.

I always think John Astin is dead until I'm reminded he's not. Obvs my brain conflates him with Raul Julia due to the Gomez Addams connection.