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

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.

Dang, I came here to post John Astin. (And same.)

Happy 90th Birthday to Angie Dickinson!

^pvmic

Tom Lehrer, 93.

I mean, I think I knew that he was still alive. I'm guess I'm just impressed he's still alive.

Chubby Checker is 80 today. Happy birthday to him. And here's a piece I wrote about the Twist a few years ago. https://t.co/NOoMVDIIsh

— Richard Williams (@rwilliams1947) October 3, 2021

Robert Wagner, 91.

Tony Soper, naturalist, TV presenter, and co-founder of the BBC's Natural History Unit, 92.

Biddy Baxter, feared overlord of the Blue Peter production team, 88

Maybe being called Biddy gave a misleading veneer of antiquity back in the day.

Tony Soper, naturalist, TV presenter, and co-founder of the BBC's Natural History Unit, 92.

When I read this name the face that I remembered was, it turns out, not Tony Soper but Tony Bilbow, who is also still alive at 89.

... that is Tony Bilbow, 70s TV film critic, kind of Barry Norman without the quips

It would be remiss not to mention that Glynis Johns is 98 today. Happy Birthday, Glynis Johns!

Joe Negri from Mister Rogers, 95.

Really unbelievable that Chubby Checker is still alive.

I find it hard not to categorise Chubby Checker with the early rock & rollers, though he was really a 60s artist - he's a year younger than John Lennon, for example.

Guess his name being a joke about Fats Domino makes me associate him with the earlier era.

Yeah I didn’t realize Chubby was only 18 when he dropped “The Twist”

Dan Hedaya. Only 81. I haven't seen him in anything since Mulholland Dr.

Dominic Chianese is 90

Lech Walesa, not even that old

Country Joe McDonald, 79, of "and the Fish" fame. Didn't think that he had died, but he just doesn't seem like he should be around in 2021.

I guess “Country Joe” always sounded a bit like an old guy rather than a 23-year-old.

Well, he's named after Stalin, an even older guy.

Funny to think that if Stalin was alive he’s only be 142.

That would really throw this thread for a loop

Clarence “Frogman” Henry, 84. In an interesting twist, he posted on this thread thirteen years ago.

Guess his name being a joke about Fats Domino ...

well blow me down.