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 2024 Celebrity Death Pool thread, click here
phungi (aka: the Death Shroom) checking in as your 20245Death 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, 2024, 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 1/1/25 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 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 “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 3d.
The “Final Hours” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the last listed celebrity to die in 2025.
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.
Same as last year, except replacing the one entry who earned me points.
Theme: Former NFL Head Coaches
Marv Levy
Sam Rutigliano
Raymond Berry
Dick Vermeil
Bobby Ross
Tom Flores
Barry Switzer
Leeman Bennett
Mike Ditka
George Seifert
Wayne Fontes
Joe Gibbs
Bill Parcells
Alternates:
Jerry Glanville
Mike Holmgren
Tony Dungy
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
Mike Dikta
Michael Schumacher
Dick Vitale
Mario Andretti
Steve McMichael
Gene Keady
Tony LaRussa
Rod Carew
William “Refrigerator” Perry
Roger Staubach
Bob Uecker
Willie O’Ree
Steve Gleason
Anthony Hopkins 12/31/37
“Well hello Clarice!” Arguably the best male English speaking actor
Avram Hershko 12/31/37
Israeli biochemist, Nobel laureate
Sarah Miles 12/31/41
She gave an inspired performance in Ryan’s Daughter (1970) and appeared in The Servant.
Alex Ferguson 12/31/41
Football manager who led Manchester United from 1986 to 2013, won the European cup twice, and became a knight in 1999.
Andy Summers 12/31/42
Singer and guitarist with The Police and also has recorded more than ten solo albums.
Ben Kingsley 12/31/43
He won a Best Actor Academy Award for his role in Gandhi in 1983.
Diane von Furstenberg 12/31/46
International fashion designer, best known for her women’s wear and accessory lines.
Pius Ncube 12/31/46
Zimbabwean civil rights advocate, Roman Catholic archbishop
Tim Matheson 12/31/47
Actor who appeared in Animal House and provided voices for characters in TV’s Johnny Quest.
Burton Cummings 12/31/47
Canadian lead singer of The Guess Who, credited with songs like “American Woman” and “These Eyes.”
Viktor Mikhailovich Afanasieyv 12/31/48
Russian cosmonaut
Val Kilmer 12/31/49
Versatile actor who portrayed Batman, Moses, and Jim Morrison.
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
Whoops, I just realized I have Tony LaRussa as an alternate and in my main list. Mighty Death Shroom phungi please drop LaRussa as an alternate, I’ll just stick with one this year unless someone kicks off in the next month.
Last year’s Norman Jewison themed list went so well (three points!) that I’ve decided to go with another film director themed list.
The Stopping Falling & Standing Still List
Richard Lester (born January 19, 1932)
Richard Chamberlain (born March 31, 1934)
John Leyton (born February 17, 1936)
Eleanor Bron (born March 14, 1938)
Ray Brooks (born April 20, 1939)
Julie Christie (born April 14, 1940)
Ringo Starr (born July 7, 1940)
June Ritchie (born May 31, 1941)
Craig Douglas (born August 13, 1941)
Rita Tushingham (born March 14, 1942)
Michael York (born March 27, 1942)
Paul McCartney (born June 18, 1942)
Michael Crawford (born January 19, 1942)
alternatives:
Helen Shapiro (born September 28, 1946)
Chubby Checker (born October 3, 1941)
Annette Andre (born June 24, 1939)
clean list:
Eleanor Bron
Ray Brooks
Richard Chamberlain
Julie Christie
Michael Crawford
Craig Douglas
Richard Lester
John Leyton
Paul McCartney
June Ritchie
Ringo Starr
Rita Tushingham
Michael York
Note: I’ve used several people’s stage names, which they are better known by.
Ringo Starr = Richard Starkey
Craig Douglas = Terence Perkins
Richard Chamberlain = George Chamberlain
Michael Crawford = Michael Smith
Chubby Checker = Ernest Evans
Rod Barajas
Jay Bell
David Dellucci
Steve Finley
Luis Gonzalez
Mark Grace
Randy Johnson
Damian Miller
Armando Reynoso
Reggie Sanders
Curt Schilling
Matt Williams
Tony Womack
Alternates
Midre Cummings
Craig Counsell
Byung-Hyun Kim
Same list as last year, but replaced Mitzi McCall due to her passing at 7 points.
