# Celebs that you are surprised are still alive **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2018, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342 "2018-07-21T21:23:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/21 "2018-07-23T16:32:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And also Mel Brooks. I’ll be very sad when he leaves us. Brooks is more than alive. [He still kicks butt and still performs.](https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/07/portrait-of-an-artist-as-an-old-man-mel-brooks-in-his-90s/564683/) ---
**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:** [July 23, 2018, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/22 "2018-07-23T17:01:20Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > Phyllis Diller? [Died back in 2012.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_Diller) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/23 "2018-07-23T17:15:24Z")
Olivia de Havilland is, incredibly, still alive. All her peers are dead, and indeed many of her contemporaries have been dead for decades. She’s 102, I believe. Her sister, Joan Fontaine, died at 96 just a few years ago, so good genes, I guess. (Fontaine’s real last name was de Havilland.) ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/24 "2018-07-23T17:26:38Z")
Celebrity chimp J. Fred Muggs from the 1950s Today Show with David Garroway is still around at 66. I’d always heard that Cheetah, from the Tarzan movies with Johnny Weissmuller was still alive for years, but looking him showed that he finally passed at the end of 2011 at the age of 80. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/25 "2018-07-23T19:31:34Z")
> [@caligulathegod](#): > > I’d always heard that Cheetah, from the Tarzan movies with Johnny Weissmuller was still alive for years, but looking him showed that he finally passed at the end of 2011 at the age of 80. In a similar vein, Fay Wray lived quite a long life, passing away in 2004 at age 96. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/26 "2018-07-23T20:32:04Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > Phyllis Diller? > [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Died back in 2012.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_Diller) I was proposing her as a candidate for “the one who really IS dead and who TriPolar might have mixed up with Cloris Leachman who isn’t”. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/27 "2018-07-24T13:59:49Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > He’s had a recurring role on _ **Goliath** _. > > And nobody has mentioned Keith Richards? He’s still high-profile, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not shocked he’s still among the living. It’s surprising to me that a lot of the Rolling Stones are still alive, not just Keef. Brian Jones died when he was 27 and when Ian Stewart died at age 47, I figured the Grim Reaper was going to start taking them away. But no, virtually everyone is still alive, save a few touring members like Bobby Keys, Nicky Hopkins and Ian McLaglan. Even the early-before-they-recorded guys like Dick Taylor are still here. Bill Wyman is the oldest at 81 which isn’t terribly ancient these days. > **[The Rolling Stones | Band members](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones#Band_members)** > > Current members > 1.Mick Jagger – lead and backing vocals, harmonica, rhythm guitar, percussion, keyboards, bass (1962–present) | > 2.Keith Richards – lead and rhythm guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion, backing and lead vocals (1962–present) | > 3.Ronnie Wood – lead, rhythm and slide guitars, bass, backing vocals, pedal steel guitar (1975–present) Former members > 1.Brian Jones – lead, rhythm and slide guitars, harmonica, keyboards, sitar, Appalachian dulcimer, marimbas, recorder, saxophone, percu... In contrast all four of the original Ramones are dead. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/28 "2018-07-24T14:04:07Z")
Children’s author Beverly Cleary, still alive at 102. I read her books in elementary school. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/29 "2018-07-24T17:30:49Z")
Coincidentally, I just found out this morning that Jackie Mason is still alive. I’d have bet you fifty bucks he was as dead as a doornail. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/30 "2018-07-24T20:24:31Z")
Tom Lehrer is still alive at 90. Called “the best musical satirist of the twentieth century,” by Dr Demento, he was well known for his satirical song parodies in the 1950s and '60s. He didn’t parody individual songs but usually song styles, such as ragtime, Tin Pan Alley, Musical theater,etc. Among his songs were Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, The Masochism Tango, The Vatican Rag. He retired from music in the early '70s. Lehrer’s song The Old Dope Peddler is sampled in rapper 2 Chainz’s song Dope Peddler, on his 2012 debut album, Based on a T.R.U. Story. The following year, Lehrer said he was “very proud” to have his song sampled “literally sixty years after I recorded it.” Lehrer went on to describe his official response to the request to use his song: “As sole copyright owner of ‘The Old Dope Peddler’, I grant you motherfuckers permission to do this. Please give my regards to Mr. Chainz, or may I call him 2?” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/31 "2018-07-24T20:43:36Z")
