# If You Could, What Celebrity's Death Would You Prevent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 4, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934 "2009-07-04T22:52:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/1 "2009-07-04T22:52:40Z")
For me , it’s **John Denver**. I know. He had a turbulent private life, didn’t he? But onstage, he _always_ made sure he gave me the best show he could, and had I ever been dissatisfied and could let him know, I believe he would have given me my money back. Folks say me and John look alike, and I take that as a compliment, even though I am nowhere near the musician/songwriter he was. (I also have to wear my ROUND glasses and let my hair grow “just right”, to hear that compliment!:)) Anyway, in e-mailing with a friend just recently, I kinda got the idea that his death was totally accidental, and if I could have been in that littlle “kit-plane” with him, I would have showed him to where that particular switch had been moved. I miss John Denver. Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/2 "2009-07-04T22:56:02Z")
Freddie Mercury. Maybe all we missed would have been a descent into mediocrity, but I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![ashman165](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@ashman165](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashman165)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/3 "2009-07-04T22:59:42Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > For me , it’s **John Denver**. > > I know. He had a turbulent private life, didn’t he? > > But onstage, he _always_ made sure he gave me the best show he could, and had I ever been dissatisfied and could let him know, I believe he would have given me my money back. > > Folks say me and John look alike, and I take that as a compliment, even though I am nowhere near the musician/songwriter he was. > > (I also have to wear my ROUND glasses and let my hair grow “just right”, to hear that compliment!:)) > > Anyway, in e-mailing with a friend just recently, I kinda got the idea that his death was totally accidental, and if I could have been in that littlle “kit-plane” with him, I would have showed him to where that particular switch had been moved. > > I miss John Denver. > > Thanks > > Quasi Betty White. My attempts so far have been fruitful. My other choice is Bea Arthur, but I don’t like to harp on my failures. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/4 "2009-07-04T23:07:18Z")
> [@ashman165](#): > > Betty White. My attempts so far have been fruitful. > > My other choice is Bea Arthur, but I don’t like to harp on my failures. I rarely do this, but…ROTFLMAO!!! Q ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/5 "2009-07-04T23:15:47Z")
Since this is about celebrities, I’m going to move it over to Cafe Society. twicks, MPSIMS mod ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/6 "2009-07-04T23:16:14Z")
This Righty votes for John Lennon- and no, not by shoving Yoko into the line of fire. ---
**Author:** ![PaperBlob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@PaperBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaperBlob)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/7 "2009-07-04T23:17:44Z")
Phil Hartman ---
**Author:** ![ashman165](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@ashman165](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashman165)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/8 "2009-07-04T23:18:25Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Since this is about celebrities, I’m going to move it over to Cafe Society. > > twicks, MPSIMS mod Well, I’m not going there with you. So there! Thanks, Quasi. Sometimes I wonder if my humor gets lost on here. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/9 "2009-07-04T23:22:05Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Since this is about celebrities, I’m going to move it over to Cafe Society. > > twicks, MPSIMS mod **Twicks**? While you’re still here, could you also change “WHAT” to "“WHOSE” in the title line, please? I think I had a brain-BM when I wrote that!:smack: Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![ashman165](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@ashman165](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashman165)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/10 "2009-07-04T23:48:15Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > **Twicks**? > > While you’re still here, could you also change “WHAT” to "“WHOSE” in the title line, please? > > I think I had a brain-BM when I wrote that!:smack: > > Thanks > > Quasi You want him to change it to “Whose Celebrity”? That wouldn’t make sense! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/11 "2009-07-04T23:59:31Z")
**"Which"**? Would THAT work better?😕 Sorry, guess maybe it’s not just a “Brain-BM”, but “Brain- Diarrhea”.:rolleyes: **Twicks** : Just whatever works, Hon, okay? Sorry, not having a good day, apparently. Q ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/12 "2009-07-05T00:02:05Z")
Jimmy Carter ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/13 "2009-07-05T00:02:07Z")
“What” works fine, I’ll leave it. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/14 "2009-07-05T00:13:25Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > “What” works fine, I’ll leave it. 🙂 Thank You! Q ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/15 "2009-07-05T00:23:05Z")
I assume that politicians don’t count. My first thought was John Lennon and I can’t think of anyone better. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/16 "2009-07-05T00:40:14Z")
Richard Harris. He’s a better Dumbledore than Michael Gambon. Heath Ledger… But I’d like to somehow know that in another universe he did die, so that I can compare the reviews of his performance as the Joker between the two universes… though I suspect he’d still get very good reviews in the universe where he lived, because I strongly believe that the general consensus that he stole the show has nothing to do with the fact that he died. ETA: If Oliver Reed’s life as a drunk was overall still good, him. If not, it’s good that he died. His suffering would be over. A dead person can’t give in to the evil stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/17 "2009-07-05T00:43:54Z")
I didn’t mean to imply any limitations, so yes, politicians too, although we may be stumbling into IMHO territory before long!🙂 (with all due respect to the mods who will make that decision, of course!) About John Lennon? Yeah. I would have liked to delay Mark David Chapman long enough for John to get back to his flat in the Dakota. I firmly believe that he and Paul McCartney would have reconciled and there would have been many more years of beautifully written tunes. I have more opinions regarding Messrs. Lennon and McCartney, but those are best left for another thread. Q ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/18 "2009-07-05T01:14:00Z")
Jim Henson. Without a doubt, the world is a lesser place without him. ---
**Author:** ![first\_time\_caller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@first\_time\_caller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/first_time_caller)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/19 "2009-07-05T01:17:09Z")
Jimi Hendrix, although I’m not sure how I would stop problems caused by long-term drug or alcohol abuse. > [@PaperBlob](#): > > Phil Hartman Another vote for Phil Hartman ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934/20 "2009-07-05T01:21:31Z")
Ok, so, all I know is that Phil Hartman was a slightly annoying character on ‘News Radio’… So why the love for him? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-what-celebritys-death-would-you-prevent/501934.md?page=2)