# Last Remaining Cast Members **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [January 1, 2021, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464 "2021-01-01T20:16:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/261 "2022-07-08T17:53:00Z")
“I don’t know why people keep saying you’re dead.” …time passes “Who says I’m dead?!” ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/262 "2022-07-08T19:50:44Z")
Good one. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/263 "2022-07-08T21:40:20Z")
Joe Turkel’s death leaves Candice Bergen, 76, as the last cast member with a speaking part in _The Sand Pebbles._ James Hong’s lines were cut, and he’s rumored to be immortal anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/264 "2022-07-08T21:52:41Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Joe Turkel’s death leaves Candice Bergen, 76, as the last cast member with a speaking part in _The Sand Pebbles._ James Hong’s lines were cut, and he’s rumored to be immortal anyway… James Hong might belong in our “national treasure” list. People forget he was born in the far away land of: Minnesota ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2022, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/265 "2022-07-09T12:22:05Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > James Hong might belong in our “national treasure” list. People forget he was born in the far away land of: > > Minnesota I may actually have sat next to him on the bus when I was a small child. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/266 "2022-08-22T12:10:49Z")
> **[Virginia Patton Moss, Last Surviving Adult Cast Member of ‘It’s a Wonderful...](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/virginia-patton-moss-last-surviving-192135212.html)** > > Virginia Patton Moss, a former actress who was the final surviving adult cast member of Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” died on Aug. 18 in Albany, Ga. She was 97 year… ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/267 "2022-08-22T15:29:23Z")
Seems a bit of a weird distinction to identify her as the “last surviving adult cast member.” As the article itself notes, several of the child actors are still alive including those who played Zuzu and Tommy. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/268 "2022-08-22T15:32:43Z")
Child cast members have a natural advantage in reaching “last cast member living” status. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/269 "2022-08-22T15:43:45Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Seems a bit of a weird distinction to identify her as the “last surviving adult cast member.” It makes some sense if there’s a clear discrete grouping by generation, as there often is with a sitcom. I don’t remember that being the case with _It’s a Wonderful Life_. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2022, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/270 "2022-10-23T06:58:39Z")
Am I wrong, or is Teri Garr the last remaining from _Young Frankenstein_? Yeah, Gene Hackman is still with us, but he wasn’t a main cast member. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/271 "2022-10-23T16:37:44Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Am I wrong, or is Teri Garr the last remaining from _Young Frankenstein_? Yeah, Gene Hackman is still with us, but he wasn’t a main cast member How could you forget Monte Landis, who so memorably played the part of Gravedigger #1? (Okay, he only had a small part in that movie. But he’s a recognizable character actor from the sixties who I was surprised to see it still around.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2022, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/272 "2022-10-23T18:17:00Z")
Or Mel Brooks. He did the howling wolf and the shrieking cat. 😛 ---
**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:** [October 23, 2022, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/273 "2022-10-23T18:34:36Z")
Hackman was crucial to the film and should be included along with any other actor considered important to the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2022, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/274 "2022-10-23T21:09:11Z")
Anne Beasley, the little girl, is still alive. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/275 "2022-11-17T12:12:56Z")
Robert Clary, last surviving cast member of _Hogan’s Heroes_ (and Auschwitz survivor) died [November 16](https://people.com/tv/hogans-heroes-star-and-auschwitz-survivor-robert-clary-dead-at-96/) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/276 "2022-11-17T12:18:53Z")
Kenneth Washington was a regular the final season of the show and probably the youngest cast member. He is still alive and only 76. He played Sgt. Baker who replaced Ivan Dixon (Sgt Kinchloe) ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/277 "2022-11-17T21:53:06Z")
Was that substitution ever explained/acknowledged (in universe)? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/278 "2022-11-17T21:54:48Z")
No, not at all. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/279 "2022-11-17T21:56:05Z")
It was never explained in show and I can’t find the reason for it behind the scenes. I’m not sure if he got fired, opted out of his contract or what the deal was. But it is a little jarring when suddenly he’s gone. The Show Runners did one thing well if I recall correctly. I’m pretty sure Kenneth Washington was in a few episodes as a background POW before season 5. So at least he didn’t come out of nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464/280 "2022-11-17T22:37:46Z")
Ivan Dixon moved from acting to directing. [Looking at his IMDB credits](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228853/) he seems to have started directing immediately after leaving HH, although he still did some occasional guest shots. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-remaining-cast-members/929464.md?page=15)