Ruth Buzzi is 82 years young today. Not so surprised she is still alive. But checking on other Laugh-In stars revealed: Jo Anne Worley is still going (my all time fave from the show) and only a little surprised. But the real surprise winner is Arte Johnson\*, 89. I thought for sure he died years ago. While Moosie Drier has the clear edge on outlasting the others, I wouldn’t count Goldie Hawn out. - And crossword creators still love to use “Comic Johnson” as a clue. Isn’t there some sort of time limit when a person can no longer be considered famous enough to count here? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/32 "2018-07-24T21:25:32Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Olivia de Havilland is, incredibly, still alive. All her peers are dead, and indeed many of her contemporaries have been dead for decades. She’s 102, I believe. > > Her sister, Joan Fontaine, died at 96 just a few years ago, so good genes, I guess. (Fontaine’s real last name was de Havilland.) Someone pointed that out to me a few years ago and it was surprising then. I think she was recently complaining about her portrayal in the Davis-Crawford feud mini-series. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/33 "2018-07-24T21:27:48Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > - And crossword creators still love to use “Comic Johnson” as a clue. Isn’t there some sort of time limit when a person can no longer be considered famous enough to count here? It starts and ends with vowels so it will last forever in crossword clues. Pola Negri and Nita Naldi still get used. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/34 "2018-07-25T03:35:57Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It starts and ends with vowels so it will last forever in crossword clues. Pola Negri and Nita Naldi still get used. Crosswords are the only reason I recognize and remember Ara Parseghian’s name. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/35 "2018-07-25T03:41:35Z")
Gary Busey ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/36 "2018-07-25T12:34:47Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Olivia de Havilland is, incredibly, still alive. Whoa! Thats amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/37 "2018-07-25T12:47:35Z")
Only one year more amazing than Kirk Douglas, who is 101. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/38 "2018-07-25T12:55:44Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I thought maybe Charo, but it turns out that she’s younger than me! Are you sure about that? She has misrepresented her age by as much as ten years (which would have made her 15 when she married Xavier Cugat): > [@](#): > > **Year of birth controversy** > > Charo’s year of birth has been the subject of dispute for many years. Official documents in Charo’s birthplace of Murcia, her original Spanish passport, and her naturalization papers state that her birth date is March 13, 1941. After immigrating to the United States, Charo said that she was born in 1947, then changed it to 1949.[29] She asserted in a 1977 court hearing that her passport and naturalization papers were wrong and that her true date of birth was January 15, 1951.[30] > > The performer has said in interviews that her parents allowed her to falsify her age to appear older when marrying 66-year-old band leader Xavier Cugat in 1966, although according to her later claims, that would have made her 15 at the time. However as noted previously, she has stated in many interviews that she was attending school in Madrid at that age and graduated at 16, not having yet begun her performing career. She has never clarified the obvious discrepancy.[31][10] Numerous articles and interviews published shortly before and at the time of her wedding placed her birth year between 1945 and 1946. In 1964, Charo was referred to as Cugat’s “18-year-old protegée”.[32] An April 1966 column on the wedding plans stated she was 20 and Cugat was 60.[33] Many sources identified her as 21 on the day of her wedding.[34][35][36] > > In October 1977[37]—the same year in which Charo filed for divorce from Cugat and became a naturalized American citizen—U.S. District Judge Roger Foley in Las Vegas allowed the 1951 birth year as official, with the performer providing sworn affidavits from her parents in support of her claim,[38][39] a claim that has been viewed with skepticism.[3][40] Commenting on the disputes over her age, she has said that the public’s disbelief could prove advantageous: “But if people really believe I’m older, that’s fine. Don’t be surprised if I come out with my own cosmetics, a new energy bar and maybe some vitamins.”[10] > **[Charo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charo)** > > María Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza,\[note 1\] professionally known by her stage name Charo, is a Spanish-born actress, singer, comedian, and flamenco guitarist who rose to international prominence in the 1960s on American television, as well as starring in several films. > Charo began playing classical (Spanish-style) guitar at the age of nine, training under the famed guitarist Andrés Segovia. In 1966, she married 66-year-old bandleader Xavier Cugat and moved to the United States with him... ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/39 "2018-07-25T13:16:48Z")
Any of the surviving Rolling Stones. LOL ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342/40 "2018-07-25T13:23:13Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > He’s had a recurring role on _ **Goliath** _. > > And nobody has mentioned Keith Richards? He’s still high-profile, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not shocked he’s still among the living. Dammit. I was gonna nominate Scott Weiland - winner WHFS ‘Most Likely to OD’ award, 1996, 97, and 98 - because he survived some truly Olympia drug problems in the 90s but it looks like he died in 2015. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-that-you-are-surprised-are-still-alive/818342.md?page=3)