# 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:** 7
**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:** [December 9, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/121 "2016-12-09T19:19:12Z")
> [@critter42](#): > > So, in reality, this rules out anyone 99 also since they will be turning 100 next year. That does not seem to be correct. The way I read it, if there is any possibility that you could score actual points, you can play that person. They might cough up the one point for you before they turn 0. You cannot play anyone whose 100[sup]th[/sup] birthday is on or before Jan 1[sup]st[/sup] of 2017. ---
**Author:** ![TexCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/texcat/32/9041_2.png) [@TexCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TexCat)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/122 "2016-12-09T20:01:59Z")
_ **The Right Stuff** _ With John Glenn’s recent death, all of the Mercury 7 astronauts are gone, but here are the actors who played them. Ed Harris, b. 1950, John Glenn Scott Glenn, b. 1941, Alan Shephard Fred Ward, b. 1942, Gus Grissom Dennis Quaid, b. 1954, Gordon Cooper Lance Henrikson, b. 1940, Wally Schirra Scott Paulin, b. 1950, Deke Slayton Charles Frank, b. 1947, Scott Carpenter And because 7 is not enough, from the _Apollo 13_ movie, we have: Jim Lovell, b. 1928 Tom Hanks, b. 1956, Jim Lovell Fred Haise, b. 1933 Bill Paxton, b. 1955, Fred Haise Ken Mattingly, b. 1936 Gary Sinese, b. 1955, Ken Mattingly Chris Ellis, b. 1956, Deke Slayton Kevin Bacon, b. 1958, Jack Swigert Ed Harris Scott Glenn Fred Ward Dennis Quaid Lance Henrikson Scott Paulin Charles Frank Jim Lovell Tom Hanks Fred Haise Bill Paxton Ken Mattingly Gary Sinese Alternates: Chris Ellis Kevin Bacon ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/123 "2016-12-09T21:31:08Z")
> [@TexCat](#): > > _ **The Right Stuff** _ > > With John Glenn’s recent death, all of the Mercury 7 astronauts are gone, but here are the actors who played them. > Ed Harris, b. 1950, John Glenn > Scott Glenn, b. 1941, Alan Shephard > Fred Ward, b. 1942, Gus Grissom > Dennis Quaid, b. 1954, Gordon Cooper > Lance Henrikson, b. 1940, Wally Schirra > Scott Paulin, b. 1950, Deke Slayton > Charles Frank, b. 1947, Scott Carpenter > > And because 7 is not enough, from the _Apollo 13_ movie, we have: > Jim Lovell, b. 1928 > Tom Hanks, b. 1956, Jim Lovell > Fred Haise, b. 1933 > Bill Paxton, b. 1955, Fred Haise > Ken Mattingly, b. 1936 > Gary Sinese, b. 1955, Ken Mattingly > Chris Ellis, b. 1956, Deke Slayton > Kevin Bacon, b. 1958, Jack Swigert > > Ed Harris > Scott Glenn > Fred Ward > Dennis Quaid > Lance Henrikson > Scott Paulin > Charles Frank > Jim Lovell > Tom Hanks > Fred Haise > Bill Paxton > Ken Mattingly > Gary Sinese > > Alternates: > Chris Ellis > Kevin Bacon I had an astronaut/cosmonaut list a few years back. I started with all the guys still alive who walked on the moon, then went on to other firsts, such as first EVA, first person in space, first woman in space, and so on. Those folks are tough, I didn’t get a single point that year. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/124 "2016-12-09T22:23:45Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > As the person who wrote the original rules off the cuff, I’ll go on record to say I have no problem with people changing the rules in general or with Idle Thoughts’ changes in particular. I changed the rules several times when I ran the Deathpool threads. Other people changed the rules when they ran them. I really don’t care whether or not the line between valid and invalid is at the pick’s 100th birthday, his/her 101st. or doesn’t exist at all. The problem I had was his saying it one way, then saying it another, then saying it a third way, and then claiming he’d only said one thing the whole time. (Dude, we can roll tape. Just say, “look, I goofed, sorry about that, here’s what I _meant_ to say.” People are more likely to nod and move on. And yes, this is **RTFirefly** of all people giving you a suggestion about being diplomatic. That’s gotta be a first around here, and probably a sign of the End Times to boot. :D) On the ranking thing, I’m happy with his compromise of just listing the players from most to least points, without any numerical rankings at all. Though > [@](#): > > It’s not a change, that’s how the ranking system originally was kind of amuses me. If I shave off my beard one of these years, I’ll just tell my wife, “It’s not a change, dear, that’s how my facial hair originally was.” ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/125 "2016-12-09T23:25:12Z")
