# 2023 SDMB Celebrity Death Pool **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2022, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831 "2022-12-01T04:02:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/1 "2022-12-01T04:02:49Z")
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!!! This past year has been a strange one, in many different ways, and 2023 hopefully will be better. Okay, as usual, let’s get the rules out of the way and get to playing. The Rules: 1. You pick 13 celebrities (that’s thirteen, not ten) whom you predict will die within the calendar year 2023. If any of your celebrities dies, you score 100 points minus their age at death. Whoever has the most points at the end of the year wins the undying _snort_ admiration of the SDMB. 2. All picks must be time- and date-stamped by midnight CST, Dec. 31st, 2022. (That’s U.S. Central time, which is six hours behind Greenwich.) 3. Valid picks are not: a. already dead b. a fictional character c. non-human d. under age 18 at death, 'cause we’re macabre but not THAT macabre. e. a registered member of the SDMB, 'cause that would be weird f. hostages held by terrorist organizations g. famous solely as a result of their illness or associated actions/events. h. listed as “any member of whatever group” It’s really hard to define “celebrity” Best we can do is someone who’s death is rather widely reported in major media outlets, because of something they’ve done, be it art, politics, athletics, science, music, the military, or even serial murder. It’s not going to be your Aunt Mabel who was in the local paper because her apple pie won first place in the county fair. HOWEVER, if you DO have a question about whether or not someone else’s choice qualifies, please, I’d prefer a PM about it to start off with, rather than thrashing it out in public and possibly causing resentment. Remember, people, it’s only a game! It’s supposed to be fun, Fun FUN!!! 1. You can pick people who are 100 or more years old but you won’t score points for them. See the “Quantity Not Quality” award, below. 2. If we are uncertain about the celebrity’s age at death, we will go by the higher age (lower score). 3. Prisoners held on death row will be valid for scoring points only if they die by means other than official execution. 4. Any poster who kills or otherwise contributes to the death of any celebrity mentioned in this thread is disqualified. It’s just a game, people. The only exceptions to this rule would be deaths caused by those posters serving as members of the police or armed forces of any country, in the line of duty. 5. Editing your choices: be careful! You can make changes to your list before the end of the year, but it has to be clear which names are your final choices. It might be advisable to submit one or more “alternates” with your list, in the event that one of your picks dies during December 2022. If you have no alternates, and one of your picks has died the remaining twelve will be all you have. You may have no more than 13 picks. If you pick more than 13, or if any of your picks is otherwise invalid, I may ask for clarification. Otherwise, I will submit the first 13 names on your list. Do me a favor: check twice, post once. Sharing news of celebrities in ill health and whatnot is up to individual posters. If a poster playing the game gets banned during the year, this does not invalidate their entry, although they won’t be able to gloat in the thread if and/or when they do get points. If a player changes their username at some point, post this news on the thread, or PM me, so I know who you are. Players who pass away themselves during the year will still have their points counted, and will receive a special award, or notice, when the year is over. Some celebrities have common, identical or similar names. It is helpful to be specific. Spelling counts! Please try to spell celebrities’ names correctly. Names that weren’t originally spelled in English can be tricky, I know, but if you aren’t sure of a name, try looking at what a major news outlet, like CNN or the BBC, uses. In 2020 I found Trebek, as in Alex, spelled four different ways. While all deaths garnering points must occur during the calendar year, I know that a death might go unreported for a day or so. So, I will not post official total points for at least 24 hours after 12/31/2023. If you find that one of your picks died, say, late on 12/31/2023, and you didn’t hear about it until late on Jan. 1, 2024(this is a not so subtle hint to check your lists)then post a cite at once, and you will get your points. After that you will be out of luck. Additional awards: The “Opening Kickoff” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the first listed celebrity to die in 2021. The “Quantity Not Quality” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the greatest number of celebrities who died, regardless of their actual point value. The “Inside Track With the Grim Reaper” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who had the most unique picks that died. The “Robbing the Cradle” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the youngest celebrity to die in 2020, but see rule 3.d. The “Final Hours” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the last listed celebrity to die in 