NOTE: As we started in 2019, Themed Death Pool Lists will be posted and tracked in a separate thread. If you are looking for the 2023 Celebrity Death Pool thread, click here
phungi (aka: the Death Shroom) checking in as your 2024 Death Pool chaperone.
In case anyone is new to this game, the rules are outlined below. There are a few new rules so read carefully.
The Rules:
You pick 13 celebrities (plus 3 alternates) that you predict will die in the year 2024. 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. It’s rather simple.
Please check the spelling if your celebrity’s names, as editing takes hours. Also, please do not put spaces or periods between abbreviated letters.
For example: “George HW Bush” instead of George H. W. Bush"
Players may submit lists to both the “regular” and “themed” pools. However, those posting a Themed list should explain the theme.
All picks must be made by December 31st, 2023, at 11:59PM, CENTRAL TIME. Late entries (i.e., ANY time after midnight of Jan 1st) will be turned away.
Valid picks CANNOT be:
a. already dead
b. fictional
c. under age 18
d. a registered member of the SDMB
e. hostages held by terrorist organizations
f. famous solely as a result of their illness or the events surrounding their death (see #15 below)
If you have any questions about who is or is not a celebrity, feel free to post to the thread or PM me. This is why we include 3 alternates, so if a pick is designated to be invalid, your first alternate will be elevated to your list.
If we are uncertain about the celebrity’s age at death, we will go by the higher age (lower score).
Prisoners held on death row count only if they die by means other than official execution.
If you kill anyone on your list to try to get ahead or cheat, then you’re automatically disqualified.
Editing your choices: You can change the people on your list as many times as you wish before the deadline above, just make sure that your FINAL list is known, otherwise I’m going to take the first 13 of yours I see listed.
Alternates are important, in the case of a pick being invalid, or a pick dying prior to January 1st.
If a player changes their username at some point, post this news on the thread, or PM me, so I know who you are.
Tracking celebrity deaths is the job of each individual player. Wiki maintains a page of deaths each month, and is an excellent reference .
I create and share a Scorekeeper in the form of an Excel Spreadsheet. I am happy to share this with any and all participants. I generally post to Google Sheet, and update it after every death.
Determination of who is a celebrity will remain a subjective matter, but generally defined as “the person has some known presence in the form of a Wikipedia Page and/or notoriety in the news or such” and their fame or celebrity cannot be based solely on their having a terminal illness". Sole possession of a Wikipedia page will not constitute “celebrity”. If questioned, the person who posted that individual may be required provide such evidence.
Questions may be raised about the appropriateness of a pick at any point after a list is posted, even after 1/1/24. Alternates picks play an important role, as “questionable” picks may be disqualified post-posting.
There is no exchange of money, that would be in poor taste. Rather, each year, we share the following awards
The “Opening Kickoff” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the first listed celebrity to die in 2024.
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 “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 2024, but see rule 3d.
The “Final Hours” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the last listed celebrity to die in 2024.
You need to submit a clean list, with no explanations, dates of birth, titles, etc. If you want to add commentary, include this below your clean list.
For example:
Theme: Brady Bunch
Clean list:
Robert Reed
Florence Henderson
Ann B. Davis
Barry Williams
Maureen McCormick
Christopher Knight
Eve Plumb
Mike Lookinland
Susan Olsen
Allan Melvin
Jack Collins
Robbie Rist
Desi Arnaz Jr
Annotated list:
Robert Reed as Mike Brady
Florence Henderson as Carol Brady
Ann B. Davis as Alice Nelson
Barry Williams as Greg Brady
Maureen McCormick as Marcia Brady
Christopher Knight as Peter Brady
Eve Plumb as Jan Brady
Mike Lookinland as Bobby Brady
Susan Olsen as Cindy Brady
Allan Melvin as Sam Franklin
Jack Collins as Mr. Phillips
Robbie Rist as Cousin Oliver
Desi Arnaz, Jr. as himself
Scoring: When a celebrity dies, you get their age at death subtracted from 100. All celebrities who are 100 or over count, but you get “0” Points for their death, contributing to the “Quantity not Quality” award
If anyone has any questions, post to the thread, or PM me.
Adrienne Barbeau
Brenda Vaccaro
Fannie Flagg
Jo Ann Pflug
Joyce Bulifant
Loretta Swit
Mitzi McCall
Jo Ann Worley
Gary Burghoff
Lee Meriweather
Sarah Kennedy
Elaine Joyce
Clifton Davis
Same theme as last year. One change from last year.
Theme: Former NFL Head Coaches
Marv Levy
Sam Rutigliano
Raymond Berry
John Robinson
Dick Vermeil
Bobby Ross
Tom Flores
Barry Switzer
Leeman Bennett
Mike Ditka
George Seifert
Wayne Fontes
Bill Parcells
Alternates:
Joe Gibbs
Jerry Glanville
Mike Holmgren
Mike Dikta
Michael Schumacher
Dick Vitale
Mario Andretti
Steve McMichael
Willie Mays
Tony LaRussa
Rod Carew
William “Refrigerator” Perry
Alex Zanardi
Bob Uecker
Willie O’Ree
Steve Gleason
I call this “Close, But No Cigar.” (Don’t see the theme? Look at the first names only.)
