# 2025 SDMB Celebrity Death Pool **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2024, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010 "2024-12-01T05:01:04Z")\ **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, 2024, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/1 "2024-12-01T05:01:04Z")
_It’s the most wonderful time of the year!!!_ **The Rules** 1. You pick 13 celebrities (that’s thirteen, not ten) whom you predict will die within the calendar year 2025. 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, 2024. (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. famous solely as a result of their illness or associated actions/events. g. 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. 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 2024. 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. In 2023 I had Rosalynn Carter’s name spelled three different ways, and almost missed one. 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. 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 24 hours after 12/31/2025 If you find that one of your picks died, say, late on 12/31/2025, and you didn’t hear about it until late on Jan. 1, 2026(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 2025 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 2025 but see rule 3.d. The **“Final Hours”** Award: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the last listed celebrity to die in 2025 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. So if a person is born by one name and refered to by another, use the most common one. I refer to it 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. 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 No spaces between the names. So not like this Pete Arredondo Greg Abbott Dan Patrick 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, 2024, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/2 "2024-12-01T07:30:50Z")
None of my list last year had the good graces to give me any points so all I have to do is dust it off and post. Rap singers, on the theory I’ll hit it big. Drake Lil Baby Doja Cat The Weeknd Lil Durk Giveon Polo G Rod Wave Post Malone Moneybagg Yo Megan Thee Stallion J. Cole Ye (Kanye West) Alternates: Da Baby The Kid LAROI Gunna ---
**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 1, 2024, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/3 "2024-12-01T14:26:17Z")
Between my 2025 working list and my current uncooperative picks my list is 25 names long. I have some hard work ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/4 "2024-12-01T14:51:05Z")
Andy Taylor John Williams Gene Hackman Celine Dion Hunter Biden Robert Redford Stephen King Joe Biden Christopher Walken Randy Newman Bill Cosby King Charles Bruce Willis Alternates: Val Kilmer Dave Coulier Bill Clinton ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/5 "2024-12-01T15:11:38Z")
Regarding Rule 3e how do we know if a celebrity is a registered member of the SDMB? ---
**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:** [December 1, 2024, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/6 "2024-12-01T15:53:37Z")
Let’s just say we’ll deal with it if it happens. Jim Beaver was at one point, but I honestly would still allow him since it has been an eternity since he posted and I believe he registered specifically to respond to some issues about a topic known to him. I guess we can say “known” or “proven” member of the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/7 "2024-12-01T15:57:42Z")
That sounds good **Mahaloth.** ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/8 "2024-12-01T16:17:44Z")
Tom Lehrer Buzz Aldrin Joni Mitchell Bruce Dern Woody Allen Dominic Chianese Blythe Danner Robert Duvall Thomas Pynchon Donna Godchaux Bernie Ecclestone Sandy Koufax Carroll Baker Alternate: Jimmy Swaggart Newt Gingrich Pat Buchanan ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/9 "2024-12-01T16:27:07Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Between my 2025 working list and my current uncooperative picks my list is 25 names long. I have some hard work ahead. Hey, at least you’ve got 25 names to sort through and pick the most likely candidates from. I’ve done almost no research this year, so I’ve got maybe a half-dozen names to pick from so far besides my nine survivors from the 2024 list. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/10 "2024-12-01T16:53:52Z")
Lamoral, when Carroll Baker passes I’ll be sorry. Any girl that could get Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston competing for her in the same film is great. And then later on she tried to shoot Arnold Schwarzenegger. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/11 "2024-12-01T17:06:03Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > … Reading through that list I honest-to-God thought most of them had died years or even decades ago. Tom Lehrer is still alive?! So is Pat Buchanan?? Mind. Blown. And how will we even know if Thomas Pynchon dies? Anyway, onward. Here’s my list; it’s just a regurgitation of my 2024 list with one person removed and replaced. Some of these people, like Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski, I won’t be sorry to see go while others like John Cullum will be a great loss. Regardless, the least they can do is give me some points. The List: Robert Duvall Pope Francis Buzz Aldrin Barry Corbin (replacing Mick Fleetwood from the 2024 list, this is the only change from 2024) John Cullum Anthony Hopkins Julie Andrews Paul McCartney Judi Dench Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Hector Elizondo Bill Cosby Roman Polanski Alternates: Julie Kavner Dave Coulier ---
**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, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/12 "2024-12-01T18:03:04Z")
King Charles III Donald Trump Tom Brokaw Jimmy Carter The 14th Dalai Lama Andy Taylor Dick Van Dyke Julia Louis-Dreyfus Lou Gramm Salman Rushdie Bill O’Reilly Liza Minelli Bruce Willis Alternates: William Shatner Ringo Starr Andy Taylor is from Duran Duran, the 14th Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso if you would rather have his name. ---
**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, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/13 "2024-12-01T18:08:04Z")
William Shatner Willie Nelson Emperor Akihito Tom Baker Josef Fritzl Vanessa Redgrave Ted Turner Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Grace Slick Mickey Rourke Bruce Willis Linda Nolan Celene Dion Alternates: Gene Hackman Mitch McConnell Bob Weir ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/14 "2024-12-01T18:08:10Z")
Didn’t score a single point all year, and look where it got us! So let’s try the list again this year: Donald Trump Kim Jong-Un Vladimir Putin Newt Gengrich Mitch McConnell Rupert Murdoch Rudi Giuliani Chuck Grassley Charles Koch Harlan Crow Clarence Thomas Donald Trump, Jr. Xi Jinping Alternates: Miguel Díaz-Canel Stephan Miller Bill Cosby ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/15 "2024-12-01T18:48:47Z")
That’s a fine list I wouldn’t mind losing to. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/16 "2024-12-01T19:53:56Z")
Raymond Teller Leslie Fish Donald Trump Lewis Black Frankie Valli Rudy Giuliani Robert Silverberg Tom Baker Cher Andrea Martin Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Mike Ditka Tom Lehrer Alternates: Joe Namath Billie Jean King ---
**Author:** ![billiefan2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@billiefan2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billiefan2000)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/17 "2024-12-01T20:49:03Z")
My list: Christina Applegate Phil Collins Celine Dion Olivia Munn Cynthia Nixon Kathy Griffin Bella Hadid Christopher Walken Dave Coulier Michael J. Fox Sinbad (the actor) Jesse Duplantis (infamous tv pracher who is 75) John Hagee (infamous tv preacher who is 84) Alternates: Ekaterina Vilkova Kristina Asmus Yanina Studilina The 3 alternates are Russian Celebs and likely not to happen despite Nuclear War concerns as of late. That and I prefer to hedge my bets either way. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/18 "2024-12-01T20:51:29Z")
please post them without spaces between your thirteen picks. See the OP. ---
**Author:** ![billiefan2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@billiefan2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billiefan2000)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/19 "2024-12-01T20:52:09Z")
Just updated and fixed my post. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010/20 "2024-12-01T20:52:57Z")
You got there first! 😀 I am picky I guess. And as to Russian names I have had them, two different cosmonauts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/1011010.md?page=2)