2021. List Format: I have a spreadsheet that allows me to post game standings and produce various other statistics. The pain is “loading” the data into the sheets. I can do each list in a single cut and paste if you do the following two things. First, please observe, what I, Baker, refer to as the “Pope” rule, that is, use the name a celebrity is most commonly known by. It isn’t necessarily their birth name. If a person is known primarily by a titled name, please use that. So it wouldn’t be Jorge Bergoglio, it would be Pope Francis. And don’t put down Charles Windsor, put down King Charles III. For all I know there are other celebrities with the plain names. If you do pick George or Chuck, under their lesser known names, I might not notice it, to give you those points if and when they shuffle off this mortal coil and go to join the choir invisible. And please, let me mention again, check your spelling of names!!! And second, post your list in a plain format. An example of a plain list follows here: Pete Arredondo Greg Abbott Dan Patrick Ken Paxton Ted Cruz John Cornyn Tony Gonzales. Don McLaughlin Mandy Gutierrez Christina Mitchell Busbee Tucker Carlson Lindsey Graham Paul Gosar However, I know that many of you like to include commentary within your lists, such as: Pete(I wasn’t in charge) Arredondo That’s fine, it’s entertaining. But if you do that, please include the list again in plain format for me to copy & paste. It’s good to be the Death Mistress! Have fun, sickos, and “May the odds be ever in your favor!” ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/2 "2022-12-01T09:19:37Z")
First! My list is rap performers. Unlike my political list last year I don’t dislike them, especially, but with their ages, if a couple hit, I’ll rocket to the top of the list. Per the format rule, I’m listing their stage names. Birth names are available. Drake Lil Baby Doja Cat The Weeknd Lil Durk Juice WRLD Polo G Rod Wave Post Malone Moneybagg Yo Megan Thee Stallion J. Cole Kanye West Alternates: Giveon DaBaby The Kid LAROI ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/3 "2022-12-01T09:29:08Z")
This death pool stuff looks like fun. I’ve selected a bunch of people I admire and whom I hope will live forever, in the thought that when their deaths come, as they must inevitably to all, I will be (very weakly) consoled by the thought that at least I got something positive from the devastating horror of losing them forever. Richard Dawkins Loudon Wainwright David Milch Linda Ronstadt Richard Dreyfuss Thomas Pynchon David Lodge Lawrence Block Joni Mitchell Bob Dylan Bill Bradley Martina Navratilova Tobias Wolff ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/4 "2022-12-01T11:38:51Z")
Linda Rondstat has been a perennial on my list for the last few years. Between me and you, we’re ensuring her immortality. ---
**Author:** ![opiewan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/opiewan/32/3566_2.png) [@opiewan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/opiewan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/5 "2022-12-01T15:43:10Z")
Since I am entering December with zero points so far in 2022, I’m going to just reuse my 2022 list for 2023. Not doing any annotations this year as these are mostly commonly known celebrities listed by their known names. PS Welcome back Death Mistress! Shannen Doherty Michael Schumacher Eddie Murphy John Travolta Harvey Weinstein Ozzy Osbourne Dick Wolf Bill Cosby Berry Gordy Ted Turner Carl Bernstein Robert Smith Kanye West Alternates: Kim Jong-un Julian Assange Mitch McConnell Note, Robert Smith in my list is the guitarist and singer/songwriter for The Cure - clarifying since it’s a more common name. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/6 "2022-12-01T15:51:43Z")
Samuel Alito Steve Bannon George W. Bush Tucker Carlson Dick Cheney Anne Coulter Sean Hannity Laura Ingraham Mtitch McConnell Rupert Murdoch Rand Paul Donald J. Trump Harvey Weinstein Alternates: Jim Inhofe Hal Rogers Clarence Thomas People I wouldn’t miss much. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/7 "2022-12-01T16:26:59Z")
Voice artist Cary Means, DOB 12:4/1966 (I have seen his first name spelled both Cary and Carey) Fred Haise, astronaut, DOB 11/14/1933 Jim Lovell, astronaut, DOB 3/25/1928 Ken Mattingly, astronaut, DOB 3/17/1936 Andy Taylor, musician in Duran Duran, DOB 2/16/1961 Jonnie Irwin, British tv personality, DOB 11/18/1973 Roger Corman, director, DOB 4/5/1926 Christine Amanpour, newscaster, DOB 1/12/1958 Tony Bennett, singer, DOB 8/3/1926 Ruth Buzzi, actress, DOB 7/24/36 Dick Vitale, sportscaster, born 1939 Joe Exotic, DOB 3/5/1963 Linda Rondstat, singer, DOB 7/15/1946 * * * Clean list: Carey Means Fred Haise Jim Lovell Ken Mattingly Andy Taylor Jonnie Irwin Roger Corman Christine Amanpour Tony Bennett Ruth Buzzi Dick Vitale Joe Exotic Linda Rondstat ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/8 "2022-12-01T17:56:48Z")
King Charles III Donald Trump Pope Benedict XVI Jimmy Carter Shannen Doherty Andy Taylor Bob Barker Julia Louis-Dreyfus Lou Gramm Salman Rushdie Bill O’Reilly Liza Minelli Ringo Starr Alternate: Tom Brokaw William Shatner Andy Taylor is the member of Duran Duran, just in case there’s more than one. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/9 "2022-12-01T18:09:03Z")
