# 2024 SDMB Celebrity Death Pool **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2023, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940 "2023-12-01T06:01:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 56
**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:** [May 10, 2024, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1102 "2024-05-10T03:33:17Z")
> **[Hall of Famer Johnson, star 49ers DB, dies at 86](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40114091/hall-fame-defensive-back-jimmy-johnson-dies-age-86)** > > Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Jimmy Johnson, a three-time All-Pro and member of the All-Decade Team of the 1970s, has died. He was 86. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1103 "2024-05-10T03:37:59Z")
Geez, that is two names in a row I took for someone else. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2024, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1104 "2024-05-10T03:38:04Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > I have no idea what’s wrong with this link. I opened the link in Chrome and then copied it from there. > **[Comedy legend dead at 78 of cardiac complications](https://www.al.com/life/2024/05/comedy-legend-dead-at-78-of-cardiac-complications.html)** > > James Harold Gregory, Jr., known among fans as “The Funniest Man in America,” died Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1105 "2024-05-10T03:43:14Z")
Thanks. I kept trying to post the link and it kept futzing so I left it alone. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1106 "2024-05-10T10:24:43Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Geez, that is two names in a row I took for someone else. Yeah, I was sad that [the 'ol Inspector](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Gregory_(actor)) had died. Turns out he left us 21 years ago (and, were he alive today, he would be 112). mmm ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1107 "2024-05-10T10:57:06Z")
I’m trying to get my mind around someone active in 1976 being 86 years old… ---
**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:** [May 10, 2024, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1108 "2024-05-10T14:17:46Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I’m trying to get my mind around someone active in 1976 being 86 years old… I’m trying to get my mind around how a “comedy legend” and “The funniest man in America” is someone I’ve never heard of. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2024, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1109 "2024-05-10T14:44:49Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I’m trying to get my mind around how a “comedy legend” and “The funniest man in America” is someone I’ve never heard of I agree. I’ve heard of Mort Sahl, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, and lots of other guys like Redd Foxx, but never this guy from the same time. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1110 "2024-05-10T16:46:19Z")
When I think of Pete McCloskey, I always remember [this Doonesbury strip](https://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/1972/08/25). ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1111 "2024-05-10T20:52:15Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > I’m trying to get my mind around how a “comedy legend” and “The funniest man in America” is someone I’ve never heard of > > I agree. I’ve heard of Mort Sahl, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, and lots of other guys like Redd Foxx, but never this guy from the same time. It’s like when that guy died who was a minor character in the original British “The Office” and the headlines called him the “Star”. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1112 "2024-05-10T20:58:03Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I’m trying to get my mind around how a “comedy legend” and “The funniest man in America” is someone I’ve never heard of. To be fair, the article does say that he was known ‘to fans’ as the funniest man in America. It doesn’t say how many fans he actually had. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2024, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1113 "2024-05-10T21:14:58Z")
Here’s his Wikipedia “page”: [James Gregory (comedian) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Gregory_(comedian)) I have heard him on Bob & Tom Radio here in Indianapolis, but I don’t remember him as actually being funny. ---
**Author:** ![Deanna\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Deanna\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deanna_D)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1114 "2024-05-10T21:17:56Z")
I think he had a lot of fans in the Southern states, so he may not be as well known in other parts of the world. I’ve actually seen his show, and got a chance to meet him back in the day. His schtick is along the same lines as Jeff Foxworthy, kinda down-home-country-boy humor. I think the “Funniest Man in America” was just something his marketing team came up with, not any official title he held. It’s not that deep. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2024, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1115 "2024-05-11T00:11:24Z")
