# 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:** 40
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/781 "2023-03-28T12:44:42Z")
> **[Tom Leadon, Founder With Tom Petty of Mudcrutch, Dies Aged 70](https://www.americanbluesscene.com/2023/03/tom-leadon-founder-with-tom-petty-of-mudcrutch-dies-aged-70/)** > > Tom Leadon (September 16, 1952 - March 22, 2023) ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/782 "2023-03-28T21:53:18Z")
[Gladys Kessler](https://www.honoraryunsubscribe.com/gladys-kessler/), federal judge who oversaw the RICO case against Big Tobacco as well as cases involving Gitmo and Obamacare. Also… > [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > [Abraham Lempel](https://www.honoraryunsubscribe.com/abraham-lempel/), co-creator of the Lempel-Ziv lossless compression algorithm that would form the basis of later compression algorithms (both lossless and lossy) such as MP3, GIF, and software installers. The other half of the Lempel-Ziv algorithm has also died now: > **[Israeli computer pioneer passes away just weeks after famed research partner](https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/bj2k2g0x3)** > > Prof. Jacob Ziv, together with the late Prof. Abraham Lempel, helped pave the way for widely used technologies such as MP3, PDF and ZIP, leaving behind a legacy of innovation Finally, > **[Arizona sporting legend and 'softball royalty' Dot Wilkinson dies at 101](https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/03/20/dot-wilkinson-a-legend-in-softball-and-bowling-dies-at-101/70029477007/)** > > Wilkinson was one of the best catchers in the history of women's softball, and was the first woman admitted to the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/783 "2023-03-29T04:45:44Z")
UK comedian, actor, host, and drag queen Paul O’Grady has died, aged 67. I wasn’t too familiar with him, aside from his occasional guest appearance on other shows, but he was genuinely very funny, and a popular entertainer. > **[Paul O'Grady: TV presenter and comedian dies aged 67](https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65108130)** > > The TV presenter and comedian died "unexpectedly but peacefully" on Tuesday evening, his partner says. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/784 "2023-03-30T00:51:02Z")
Here’s a news item that might be of interest to some in this thread: > **[Without giving further details: Pope Francis in hospital for respiratory...](https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2046599.html)** ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/785 "2023-03-30T00:56:56Z")
Tweeeeet. Throw the yellow flag. Former NFL referee Bill Leavy has been disqualified from life. > **[Former NFL referee Bill Leavy dies at 76 - ProFootballTalk](https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/03/29/former-nfl-referee-bill-leavy-dies-at-76/amp/)** > > Bill Leavy, a former NFL referee best known for officiating Super Bowl XL between the Steelers and Seahawks, has died. He was 76.Via FootballZebras.com, Leavy died Tuesday. He retired from officiating after the 2014 season. He thereafter... ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/786 "2023-03-30T03:24:02Z")
> **[Bill Zehme, Biographer and Rolling Stone Writer, Dead at 64](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/bill-zehme-dead-obit-1234703967/)** > > The author interviewed a range of celebrities, from Eddie Murphy and Warren Beatty to Madonna and Frank Sinatra > **[Randall Robinson, human rights activist and lawyer, has died at 81](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/26/1166134202/randall-robinson-dead-anti-apartheid-activist)** > > He died in St. Kitts of aspiration pneumonia. He was known for his advocacy against South African apartheid and for Haitian democracy. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/787 "2023-03-30T14:32:07Z")
His face at first just ghostly… > **[Keith Reid, Procol Harum Lyricist and ‘Whiter Shade of Pale’ Co-Writer, Dies...](https://variety.com/2023/music/news/keith-reid-whiter-shade-of-pale-dead-1235567879/)** > > Keith Reid, lyricist for the British group Procol Harum and co-writer of the iconic 1960s hit “Whiter Shade of Pale,” died on March 23 after a battle with cancer, according to a post on the band… ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/788 "2023-03-30T17:40:18Z")
[Mark Russell,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Russell) playing the ol’ red, white and blue piano on PBS in the sky now. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/789 "2023-03-30T18:49:08Z")
I always figured he and Mort Sahl would have been a good double-bill. And look at that, both died rather close together. I think they came from a very different time in comedy, both political comedy and comedy in general. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2023, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/790 "2023-03-31T02:31:47Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > [Mark Russell,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Russell) playing the ol’ red, white and blue piano on PBS in the sky now. I haven’t thought of him for years. I did enjoy his PBS specials at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/791 "2023-03-31T11:52:28Z")
> **[Gladiators legend has died aged 59](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11924159/Gladiators-legend-died-aged-59.html?ito=social-twitter_mailonline)** > > Gladiators legend Falcon - whose real name is Bernadette Hunt - has died aged 59 after being diagnosed with cancer. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/792 "2023-04-02T16:50:33Z")