As usual, a preliminary list just in case I miss the deadline later in the month. Dick Cheney Jeanette Lee Shannen Doherty Linda Nolan Shane MacGowan Bruce Willis Phil Collins Pelé John Patrick Ruffo Vanessa Redgrave Liza Minnelli Joe Lieberman Paul Hogan Alternates: Arnold Schwarzenegger ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/10 "2022-12-01T18:29:43Z")
Harriet Miers Bernadette Devlin Tommy Tune Mars Bonfire Oliver R. Smoot Robert Coover Manfred Mann Vladimir Pozner Terence Stamp Leontyne Price Millie Perkins Frank Gehry Howie Carr Nickey Barclay Oksana Baiul Caroll Baker ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/11 "2022-12-01T22:54:58Z")
Gene Hackman Willie Nelson Emperor Akhito Tony Bennett Vanessa Redgrave Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Pelé Dick Cheney David Crosby David Berkowitz Shane MacGowan Linda Nolan Shannen Doherty Alternates: Hulk Hogan Mickey Rourke Paul Reubens ---
**Author:** ![tuesdayweld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@tuesdayweld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuesdayweld)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2022, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/12 "2022-12-02T01:26:10Z")
Dirty List: Andy Dick (Actor/Comedian) Michael Moore (Filmmaker) Brian Wilson (Beach Boy) Kathy Bates (Actress) Sinead O’Connor (Singer/Songwriter) Neal Brennan (Writer/Comedian) Fran Lebowitz (Author/Speaker) Russell Brand (English Comedian/Actor) Demi Lovato (Singer/Actress) John Mulaney (Writer/Comedian) Alternates Johnny Depp (Actor) Wendy Williams (Talk Show Host) Ozzy Osbourne (Singer/Songwriter) Clean List: Andy Dick Michael Moore Brian Wilson Kathy Bates Sinead O’Connor Neal Brennan Fran Lebowitz Russell Brand Demi Lovato John Mulaney Alternates Johnny Depp Wendy Williams Ozzy Osbourne ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2022, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/13 "2022-12-02T05:55:15Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Emperor Akhito You left off his second I again. His buddies are calling him “One-eyed Aki.” ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2022, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/14 "2022-12-02T11:20:13Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > You left off his second I again Thanks. I obviously do not learn from past mistakes. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2022, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/15 "2022-12-02T11:21:50Z")
Trying again, fixing a spelling error. Gene Hackman Willie Nelson Emperor Akihito Tony Bennett Vanessa Redgrave Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Pelé Dick Cheney David Crosby David Berkowitz Shane MacGowan Linda Nolan Shannen Doherty Alternates: Hulk Hogan Mickey Rourke Paul Reubens ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/16 "2022-12-02T16:07:46Z")
Mostly old people Ben Ferencz, Janice Paige Glynis Johns, Bob Barker Arlen Dahl Lee Grant June Lockhart Dick Van Dyke David Attenborough Roger Corman Mel Brooks John Stephen Akhwari James Harrison I could not find an exact birthdate for John Stephen Akhwari but he was born in 1936. So if he does die I’ll count his birthday as having passed, to get a one point lesser score. James Harrison is the Australian blood donor, donating over 1100 times, between whole blood, platelets, and plasma. He is credited with saving over 2 millions lives, as a unique number of blood factors in his system were used to develop an RH treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2022, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/17 "2022-12-02T18:08:38Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > > [@DesertDog](#): > > > > You left off his second I again > > Thanks. I obviously do not learn from past mistakes. You mean your past mstakes? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/18 "2022-12-02T18:10:24Z")
> [@tuesdayweld](#): > > Dirty List: > > Andy Dick (Actor/Comedian) > Michael Moore (Filmmaker) > Brian Wilson (Beach Boy) > Kathy Bates (Actress) > Sinead O’Connor (Singer/Songwriter) > Neal Brennan (Writer/Comedian) > Fran Lebowitz (Author/Speaker) > Russell Brand (English Comedian/Actor) > Demi Lovato (Singer/Actress) > John Mulaney (Writer/Comedian) > > Alternates > Johnny Depp (Actor) > Wendy Williams (Talk Show Host) > Ozzy Osbourne (Singer/Songwriter) > > Clean List: > > Andy Dick > Michael Moore > Brian Wilson > Kathy Bates > Sinead O’Connor > Neal Brennan > Fran Lebowitz > Russell Brand > Demi Lovato > John Mulaney > > Alternates > Johnny Depp > Wendy Williams > Ozzy Osbourne That’s only ten on your list. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2022, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/19 "2022-12-02T18:17:17Z")
Here’s mine. Copied and pasted from the similar thread on the 'Raffe. Shirley MacLaine Sophia Loren Daniel Day-Lewis Alan Alda Margaret O’Brien Tina Louise Ringo Starr Eric Burdon Jeff Bridges (please no) Beau Bridges Ryan O’Neal James Cromwell Elliott Gould Alternates: Derek Jacobi Courtney Love Whoopi Goldberg ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/20 "2022-12-02T18:31:48Z")
Arlene Dahl died in 2021. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831.md?page=2)