Most recent film where the principal cast are all dead

Cafe Society
1

No, I’m not talking about zombine movies.

I heard someone say once that they got depressed watching “Casablanca” because they realized that all the actors were dead. Personally, I don’t see it myself – does reading John Updike depress you too? (Well, maybe, but for different reasons). It did make me curious though – Casablanca was released in 1942. What is the most recent film in which none of the principal cast are alive today?

A couple of notes:

  1. I’d like to set a minimum cast – otherwise, I think Gray’s Anatomy is tough to beat. Let’s say at least four actors or actresses.

  2. I realize that “principal cast” is irritatingly vague. The idea of this thread is not to make you chase down the whereabouts of anyone who walked across the screen. Use your best judgment.

What do you think? Can we beat “Casablanca”? Or would somebody like to argue that Casablanca doesn’t even count, since the actress who played Yvonne, Rick’s jilted mistress, is still alive?

2

John Wayne’s oft-mentioned mistake, THE CONQUEROR, bumps it well up into the '50s if the death of every credited actor counts: Susan Hayward, William Conrad, Agnes Moorehead, Lee Van Cleef, and on down.

3

The main cast from A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) are all dead, though a couple of extras are still around.

Most of the cast of The Misfits (1961) are gone (the four principal actors were dead within eight years), but Eli Wallach is still around at age 95.

Other than a couple of children who appeared in flashbacks, the cast of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) are all gone.

The main cast of The Whales of August (1987) have died, but there were several actors who portrayed the main characters in flashbacks.

4

From 12 Angry Men (1957), only Jack Klugman is still alive.

5

Possibly 1963’s Murder at the Gallop. Katya Douglas is the only credited cast member not listed as being dead, but her career seems to have ended that same year. Can’t find any other info about her.

6

Monterey Pop (filmed 1967) is probably not what you’re looking for but it has a high mortality rate:

Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Mama Cass, John Phillips, Brian Jones, Keith Moon, John Entwhistle, Bob Hite, Al Wilson, Otis Redding, Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, Michael Clarke, Denny Doherty, James Gurley

7

Grease 2, 1982.
Eve Arden played the principal of Rydell High, and she’s dead.

8

Not as recent as some already listed, but Rebel Without A Cause comes to mind.

9

Gray’s Anatomy? Did Katherine Heigel flip out and kill everybody or something? :wink:

10

I don’t remember if it was theatrical release or TV movie, but Foxfire was filmed in the late 1980s and starred John Denver as a mountain born musician and Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy as his parents, all of whom are dead. (There are supporting characters in the movie but it’s based on a play in which those are the only three.)

Brewster’s Millions (the 1985 version) starred Richard Pryor, Hume Cronyn, and John Candy as well as many supporting characters (David White, Pat Hingle, others) are now dead, though some of the supporting characters are still alive.

11

Stephen Collins (the sleaze who tried to sabotage him at the end) is alive and well. And I’d assume the (woman) lawyer is.

12

Wow, very good one. The main, core characters are dead.

Yep, she(Lonette McKee) is alive still.