# Celebrity Death Pool 2017 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2016, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517 "2016-12-01T07:00:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/321 "2016-12-31T00:59:46Z")
> [@Captain\_Klutz](#): > > Is Ben Suisala a valid pick? He looks to be known only on account of his illness. > > (incidentally, he is a New Zealander, not Australian) [He](http://www.zimbio.com/Ben+Suisala/pictures/pro) [is](https://www.startiger.com/myStars/l.php?i=&s=631639&u=20768)[playing](http://www.planetrugby.com/news/caucau-in-classic-all-blacks-squad/) [for](http://www.rugbynews.net.au/nrc-team-previews-introducing-the-nsw-country-eagles/) [Australia.](http://www.redsrugby.com.au/News/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/11484/Queensland-Premier-Rugby-Preview-round-seven.aspx) [Damn](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=19886892)! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/322 "2016-12-31T01:03:48Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > Looks like a tough call to me… there are limited “career stats” online, but nearly every link and site is related to his terminal illness… > > Idle Thoughts: what say ye? I think most stories on Donald Trump would be about his being elected President, for it is the latest thing to happen to him. ---
**Author:** ![Andrew\_21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@Andrew\_21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andrew_21)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/323 "2016-12-31T01:52:24Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > Chi-Chi Rodriguez would move up to replace Wilt Chamberlin He has only 12 valid picks. ---
**Author:** ![Team\_Dirt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Team\_Dirt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Team_Dirt)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/324 "2016-12-31T03:35:02Z")
Clive James Don Newcombe Gaston Glock Leah Bracknell Huston Smith Jimmy Snuka Marie Fredriksson Abdelaziz Bouteflika Harlan Ellison Randy Romero Greg Gilbert Steve Sumner Jessi Zazu ---
**Author:** ![basset\_hound](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/basset_hound/32/1432_2.png) [@basset\_hound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/basset_hound)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/325 "2016-12-31T03:48:51Z")
Leah Bracknell – English Actress Charles Bradley - American R&B Singer Glen Campbell – American Country Singer Errol Christie – English Boxer Shannen Doherty – American Actress Gord Downie – Canadian Musician Greg Gilbert – English Singer (Delays) Peter Skellern - English Singer-Songwriter Stefán Karl Stefánsson – Icelandic Actor Steve Sumner – New Zealand Soccer Player Joost van der Westhuizen – South African Rugby Player Marieke Vervoort – Belgian Paralympic Athlete John Wetton – English Singer (Asia) Alternates Jessi “Zazu” Wariner – American Singer (Those Darlins) John Bain – YouTube Gaming Commentator Val Kilmer - Actor John Newman - English Singer Clean List Leah Bracknell Charles Bradley Glen Campbell Errol Christie Shannen Doherty Gord Downie Greg Gilbert Peter Skellern Stefán Karl Stefánsson Steve Sumner Joost van der Westhuizen Marieke Vervoort John Wetton Alternates Jessi “Zazu” Wariner John Bain Val Kilmer John Newman ---
**Author:** ![RobotDevilDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@RobotDevilDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobotDevilDog)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/326 "2016-12-31T04:00:29Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What about Generalissimo Francisco Franco? I think he might be alive after all. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RobotDevilDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@RobotDevilDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobotDevilDog)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/327 "2016-12-31T07:41:27Z")
My third go at this. I did better this year, and am clinging to a top-10 finish. On to the lucky contestants: The Amazing Jonathan (aka Johnathan Szeles, magician) Glen Campbell (singer) Rod Carew (baseball player) Austin Carlile (singer) Shannen Doherty (actor) Gord Downie (musician) Stephen Hawking (scientist) Mary Tyler Moore (actor) William “Refrigerator” Perry (football player) Dave Rosser (musician) Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka (wrestler) Mel Stottlemyre Sr. (baseball player/coach) Melissa Young (model/Trump fan) Alternate: Valerie Harper (actor) PLEASE NOTE: There are both a Mel Stottlemyre Sr. and Jr. alive out there. I believe at least one person just listed “Mel Stottlemyre” on their list, and I want to make sure mine reflects which one I want. Clean List: The Amazing Jonathan Glen Campbell Rod Carew Austin Carlile Shannen Doherty Gord Downie Stephen Hawking Mary Tyler Moore William “Refrigerator” Perry Dave Rosser Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka Mel Stottlemyre Sr. Melissa Young Alternate: Valerie Harper ---
**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:** [December 31, 2016, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/328 "2016-12-31T08:17:22Z")
> [@RobotDevilDog](#): > > PLEASE NOTE: There are both a Mel Stottlemyre Sr. and Jr. alive out there. I believe at least one person just listed “Mel Stottlemyre” on their list, and I want to make sure mine reflects which one I want. I included Mel Stottlemyre on my list. I’m not sure if it’s junior or senior that I’m after, but if it helps, I meant the guy with terminal cancer (I’m assuming that would be Sr.). ETA: I looked it up – it is inded Sr. with multiple myeloma. ---
**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 31, 2016, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/329 "2016-12-31T09:30:56Z")
> [@Captain\_Klutz](#): > > Is Ben Suisala a valid pick? He looks to be known only on account of his illness. > > (incidentally, he is a New Zealander, not Australian) This certainly needs to be addressed. It looks to me this is an amateur rugby player and full time glazier who became famous because of his illness. I’m not from New Zealand but that’s what the articles look like. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/330 "2016-12-31T10:46:57Z")
> [@Captain\_Klutz](#): > > Is Ben Suisala a valid pick? He looks to be known only on account of his illness. Entirely valid; he’s noted before his illness: [http://www.rugbynews.net.au/nrc-team-previews-introducing-the-nsw-country-eagles/](http://www.rugbynews.net.au/nrc-team-previews-introducing-the-nsw-country-eagles/) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/331 "2016-12-31T11:33:13Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Entirely valid; he’s noted before his illness: [http://www.rugbynews.net.au/nrc-team-previews-introducing-the-nsw-country-eagles/](http://www.rugbynews.net.au/nrc-team-previews-introducing-the-nsw-country-eagles/) Actually, I’m going to retract that. On second thoughts, I think he’s an edge case. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/332 "2016-12-31T13:27:35Z")
My alternate if Suisala is denied is Sharon Laws. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/333 "2016-12-31T14:02:54Z")
Here we go with my list of immortals. Bill Macy Norman Lear Betty White Bob Barker Clive James Hugh Hefner George HW Bush Teri Garr Mary Tyler Moore Valerie Harper Penny Marshall Tommy Chong Donald Trump Alternates: Dick Van Dyke Keith Richards Nick Nolte ---
**Author:** ![Bewildebeest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bewildebeest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bewildebeest)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/334 "2016-12-31T14:21:41Z")
1. Ross Perot 2. Dan Rather 3. Barbra Striesand 4. Lindsay Lohan 5. John McCain 6. Raul Castro (cuban guy) 7. Tom Cruise (Actor,not the Hoveround inventor) 8. Donald Trump 9. William Shatner 10. Nichelle Nichols 11. Queen Elizabeth II 12. Dionne Warwick (and she didn’t see it coming) 13. Nanette Fabray (low hanging fruit) Alternates 1. Warren Miller (the snow skiing guy, although this name makes me uneasy) 2. Charles Bryant Gumbel ## Clean list Dan Rather Barbra Striesand Lindsay Lohan John McCain Raul Castro Tom Cruise Donald Trump William Shatner Nichelle Nichols Queen Elizabeth II Dionne Warwick Nanette Fabray Warren Miller Charles Bryant Gumbel ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/335 "2016-12-31T14:41:14Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > Anyway, revised list again: > > The Amazing Johnathan > Clive James > Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi > Rob Kardashian > Mel Stottlemyre > Cher > Liza Minnelli > Gord Downie > Glen Campbell > Shannen Doherty > Nick Cannon > Joost van der Westhuizen > Valerie Harper > > Alternates: > Bryan Murray > Mary Tyler Moore > Scott Putesky > Burt Reynolds I assume Stottlemyre is Mel Stottlemyre Sr? ---