My theme: Wrestlemania (specially XXIII) concentrating on health issues, steroid use and Jerkiness: Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka Big Van Vader Rob Van Dam The Great Khali Randy Orton Ken Anderson Jeff Hardy Edge Chavo Guerrero Jr. Gregory Helms Vincent Kennedy “Vince” McMahon Donald Trump The Undertaker That last one is obligatory 🙂 Preliminary list just in case I forget to post by the deadline. As usual I expect to change it a lot by December 31. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/126 "2016-12-09T23:26:17Z")
It must be a new Death Pool thread. All the rules lawyers are out. ---
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/127 "2016-12-10T11:37:08Z")
Gord Downie James Earl Jones Tom Brokaw Don King Neil Young Shannen Doherty Willie Nelson Peter Mahew David McCallum Buzz Aldrin Pat Robertson Abdulla Yameen Malcolm Young Alternates: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar James Patterson Betty White ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/128 "2016-12-10T13:42:39Z")
My list this year is called **People Who Won the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction**. Alison Lurie (9/3/1926) - won in 1985 for _Foreign Affairs_ William Joseph Kennedy (1/16/1928) - won in 1984 for _Ironweed_ Shirley Ann Grau (7/28/1929) - won in 1965 for _The Keepers of the House_ Toni Morrison (2/18/1931) - won in 1988 for _Beloved_ Philip Roth (3/19/1933) - won in 1998 for _American Pastoral_ Cormac McCarthy (7/20/1933) - won in 2007 for _The Road_ Navarre Scott Momaday (2/27/1934) - won in 1969 for _House Made of Dawn_ Edna Ann Proulx aka E. Annie Proulx (8/22/1935) - won in 1994 for _The shipping News_ Larry McMurtry (6/3/1936) - won in 1986 for _Lonesome Dove_ Anne Tyler (10/25/1941) - won in 1989 for _Breathing Lessons_ Steven Millhauser (8/3/1943) - won in 1997 for\* Martin Dressler\* Marilynne Robinson (11/26/1943) - won in 2005 for _Gilead_ Richard Ford (2/16/1944) - won in 1996 for _Independence Day_ Alternates Alice Walker (2/9/1944) - won in 1983 for _The Color Purple_ Michael Chabon (5/24/1963) - won in 2001 for _The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay_ (Long shot, but that book made me want to punch people.) **Clean List** Alison Lurie William Joseph Kennedy Shirley Ann Grau Toni Morrison Philip Roth Cormac McCarthy N. Scott Momaday Annie Proulx Larry McMurtry Anne Tyler Steven Millhauser Marilynne Robinson Richard Ford Alternates Alice Walker Michael Chabon ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/129 "2016-12-10T17:42:18Z")
> [@Buttercup\_Smith](#): > > Clint Eastwood > Kirk Douglas > Zsa Zsa Gabor > Jimmy Carter > George HW Bush > Dick Cheney > Glen Campbell > Betty White > Bob Barker > Kylie Jenner > Dan Rather > Dennis Hastert > Charlie Sheen > > Alternates: > Bill Clinton > Caitlyn Jenner Kirk Douglas turned 100 today so can we replace him with Bill Clinton please? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/130 "2016-12-10T19:52:19Z")
ReL catamount Can we do a both a regular list and a themed list? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/131 "2016-12-10T20:00:44Z")
I saw a notice that A A Gill has died, and three players have that name for 2017. That’s what alternates are for! ---
**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:** [December 10, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/132 "2016-12-10T22:47:02Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > ReL catamount > Can we do a both a regular list and a themed list? I was considering this, actually…but I hadn’t come up with a good way of how it would work before the time came to make this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/133 "2016-12-10T23:17:54Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > 1. Jimmy Carter > 2. Jerry Lewis > 3. Billy Graham > 4. Burt Reynolds > 5. Mamie Van Doren > 6. Don Rickles > 7. Donald Trump > 8. Bill Clinton > 9. Stephen Hawking > 10. Courtney Love > 11. Yoko Ono > 12. