I was seriously thinking of joining Dying for Dollars for 1999. (For those that don’t know, DFD participants select a list of celebrities they think will die in the coming new year. They’re given points when someone does; more points if they were unique to their list, less and less points the more people had them on their lists.) I had a list all made up, when I realize how sick I was by including celebs who were pilots. I decided not to play. But then JFK II bought it. He wasn’t on my list, but he would’ve been had I known he flew.
So, my question(s): Should I play next year, supplementing my list with celeb pilots? Do celebs die in small planes disproportionately, or probably more direct, do celebs not die on commercial flights?
And finally, what celebs would you choose for this game for 2000, for whatever reason?
The trouble with this ghoulish plan is that some of my favorite actors are pilots.
Anytime a peson engages in activities of high risk, s/he is more likely to buy the farm. Paul Newman with car-racing, John Travolta and his personal 747, Billy Idol just being Billy Idol.
I wouldn’t go nuts and fill out an all-pilot roster, though. Christopher Reeves had a pilot license, but when he had his (non-fatal) accident, it was on horse-back.
I still have to do some research on my roster, but I’m not going to share it with anybody, mister.
I recently read that Harrison Ford also flys his own plane to film locations.
Personally, I like my old standby: pick an equal mix of rock stars, stand-up comedians, and supermodels. You end up with a winning combination of youth and drug abuse.
Messrs. Travolta and Ford both fly Gulfstream IIs (a friend works at the airport where most private jet pilots land on their way to NY). Travolta had a Lear, but now that he’s pulling in the big bucks has upgraded to the “must have” plane of celebrities. He also has a habit of borrowing larger planes from friends and studios.
This is not an offer to agree or disagree with opinions, which may be done only by a current prospectus.
Celebs who died in airplanes that I can recall off the top of my head: Vernon Castle (famous dancer), Carole Lombard, Earle Metcalfe (1910s film star), Phillips Holmes (1930s film star), Patsy Cline, Mike Todd, the “Buddy Holly 3,” Glenn Miller . . . ummm, I know I’m missing a few here, folks, some help?
Celebrities who did Not die while PILOTING air craft. Jimmy Stewart,George Bush. And they were REALLY envolved in ‘risky behavior.’
How could you forget Will Rogers?
Wil Rogers died whilst panhandling INSIDE of a movie theatre. Let this be a warning !!!
<evil grin, wicked laugh, gleeful smile )
Typer
p.s. I love when one thread inspires another thread’s answer. It’s called ( ahem ) weaving an answer. <snicker>
Omigod, AWB, what an amazing Web site! A friend’s mother died in a plane crash about ten years ago and every time a celeb dies in one I think of how awful it must be for her to have it come rushing back again. Hope your brother-in-law’s was quick and painless . . .