Former MLB player Sean Burroughs dies at 43, while [coaching his son’s Little League team](https://www.si.com/mlb/padres-sean-burroughs-dies-coaching-little-league). ---
**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:** [May 11, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1116 "2024-05-11T00:13:19Z")
Oh no, poor kid. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1117 "2024-05-11T08:17:02Z")
Jim Simons, [the man who solved the market](https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Solved-Market-Revolution/dp/073521798X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DEI8UYX0Y3L4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.BRER-dPeouNv9n3bQ6iJ9IHYyykGzNajJmvKdXrZvexAwBw2925CuEgsGeiimSn9zlF-nRdBFY-aoKQalxNapwQPHQBW6F8ZsvgKFsxcs2SIw9CGK0CIrQ0LOZ2zJDX76yuACBaxeLSKQ-6vVy45-dZtQKFFQfOCvP9L7koqnoyw6D8FWABkuQPyadtdPyGTtwiIvUF40mpKzh6uEZmPPtiPXFk8Jrc8ONs5b9Ai1ZM.aGTTlS089YAwXO_tVfvKCtwr2vytnN8ZP0OkMMG6y9U&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+man+who+beat+the+market&qid=1715414517&sprefix=the+man+who+beat+the%2Caps%2C251&sr=8-1), has died leaving 14 points. > **[Jim Simons, Math Genius Who Conquered Wall Street, Dies at 86](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/10/business/dealbook/jim-simons-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.rE0.LKOx.i4lzqF8Fx4sY&smid=url-share)** > > Using advanced computers, he went from M.I.T. professor to multibillionaire. His Medallion fund had 66 percent average annual returns for decades. Knowing him, he would probably make 23 points and one quarter out of those in a year and then go on with compound interest from there. Unfortunately his success also made [Robert Mercer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Mercer) incredibly rich, which gave him to means to promote a reactionary political agenda that included Brexit, Cambridge Analytica, Trump, Breitbart and many other nastinesses. Whatever good Simons did with his share of the money was not enough to compensate for the evil his partner unleashed. And now he has died. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1118 "2024-05-11T17:39:36Z")
Sam Rubin, longtime entertainment reporter for KTLA television, has left the studio with 36 points. > **[Sam Rubin, Longtime KTLA Entertainment Reporter, Dies at 64](https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/sam-rubin-dead-ktla-entertainment-reporter-1235998979/amp/)** > > Sam Rubin, a popular entertainment reporter on KTLA since 1991, died Friday, a source close to the station confirmed. He was 64. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1119 "2024-05-11T19:27:12Z")
I believe I have caught up on my end to provide temporary DeathShroom services while the DeathMistress mends. Below is my current standings, with the last points being awarded on May 3rd. Please post any discrepancies, and check your lists for a mid-season update. | Rank | Player | Score | Picks(Unique) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Registered\_at\_Last | 162 | 4(2) | | 2 | candide | 88 | 2 | | 2 | Captain\_Klutz | 88 | 2 | | 2 | critter42 | 88 | 2 | | 2 | Kitten\_Mitten | 88 | 2 | | 6 | Happy\_Lendervedder | 85 | 2 | | 6 | phungi | 85 | 2 | | 8 | Loach | 79 | 2(2) | | 9 | jeezums | 73 | 2(1) | | 10 | GIGObuster | 72 | 2 | | 11 | Dung\_Beetle | 50 | 1 | | 11 | Hoopy\_Frood | 50 | 1 | | 11 | It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery | 50 | 1 | | 11 | Little\_Nemo | 50 | 1 | | 11 | Lord\_Feldon | 50 | 1 | | 11 | Mean\_MrMustard | 50 | 1 | | 11 | RobotDevilDog | 50 | 1 | | 11 | RTFirefly | 50 | 1 | | 11 | uperdude | 50 | 1 | | 20 | J-P\_L | 38 | 1 | | 20 | Wackbjt | 38 | 1 | | 20 | xizor | 38 | 1 | | 23 | Cazzle | 24 | 1(1) | | 23 | JohnT | 24 | 1 | | 23 | ZamboniAce1000 | 24 | 1 | | 26 | Pardel-Lux | 22 | 1 | | 27 | MarkF2004 | 20 | 1(1) | | 28 | Allecher | 12 | 1(1) | | 29 | Biotop | 8 | 1(1) | | 30 | Monstera\_deliciosa | 1 | 1(1) | ---
**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:** [May 11, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1120 "2024-05-11T20:08:33Z")
Minor quibble, but you have my name misspelled as “uperdude.” ---
**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:** [May 11, 2024, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940/1121 "2024-05-11T22:49:58Z")
> **[David Shapiro, poet and unwitting icon of ’68 campus protest, dies at 77](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/05/08/david-shapiro-columbia-protests-dead/)** > > The erudite writer was remembered -- to his chagrin -- as the cigar-wielding Columbia student in a photo that came to represent an era of campus uprisings. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940.md?page=55) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940.md?page=57)