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka > 13. Adam West > > Alternates; > > 1. Phil Spector > 2. Hal Holbrook > 3. Donald Sutherland Ooh! I’d like to make a revision, if I could. Drop Yoko Ono, and add [Leon “Big Van Vader” White](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Van_Vader). That would make my clean list thus: Jimmy Carter Jerry Lewis Billy Graham Burt Reynolds Mamie Van Doren Don Rickles Donald Trump Bill Clinton Stephen Hawking Courtney Love Leon “Big Van Vader” White Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka Adam West ---
**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 10, 2016, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/134 "2016-12-10T23:35:07Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I was considering this, actually…but I hadn’t come up with a good way of how it would work before the time came to make this thread. I am working on an updated scorekeeper, and was considering separate rankings for “themed” and “regular” lists… Will keep you posted as the process unfolds. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/135 "2016-12-11T17:36:31Z")
It’s the sixth annual “All-Star” Sports Edition of the Death Pool: William “Refrigerator” Perry Stan Mikita Chris Mortensen Michael Schumacher Richard Simmons Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka Craig Sager Dave Strader Rod Carew Dwight Gooden Pele Dick Enberg Vin Scully Alternates: Johnny Manziel Lamar Odom ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/136 "2016-12-12T00:10:52Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > It must be a new Death Pool thread. All the rules lawyers are out. And Groucho fans 😃 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4v3etuIw-aM/hqdefault.jpg "I'm Against It - Groucho and Zeppo Marx - Horse Feathers (1932)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v3etuIw-aM) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/137 "2016-12-12T15:07:32Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > And Groucho fans 😃 > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v3etuIw-aM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v3etuIw-aM) Yeah, the one I expected. 🙂 Alternatively, “[If you think this country’s bad off now, just wait 'til I get through with it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBRLJ_kVjeQ),” which of course has wider application these days. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/138 "2016-12-12T17:22:37Z")
```auto NAME Birthdate Known for Ken Watanabe 21 October 1959 Actor - He's like an Asian "That Guy" Gord Downie 6 February 1964 Canadian band Tragically Hip Aretha Franklin 25 March 1942 Teaching us how to spell Respect Val Kilmer 31 December 1959 The best Batman *EVER* Stephen Hawking 8 January 1942 "The Hawk" - One of The Elders of the Internet Tommy Chong 24 May 1938 Dave's not here, man. Jimmy Carter 1 October 1924 Ex-President Dick Cheney 30 January 1941 Darth Vader George H. W. Bush 12 June 1924 Ex-President Johnathan Szeles 9 September 1958 AKA The Amazing Johnathan Michael Schumacher 3 January 1969 Formula-1 Driver Terrible skier Mary Tyler Moore 29 December 1936 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Pope Emeritus Benedict 16 April 1927 Snazzy Red Shoes Alt Prince Phillip 10 June 1921 He married well ``` Clean list Ken Watanabe Gord Downie Aretha Franklin Val Kilmer Stephen Hawking Tommy Chong Jimmy Carter Dick Cheney George H. W. Bush Johnathan Szeles Michael Schumacher Mary Tyler Moore Pope Emeritus Benedict Alt Prince Phillip ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/139 "2016-12-15T03:53:11Z")
List: Mel Brooks - Legendary director Betty White - Legendary actress James Randi - Legendary skeptic David Attenborough - Legendary wildlife presenter John Williams - Legendary composer Buzz Aldrin - Legendary conspiracy-theorist-puncher Sean Connery - Legendary sexy man Ken Watanabe - Legendary Asian actor Val Kilmer - Legendary swordsman Stephen Hawking - Legendary cyborg Tom Sizemore - Legendary meth addict Donald Sutherland - Legendary Canadian actor Valerie Harper - Legendary Rhoda star? Alternates: Richard Simmons - Legendary sparkly-unitard-wearer Paul Gascoigne - Legendary alcoholic Vikram Chatwal - Legendary burnout hotel heir # ============================= Plain Text Mel Brooks Betty White James Randi David Attenborough John Williams Buzz Aldrin Sean Connery Donald Sutherland Ken Watanabe Val Kilmer Stephen Hawking Tom Sizemore Valerie Harper Alternates: Richard Simmons Paul Gascoigne Vikram Chatwal ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/140 "2016-12-15T10:03:52Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > Buzz Aldrin - Legendary conspiracy-theorist-puncher I like this one! Whenever I feel frustrated I can go to YouTube and watch Bart Sibrel get what’s coming to him!😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517.md?page=8)