Still Living Match Game Celebrities
Adrienne Barbeau
Brenda Vaccaro
Fannie Flagg
Jo Ann Pflug
Joyce Bulifant
Loretta Swit
Lynda Day George
Jo Ann Worley
Gary Burghoff
Lee Meriweather
Sarah Kennedy
Elaine Joyce
Clifton Davis
Eventually, we’re gonna have a year that isn’t so “fab:”
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
I apologize to the Mighty Death Shroom… but in light of some recent news I’m updating my list.
The 14th Annual All-Star Sports Edition v2.0
Mike Dikta
Michael Schumacher
Dick Vitale
Mario Andretti
Steve McMichael
Gene Keady
Randy Moss
Rod Carew
William “Refrigerator” Perry
Roger Staubach
Bob Uecker
Willie O’Ree
Steve Gleason
Alternates:
Tony LaRussa
Terry Bradshaw
Moving Tony LaRussa to an alternate (for real this time, watch him kick off in '25 just to spite me) and adding Randy Moss.
I’m sticking with my same theme again, since I was in the top 5 for 2024:
Crooners:
Paul Anka
Pat Boone
Phil Collins
Neil Diamond
Bob Dylan
Barry Manilow
Joni Mitchell
Willie Nelson
Wayne Newton
Michelle Phillips
Linda Ronstadt
Grace Slick
Dean Torrence
So… how many times can I update before the mighty Death Shroom starts cursing my name…?
The 14th Annual All-Star Sports Edition v3.0
Mike Dikta
Michael Schumacher
Dick Vitale
Mario Andretti
Steve McMichael
Gene Keady
Randy Moss
Ryne Sandberg
William “Refrigerator” Perry
Roger Staubach
Bob Uecker
Willie O’Ree
Steve Gleason
Alternates:
Tony LaRussa
Terry Bradshaw
Delete Rod Carew, add Ryne Sandberg. (Those would be points I really don’t want but…)
Sergei Kisel
Bashar al-Assad
Ali Hosseini-Khamenei
Hossein Salami
Naim Qassem
Ibrahim Amin Al-Sayyed
Ahmed al-Sharaa
Muhammad Ismail Darwish
Khaled Mashal
Husam Badran
Zaher Jabarin
Mahmoud Abbas
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi
alts
Michel Naim Aoun
Mahmud Ahmadinejad
Benjamin Netanyahu
I’ve branched out with Russian, Syrian, Lebanese, Israeli, Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthi, and Iranian contributors to peace and tranquility in the region.
Who they are!
Sergei Kisel russian general in syria (temp)
Bashar al-Assad ex-President of Syria
Ali Hosseini-Khamenei Supreme leader Iran
Hossein Salami commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Naim Qassem fourth secretary-general of Hezbollah
Ibrahim Amin Al-Sayyed Head of the Political Council of Hezbollah
Ahmed al-Sharaa or his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Julani (Jolani alt) - new Syrian Leader of rebellion
Muhammad Ismail Darwish (aka Abu Omar Hassan) of Hamas’s Shura Council
Khaled Mashal past Hamas leader now a billionaire in Qatar?
Husam Badran serves as the international spokesperson for Hamas
Zaher Jabarin head of Hamas’s military wing in Judea and Samaria
Mahmoud Abbas president of the State of Palestine
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi (aka Abu Jibril) the leader of the Houthi movement
Alts
Michel Naim Aoun sorta kinda presidentish of Lebanon
Mahmud Ahmadinejad President Iran
Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel
I am not bad at keeping the old players alive, I only lost two in the last two years. I’ll keep the old list with the necessary changes:
Sigfried Held born 7. August 1942 Rainer Bonhof born 29. März 1952 Wolfgang Overath born 29. September 1943 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 Horst-Dieter Höttges born 10. September 1943 Dieter Herzog born 15. Juli 1946
Sigfried Held
Rainer Bonhof
Wolfgang Overath
Willi Schulz
Sepp Maier
Wolfgang Paul
Paul Breitner
Katsche Schwarzenbeck
Berti Vogts
Uli Hoeneß
Günter Netzer
Max Lorenz
Bernd Hölzenbein