**Author:** ![Clams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Clams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clams)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/336 "2016-12-31T14:49:18Z")
My first ever death pool entry. With gratitude to my mentor, Phungi. This is a list where you can actually root for the people to die. Drone strikes baby, drone strikes. 1. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi - ISIS leader. DOB 7/28/71 2. Abu Musab al-Barnawi - head of ISIS/West Africa/Nigeria Division aka Boko Haram. DOB 1994 3. Turki al-Binali - ISIS chief religious advisor and recruiter. DOB 9/3/84 4. Abu Luqman- chief interrogator and emir (military commander) for ISIS (Raqqah region). DOB 1973 ​5. ​Sirajuddin Haqqani​ - Deputy leader of Taliban/Haqqani insurgency in Afghanistan.​ ​ DOB 5/14/89 5. Hafiz Mohammad Saeed - co-founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and the chief or amir of Jama’at-ud-Da’wah (Pakistani Terrorist Affiliate). DOB 6/5/50 6. Oussama Atar - ISIS member and mastermind of 2015-2016 Paris and Brussels attacks. DOB 1984 7. Ayman al-Zawahiri - leader of Al Qaeda. 6/19/51 8. Qasim al-Raymi - leader of Al Queda in the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen). DOB 6/5/78 9. Yahya Abu el Hammam - senior leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)—North Africa. DOB 9/5/78 10. Asim Umar - leader of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)—South Asia. DOB 1975 11. Ahmad Umar - leader of Al Qaeda/Al-Shabaab—East Africa (Somalia). DOB 1972 12. Abu Mohammad al-Julani - leader of Al Qaeda/Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS)—Syria. DOB 1977 Alternate: Ezedin Abdel Aziz Khalil - senior al-Qaeda facilitator and financier based in Iran. DOB 1982 ---
**Author:** ![Clams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Clams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clams)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/337 "2016-12-31T14:57:22Z")
Okay here is my clean list: 1. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi 2. Abu Musab al-Barnawi 3. Turki al-Binali 4. Abu Luqman ​5. ​Sirajuddin Haqqani​ 5. Hafiz Mohammad Saeed 6. Oussama Atar 7. Ayman al-Zawahiri 8. Qasim al-Raymi 9. Yahya Abu el Hammam 10. Asim Umar 11. Ahmad Umar 12. Abu Mohammad al-Julani Alternate: Ezedin Abdel Aziz Khalil ---
**Author:** ![Andrew\_21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@Andrew\_21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andrew_21)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/338 "2016-12-31T15:04:58Z")
> [@Andrew\_21](#): > > Mel Stottlemyre This is [Mel Sr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Stottlemyre) ---
**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 31, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/339 "2016-12-31T15:24:28Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Actually, I’m going to retract that. On second thoughts, I think he’s an edge case. That’s being generous. He’s a prospect who hoped to become pro some day. It’s close to the pick we had a few years ago with a AA baseball player who was sick. The media picked up on it because he was young and it’s sad not because they were famous. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > My alternate if Suisala is denied is Sharon Laws. > Thanks. Since this is mostly a gentlemans game I would hope you could see that at best you are stretching the definition of celebrity to the breaking point. This type of pick has driven people away from the game. I’ve had quite a few of these types of picks over the years and I’ve always self regulated them. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/340 "2016-12-31T15:40:16Z")
My Mel Stottlemyre is for the Sr. as well (the guy who’s 75 currently). I’m guessing everyone who hasn’t indicated otherwise is referring to him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517.md?page=18)