Annotated:
1 John Goodman, perennial nice guy
2 Paul Stookey of Peter Paul and Mary
3 George Wendt, NORM!!
4 Ritchie Blackmore, Deep Purple guitarist
5 Mick Fleetwood, Spinal Tap drummer
6 Keith Carradine, actor
7 Charlie Sheen, actor
8 Ronnie Milsap, singer
9 Bill Cosby, felon
10 Bryan Adams, Canadian singer
11 Mike Tomlin, Steelers coach (this season will probably kill him)
12 Dennis Rodman, athlete
13 Carl Thomas Dean, Mr Dolly Parton
Alternates:
1 Barry Mann, of “and Cynthia Weil”
2 Robin Wright, the Princess Bride
3 Maurice LaMarche, are you pondering what I’m pondering?
Clean list:
John Goodman
Paul Stookey
George Wendt
Ritchie Blackmore
Mick Fleetwood
Keith Carradine
Charlie Sheen
Ronnie Milsap
Bill Cosby
Bryan Adams
Mike Tomlin
Dennis Rodman
Carl Thomas Dean
Alternates:
Barry Mann
Robin Wright
Maurice LaMarche
Themed List
Sadly, all holdovers from prior year Theme: Evil and its Minions (IMHO)
•Donald Trump - orange hued evil incarnate
•Marjorie Taylor Green - can the blue states divorce her?
•Laura Ingraham – spreader of hate speech
•Rudy Giuliani - conspiracy theorist, crooked fixer for Trump, batshit insane
•Tucker Carlson – no end to his evilness
•Brett Kavanaugh - “Sometimes I had too many beers. I liked beer. I still like beer.”
•Ted Cruz – please go back to Cancun – and stay there
•Greg Abbott –per Daily Kos: terrible, horrible, no good, very bad man
•Mitch McConnell - From GQ: “This man has no morals, nor any respect for the rule of law, nor any respect for those who would defy him. For his own personal gain, he permitted Russia to continue manipulating the November election so that his party’s candidate could win—giving us a quivering mound of chili drippings for president.”
•Ron DeSantis – ultimate Florida Man
•Ivanka Kushner - "She [was] not passively complicit in the Trump administration’s policies; she [was] an active architect "
•Kim Jong-un - Supreme Leader of North Korea, and just as deranged as our former Dear Leader
•Vladimir Putin
Alternates:
•Samuel Alito
•Clarence Thomas
Plain List:
Donald Trump
Marjorie Taylor Green
Laura Ingraham
Rudy Giuliani
Tucker Carlson
Brett Kavanaugh
Ted Cruz
Greg Abbott
Mitch McConnell
Ron DeSantis
Ivanka Kushner
Kim Jong-un
Vladimir Putin
I’m going to reuse my 2023 list. Just watch them drop before the end of the year.
Theme is people born on New Year’s Eve.
Anthony Hopkins
Avram Hershko
Sarah Miles
Alex Ferguson .
Andy Summers
Ben Kingsley
Diane von Furstenberg
Pius Ncube
Tim Matheson
Burton Cummings
Rene Robert
Viktor Mikhailovich Afanasieyv
Val Kilmer
Ye Olde Tyme Base-Ball Players
(Retired ball players who will be 95 or older in 2024)
Carl Erskine
Frank Saucier
Bobby Shantz
Mel Held
Hank Foiles
Don Ferrarese
Al Worthington
Gail Henley
Bob Oldis
Roy Face
Larry Miggins
Bob Ross
Felipe Montemayor
Alts (born in '95)
Enoli Paredes
Kean Wong
Chadwick Tromp
Paul McCartney
Ringo Starr
Richard Lester
Yoko Ono
Julian Lennon
Pete Best
Sean Lennon
Olivia Harrison
Dhani Harrison
Jane Asher
Patti Boyd Harrison
Zak Starkey
Jimmy Nicol
Brian Cox (Good Omens [voice])
Jamie Hill (Good Omens [guy in the suit])
William Sadler (Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey)
John Cleese (The Meaning of Life)
Joe Estevez (Soultaker)
Ian McKellan (Last Action Hero)
Whoopi Goldberg (Monkeybone)
Julian Richings (Supernatural and Dave vs. Death)
Greg Eagles (The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy)
Adam Carolla (The Family Guy)
Tilda Swinton (Pinocchio)
Kirby Howell-Baptiste (The Sandman)
Frances Conroy (American Horror Story: Asylum)
Alts:
Wagner Moura (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish)
Brad Pitt (Meet Joe Black)
Siobhan Murphy (Pretty Freakin Scary)
Ralph Pope (Deconstructing Harry)
Clean list:
The Death Pool
Brian Cox
Jamie Hill
William Sadler
John Cleese
Joe Estevez
Ian McKellan
Whoopi Goldberg
Julian Richings
Greg Eagles
Adam Carolla
Tilda Swinton
Kirby Howell-Baptiste
Frances Conroy
Alts:
Wagner Moura
Brad Pitt
Siobhan Murphy
Ralph Pope
I wish them to win with that list by a landslide both 2023 (go, go, go! There is still time!) and 2024.
