# 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:** 25
**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:** [January 7, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/481 "2017-01-07T16:37:21Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Former Survivor Contestant, [Dan Kay](http://people.com/tv/survivor-gabons-dan-kay-dead-at-40/), dead at age 40. He was in the Gabon Season, and last 21 days. I have watched every season of Survivor but I don’t remember this guy. > > He is the 4th (US) Survivor contestant to have died since the series started. I didn’t remember him even after seeing his photo/video. He died “suddenly” on Dec 31 2016… 40 is very young/sad… ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/482 "2017-01-07T17:12:28Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > He is the 4th (US) Survivor contestant to have died since the series started. Kinda ironic. Perhaps they should rename the show. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2017, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/483 "2017-01-07T18:13:02Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Kinda ironic. Perhaps they should rename the show. This got me thinking on a snowy day. According to [this Wiki page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Survivor_(U.S._TV_series)_contestants), removing duplicate seasons, there have been 500 different contestants on Survivor, and 4 died: > [@](#): > > B.B. Andersen 77 Survivor: Borneo Brain Cancer > Jennifer Lyon 37 Survivor: Palau Breast Cancer > Dan Kay 40 Survivor: Gabon Cause Unknown > Caleb Bankston 27 Survivor: Blood vs. Water Railroad Accident 2 from cancer, 1 from a “railroad accident” and the most recent cause “unknown”. [US Cancer Society](http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics) lists a 12% incidence of breast cancer and 2 out of 234 Survivor contestants died from breast cancer thus far for a 0.008% incidence… much lower for Survivor players. Impossible to know the exact cause of one of the “unknowns” but the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/accidental-injury.htm) lists the risk of accidental death at 43/100,000 or 0.00043%. 2/500 is .004 or 10x higher than the population. Overall, 4/500 or 0.008% of the Survivor population has died, 3 at age 27, 37, 40. In 2011 [134,525 people died before age 40](https://www.quora.com/How-many-people-a-year-in-the-US-die-before-age-40-or-whatever-other-young-age), or .0004% of the population (based on 320mil). In Survivor 3/500 or 0.006%. Not sure what all this means, but playing Survivor may be a risk factor for early death ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/484 "2017-01-07T20:10:46Z")
Nobody had **Milt Schmidt, George Kosana, Om Puri, Jeremy Stone, Stephen McDonald** , or **Dan Kay**. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/485 "2017-01-07T20:56:24Z")
[Francine York](http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=francine-york&pid=183437129), Actress, 22 points ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/486 "2017-01-08T06:23:46Z")
[Columnist Nat Hentoff](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/columnist-nat-hentoff-dies-at-91/2017/01/07/b738a1a2-d54f-11e6-9651-54a0154cf5b3_story.html) made it to 91. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/487 "2017-01-08T06:27:58Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Former Survivor Contestant, [Dan Kay](http://people.com/tv/survivor-gabons-dan-kay-dead-at-40/), dead at age 40. He was in the Gabon Season, and last 21 days. I have watched every season of Survivor but I don’t remember this guy. > > He is the 4th (US) Survivor contestant to have died since the series started. > [@phungi](#): > > I didn’t remember him even after seeing his photo/video. He died “suddenly” on Dec 31 2016… 40 is very young/sad… I know that no one had him, but if someone did, why would he count for the 2017 Death Pool? I think when they died is more important than when we found about it. Can we get a ruling on this? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/488 "2017-01-08T08:22:55Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > [Columnist Nat Hentoff](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/columnist-nat-hentoff-dies-at-91/2017/01/07/b738a1a2-d54f-11e6-9651-54a0154cf5b3_story.html) made it to 91. I had no idea he was still alive; used to be a big fan. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2017, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/489 "2017-01-08T12:44:04Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I know that no one had him, but if someone did, why would he count for the 2017 Death Pool? > > I think when they died is more important than when we found about it. Can we get a ruling on this? Just chatting it up… death was in 2016 but brought up in the 2017 thread… ---
**Author:** ![Kitten\_Mitten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b782af/32.png) [@Kitten\_Mitten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitten_Mitten)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/490 "2017-01-08T14:52:36Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Kinda ironic. Perhaps they should rename the show. No one gets out of life alive. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/491 "2017-01-08T15:02:06Z")
Each time I see this thread at the top I get excited, then am disappointed. The tension is getting hard to bear! ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/492 "2017-01-08T15:04:40Z")
> **[Columnist Nat Hentoff, First Amendment advocate, jazz critic, dies | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/08/us/nat-hentoff-obit/index.html)** > > Nat Hentoff -- the acclaimed, popular and edgy columnist noted for his passionate writings on civil liberties and his famed jazz criticism -- has died, according to his son Nick Hentoff. Jazz critic Nat Hentoff has died at 91. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/493 "2017-01-08T15:15:31Z")
See posts 486-490. ---
**Author:** ![1b3bz18c9ed269201](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/58956e/32.png) [@1b3bz18c9ed269201](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1b3bz18c9ed269201)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/494 "2017-01-08T17:28:23Z")
Just read an article that stated Charles Manson is gravely ill. Since I didn’t see his name on any list, maybe it will be his time… ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/495 "2017-01-08T17:44:46Z")
> [@1b3bz18c9ed269201](#): > > Just read an article that stated Charles Manson is gravely ill. Since I didn’t see his name on any list, maybe it will be his time… See posts 435-439. **Nema98** has him, see post #200. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/496 "2017-01-08T19:04:57Z")
[Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani](http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/01/08/world/middleeast/ap-ml-iran-rafsanjani.html?_r=0), former Iranian President, 18 points ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/497 "2017-01-08T19:28:16Z")
Peter Sarstedt (Where do You go to, my lovely) has died. Sounds a horrible way to go. > **[Progressive supranuclear palsy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_supranuclear_palsy)** > > Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a late-onset degenerative disease involving the gradual deterioration and death of specific volumes of the brain. The condition leads to symptoms including loss of balance, slowing of movement, difficulty moving the eyes, and cognitive impairment. PSP may be mistaken for other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's. The cause of the condition is uncertain, but involves accumulation of tau protein wi PSP affe... ---
**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:** [January 8, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/498 "2017-01-08T19:55:40Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Nobody had **Milt Schmidt, George Kosana, Om Puri, Jeremy Stone, Stephen McDonald** , or **Dan Kay**. It seems like some close to the family jumped the gun and assumed he was dead. As of a short time ago Stephen McDonald was gravely ill and in a coma but still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Allecher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a6a055/32.png) [@Allecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Allecher)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/499 "2017-01-08T22:12:36Z")
In addition to Rafsanjani, Former Portuguese PM [Mário Soares](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/08/mario-soares-obituary) Former Seychelles president [James Mancham](http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/6572/Former+Seychelles+president+James+Mancham+dies+at+residence) Former Governor of Niger [Abdulkadir Kure](http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/219932-ex-niger-governor-abdulkadir-kure-dead.html) It has been a bad weekend for former world leaders. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/500 "2017-01-08T23:37:48Z")
> [@motu](#): > > [Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani](http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/01/08/world/middleeast/ap-ml-iran-rafsanjani.html?_r=0), former Iranian President, 18 points I have his boss, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Close but no cigar. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517.md?page=26)