[Ryuichi Sakomoto has given me my first 29 points of the year.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryuichi_Sakamoto) @Baker (would it be helpful for us to tag you, Death Mistress, in posts that we know score points for us or someone else?) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/793 "2023-04-02T21:23:42Z")
That would be okay, or just mention it in the post. Registered at Last got Sakomoto too. | 1 | phungi | 106 | 2 | 2 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2 | GIGObuster | 42 | 1 | 0 | | 2 | It’s Not Rocket Surgery | 42 | 1 | 0 | | 4 | Registered at Last | 29 | 1 | 0 | | 4 | jeezums | 29 | 1 | 1 | | 4 | Happy Lendervedder | 29 | 1 | 0 | | 7 | lel | 25 | 1 | 1 | | 8 | zadscmc | 19 | 1 | 0 | | 8 | Stephe96 | 19 | 1 | 0 | | 8 | Shoeless | 19 | 1 | 0 | | 8 | Railer 13 | 19 | 1 | 0 | | 8 | JohnT | 19 | 1 | 0 | | 13 | Allecher | 13 | 1 | 1 | | 14 | romansperson | 11 | 1 | 1 | | 15 | Spoiler Virgin | 5 | 1 | 1 | | 15 | Borborygmi | 5 | 1 | 1 | | 15 | Biotop | 5 | 1 | 1 | ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/794 "2023-04-02T22:03:09Z")
Ray Shulman, one of the greatest electric bass players in history, and a tremendous progressive rock composer and multi-instrumentalist, died a few days ago, after long time illness. > **[Ray Shulman, Founding Bassist of Gentle Giant, Dead at 73, Fans + Rockers...](https://loudwire.com/ray-shulman-gentle-giant-dead-fans-rockers-mourn/)** > > R.I.P. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/795 "2023-04-02T23:10:29Z")
> **[Yang Bing-Yi, patriarch of Taiwan's soup dumpling empire, has died](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/29/1166425223/taiwan-soup-dumplings-din-tai-fung-founder-yang-bing-yi-dies)** > > The cofounder of Taiwan's famed Din Tai Fung restaurant chain died at 96, his company announced March 26. He helped turn delicate soup dumplings into a global phenomenon, even earning Michelin stars. > **[DM Thomas obituary](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/mar/29/dm-thomas-obituary)** > > Author, poet and scholar of Russian literature whose greatest success came with his controversial 1981 novel The White Hotel ---
**Author:** ![Registered\_at\_Last](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@Registered\_at\_Last](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Registered_at_Last)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/796 "2023-04-03T13:59:23Z")
As much as I would like some points, you might want to double check your spreadsheet, since I didn’t have Sakomoto on my radar this year. My promotion after Jeremiah Greene’s premature demise was Toby Keith. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/797 "2023-04-03T23:13:11Z")
Hmm, I don’t know how I made that error. I checked you list, at post 255, and indeed I entered that name in error. | 1 | phungi | 106 | 2 | 2 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2 | GIGObuster | 42 | 1 | 0 | | 2 | It’s Not Rocket Surgery | 42 | 1 | 0 | | 4 | jeezums | 29 | 1 | 1 | | 4 | Happy Lendervedder | 29 | 1 | 0 | | 7 | lel | 25 | 1 | 1 | | 8 | zadscmc | 19 | 1 | 0 | | 8 | Stephe96 | 19 | 1 | 0 | | 8 | Shoeless | 19 | 1 | 0 | | 8 | Railer 13 | 19 | 1 | 0 | | 8 | JohnT | 19 | 1 | 0 | | 13 | Allecher | 13 | 1 | 1 | | 14 | romansperson | 11 | 1 | 1 | | 15 | Spoiler Virgin | 5 | 1 | 1 | | 15 | Borborygmi | 5 | 1 | 1 | | 15 | Biotop | 5 | 1 | 1 | ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/798 "2023-04-04T03:17:46Z")
Professional wrestler Bushwhacker Butch, aged 78 is now herding sheep on the other side. > **[Bushwhacker Butch](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushwhacker_Butch)** > > Robert Miller (21 October 1944 – 2 April 2023) was a New Zealand professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Bushwhacker Butch, where he teamed with Bushwhacker Luke as The Bushwhackers. He was also known for his appearances under the ring name Butch Miller for promotions such as NWA New Zealand, Stampede Wrestling, Pacific Northwest Wrestling, Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Southwest Championship Wrestling, and the Un... ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/799 "2023-04-04T15:15:04Z")
Klaus Teuber, designer of Settlers of Catan (and other board games), has been taken out by the Robber: > **[Klaus Teuber, Designer of CATAN, Dies at Age 70 | BoardGameGeek News](https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/146085/klaus-teuber-designer-catan-dies-age-70)** Brian ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831/800 "2023-04-05T00:32:27Z")
[Virginia Norwood](https://www.honoraryunsubscribe.com/virginia-norwood/), mother of Landsat (i.e. Earth Resources Technology Satellite), as well as developing advanced IFF and weather prediction systems. Also… > **[Seymour Stein, Sire Records Co-Founder Who Signed Madonna, The Ramones &...](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/seymour-stein-dead-sire-records-co-founder-madonna-the-ramones-dies-1235365757/)** > > Stein began his storied career in the music industry at Billboard. > **[Peter Usborne: Private Eye co-founder and publisher dies aged 85](https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65137566)** > > He also co-founded the satirical current affairs magazine Private Eye. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831.md?page=39) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/975831.md?page=41)