Me, I’ll be repeating lats year’s list. My old list, all still alive and kicking:
Theme: German players in the 1966, 1970 and 1974 FIFA World Cups
Sigfried Held born 7. August 1942 Franz Anton Beckenbauer born 11. September 1945 Karl-Heinz Schnellinger born 31. März 1939 Willi Schulz born 4. Oktober 1938 Josef Dieter „Sepp“ Maier born 28. Februar 1944 Wolfgang Paul born 25. Januar 1940 Paul Breitner born 5. September 1951 Hans-Georg „Katsche“ Schwarzenbeck born 3. April 1948 Hans-Hubert „Berti“ Vogts born 30. Dezember 1946 Ulrich „Uli“ Hoeneß born 5. Januar 1952 Günter Theodor Netzer born 14. September 1944 Max Lorenz born 19. August 1939 Bernd Hölzenbein born 9. März 1946
Alternates:
Josef „Jupp“ Heynckes born 9. Mai 1945 Rainer Bonhof born 29. März 1952 Wolfgang Overath born 29. September 1943
Sigfried Held
Franz Beckenbauer
Karl-Heinz Schnellinger
Willi Schulz
Sepp Maier
Wolfgang Paul
Paul Breitner
Katsche Schwarzenbeck
Berti Vogts
Uli Hoeneß
Günter Netzer
Max Lorenz
Bernd Hölzenbein
Adrienne Barbeau
Brenda Vaccaro
Fannie Flagg
Jo Ann Pflug
Joyce Bulifant
Loretta Swit
Mitzi McCall
Jo Ann Worley
Gary Burghoff
Lee Meriweather
Sarah Kennedy
Elaine Joyce
Clifton Davis
New Title: StillSoon to Be Not Living Match Game Celebrities
Adrienne Barbeau
Brenda Vaccaro
Fannie Flagg
Jo Ann Pflug
Joyce Bulifant
Loretta Swit
Mitzi McCall
Jo Ann Worley
Gary Burghoff
Lee Meriweather
Sarah Kennedy
Elaine Joyce
Clifton Davis
Legendary film director Norman Jewison is alive at the age of 97. I’ve made him the theme of my 2024 list.
In addition of Jewison himself, I took the highest credited living cast member in his first twelve movies.
Norman Jewison (born July 21, 1926)
Claire Wilcox (born July 2, 1955) - 40 Pounds of Trouble (1962)
Kym Karath (born August 4, 1958) - The Thrill of It All (1963)
Dick Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925) - The Art of Love (1965)
Ann-Margret (born April 28, 1941) - The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
Eva Marie Saint (born July 4, 1924) - The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966)
Lee Grant (born October 31, 1925) - In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Faye Dunaway (born January 14, 1941) - The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
Beau Bridges (born December 9, 1941) - Gaily, Gaily (1969)
Rosalind Harris (born December 22, 1946) - Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
Ted Neeley (born September 20, 1943) - Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
Maud Adams (born 12 February 1945) - Rollerball (1975)
Sylvester Stallone (born July 6, 1946) - F.I.S.T. (1978)
Alternatives
Elke Sommer (born November 5, 1940) - The Art of Love (1965)
Tuesday Weld (born August 27, 1943) - The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
Andrea Dromm (born February 18, 1941) - The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966)
Clean list
Maud Adams
Ann-Margret
Beau Bridges
Faye Dunaway
Lee Grant
Rosalind Harris
Norman Jewison
Kym Karath
Ted Neeley
Eva Marie Saint
Sylvester Stallone
Dick Van Dyke
Claire Wilcox
Since singers gave me my best themed results in 2023, I will continue that into 2024 with a few additions:
Theme: Crooners
Pat Boone
Cher
Phil Collins
Harry Connick Jr
Neil Diamond
Bob Dylan
Toby Keith
Barry Manilow
Joni Mitchell
Willie Nelson
Wayne Newton
Linda Ronstadt
Grace Slick
In honor of Ralph Cirella, my 2024 Themed List is: Howard Stern Wack Pack Members:
Lenny Dykstra
Bigfoot (Mark Shaw Jr)
Beetlejuice (Lester Green)
High Pitch Erik (Erik Bleaman)
Jeff the Drunk (Jeff Curro)
Medicated Pete (Pete McHeffey)
Gary the Conqueror (Gary Loudermilk)
Sour Shoes (Michael DelCampo)
Tan Mom (Patricia Krentcil)
Underdog Lady (Suzanne Muldowney)
Ass Napkin Ed
Angry Alice
Wendy the Slow Adult