# 2026 Celebrity Death Pool **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 2, 2025, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318 "2025-12-02T04:28:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/442 "2026-01-11T02:12:41Z")
Oh duh! ---
**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:** [January 11, 2026, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/443 "2026-01-11T13:18:37Z")
I’m claiming Erich von Däniken, 10 points, also dead on the 10th of January. As he died in Bern, Swizzerland, he might have died a couple of hours before Bob Weir, who died in the USA. How can this be checked? > **[Erich von Däniken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_von_D%C3%A4niken)** > > Erich Anton Paul von Däniken (/ˈɛrɪk fɒn ˈdɛnɪkɪn/; .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}German: \[ˈeːrɪç fɔn ˈdɛːnɪkən\]; 14 April 1935 – 10 January 2026) was a Swiss author of several pseudoscientific books which make claims about extraterrestrial influences on early human culture, including the best-selling Chariots of the Gods?, publi... ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/444 "2026-01-11T14:39:21Z")
Von Daniken is, at least for me, another entry in the “didn’t know he was still alive until he died” category. ETA: My recollection is that we don’t usually hash out which person died first if they died on the same day, but just call it a tie. But @Baker is the one who makes the call. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2026, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/445 "2026-01-11T14:41:54Z")
Good you did not read my list or he would not be a unique pick. And I can’t find the time of day he is supposed to have died, all they say is “after a short stay at the hospital” and “old age”. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2026, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/446 "2026-01-11T14:56:45Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > And I can’t find the time of day he is supposed to have died Yeah, same with Bob Weir. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the time of day listed in a celebrity death notice. Sometimes an obituary will note that the deceased ‘passed early in the morning of…’, but never (that I can remember) ‘passed at 2:14 pm on…’. Given that Bern is nine hours ahead of California, I would venture a guess that von Däniken passed before Weir. But that’s just a guess on my part. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/447 "2026-01-11T15:59:17Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I’m claiming Erich von Däniken, 10 points, also dead on the 10th of January. As he died in Bern, Swizzerland, he might have died a couple of hours before Bob Weir, who died in the USA. How can this be checked? Is this the first death on this pool for the year? I knew Daniken was alive. He was internet-conspiracy long before the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/448 "2026-01-11T16:21:17Z")
Of course it makes sense that Van Daniken would leave us with an unsolvable mystery. Maybe he was killed by an advanced race of aliens. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/449 "2026-01-11T16:44:31Z")
What took them so long if they were so advanced? They only left me ten points! Fake aliens, I bet. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2026, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/450 "2026-01-11T16:56:46Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Of course it makes sense that Van Daniken would leave us with an unsolvable mystery. Maybe he was killed by an advanced race of aliens. I’m curious what happened the past 40 years. Did he actually believe the stuff he wrote or was he just suggesting? ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/451 "2026-01-11T17:16:39Z")
I don’t have any ideas about von Daniken’s time of death, but the probable cause of death is right there in his book title: the Gods swung low in their chariot and came to carry him home. One of the few things that I remember from seeing clips of the film many years ago was the claim that the chariot that comes to carry away Elijah (the Bible incident referenced in “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”) was actually an alien space ship. And from his long history of scamming and grifting including years in jail for fraud, it wouldn’t be surprising that his books are a con too. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2026, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/452 "2026-01-11T20:47:14Z")
Guy Moon, 63, who scored many Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon shows, killed in a scooter accident. Damn, what a way to go. > **[Guy Moon, Composer for ‘Johnny Bravo’ and Nickelodeon Shows, Killed in LA Car...](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/guy-moon-composer-johnny-bravo-165850671.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHqcrCJuK6TPuqNUk44dNQB0tBZ6uNYp0v0ooWGbeR0YIU7FqeujRp3k9S3NTwSAPj8I6L8ND-Jt-w6u9AXcdI7KyYL2ZkdBePYHKkhrewy_eh_a0PvIZAe5svyQpFFuUeuggBPRL-6slcVh7w9eZSGivF4-wbo3nZKVr7SWH-pt)** > > Guy Moon, the Emmy-nominated composer whose music helped define some of the most beloved animated series of the past few decades, has died at 63.   The ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/453 "2026-01-11T22:49:21Z")
If it’s the same day I won’r check time of death. This has happened before. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/454 "2026-01-11T23:05:11Z")
| Railer13 | 22 | 1 | | --- | --- | --- | | Pardel-Lux | 10 | 1 | I once had a list with a theme of folks on Ancient Aliens, but didn’t use it. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/455 "2026-01-11T23:52:44Z")
Maybe make age at death (youngest wins) the tiebreaker for the “Opening Kickoff” and “Final Hours” awards? For next year, of course; this year’s rules are written in stone. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/456 "2026-01-12T00:36:08Z")
Many times have we had ties for certain awards. We just have to share the ~~pies~~ prize. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2026, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/457 "2026-01-13T13:27:28Z")
Chuck Ramsay\*, longtime Green Bay broadcaster, has died at 91: > **[Long-time WBAY-TV news anchor Chuck Ramsay dies](https://www.wbay.com/2026/01/09/long-time-wbay-tv-news-anchor-chuck-ramsay-dies/)** > > The legendary broadcaster was 91 years old. Anyone who grew up in the Green Bay TV market is aware of Chuck Ramsay. Brian \* not the football player, that is Ramsey ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/458 "2026-01-13T15:12:48Z")
Scott Adams has died at 68, according to his former wife. No link yet. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/459 "2026-01-13T15:25:51Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Okay, here’s the thing … I haven’t wanted to say because there’s only about 10 to 15% chance I’m onto something, but deep down in my cold, icy heart, I think Scott Adams is full of shit. I think he’s going to come out in a few months and say, “Christ healed me,” or “Trump healed me” or some weird shit like that. > > If he actually snuffs it this month, then, well, won’t I look the fool. Don’t I look the fool. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/460 "2026-01-13T15:26:41Z")
No link anywhere, so far. Where did you read this? Just now-Wiki changed “is” to “was”. [Scott Adams - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Adams) ---
**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:** [January 13, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318/461 "2026-01-13T15:27:51Z")
Tmz now has it (['Dilbert' Creator Scott Adams Dead at 68](https://www.tmz.com/2026/01/13/scott-adams-dead/)) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-celebrity-death-pool/1025318.md?page=24)