# The Celebrity Death Pool 2004 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359 "2003-12-01T22:29:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/401 "2004-05-18T15:45:02Z")
I’m finally on the scoreboard. Ummm, Yay Death!? Does anyone else feel mildly guilty about this? Or is it because I’ve been watching for news of how badly Billy Graham was hurt in his fall? I’m evil. And the Pope turned 84 today and all I thought was hmmm, 16 points is still good. I am so going to hell. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/402 "2004-05-18T15:52:02Z")
> [@plnnr](#): > > **75 points!** What’s he doing - killing people himself? Now, the rules clearly state that anyone contributing to the death of any celebrity on their list (outside the line of duty, as in the military and the police) will immediately be disqualified. It’s just a game, people. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/403 "2004-05-18T16:27:37Z")
Well, **DeVena** , whenever I log on and see that a celebrity has passed away, I eagerly click on this thread (bookmarked!) to see if the death notice has been posted. I was scooped on the Randall story, but can provide [this obit](http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5181220). Besides being a prolific actor, the man originally known as Leonard Rosenberg was a frequent guest on game shows. I particularly remember a “$10,000 Pyramid” (or was it the $25,000 version?) episode on which Randall had to give clues for the word “weather” without saying that term. He said something along the lines of “This part of a news broadcast tells you _whether_ it’s going to rain or be sunny.” When he was “buzzed” for using the word I’ve italicized, he protested by pointing out that he pronounced it “Hwether”, as opposed to “wether”, and thus committed no wrong. He lost the argument, but confirmed that the real-life Tony Randall was not totally unlike his fastidious Felix Unger character. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/404 "2004-05-18T17:40:15Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > [Q](http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,5764,00.html) fell a few days short of this century. The gadget man is now Q’s assistant, R. (John Cleese) Actually, I was referring to the “Q” of Star Trek TNG, 'coz he’s one to terrorize the Universe ‘n’ stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/405 "2004-05-18T19:47:58Z")
Could someone provide a link to the list/scoreboard? The [one](http://www.the-becketts.net/deathpool/#12) I have doesn’t seem to be working, and I don’t really feel like wading through 9 pages right now. Thanks, Happy ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/406 "2004-05-20T17:11:58Z")
[Here](http://home.earthlink.net/~sunfish9n/SDMB/participants.htm) it is, courtesy of **sunfish**. ---
**Author:** ![Saitou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Saitou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saitou)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/407 "2004-05-23T12:21:54Z")
Actor [Richard Biggs](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327375/) has moved beyond the rim but I don’t think anyone picked him ---
**Author:** ![Saitou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Saitou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saitou)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/408 "2004-05-23T12:25:56Z")
Sorry wrong link this is [Richard Biggs’](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0081863/) IMDB page ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/409 "2004-05-23T19:52:56Z")
Nope, nobody picked him. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/410 "2004-06-02T05:56:13Z")
Although I don’t think anybody picked her, I find the recent death of Alberta Martin worth a mention. Martin was the last widow of a Confederate veteran. Born in 1907, she had a son by her first husband, Howard Farrow. When Farrow died in a car accident in 1926, Alberta entered into a “marriage of convenience” with William Jasper Martin, an 81-year-old widower who received a veteran’s pension of $50 a month. The marriage was apparently consummated, as Alberta gave birth to a son ten months after her second wedding. You can read her obituary [here](http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/8808021.htm?1c) (site requires registration, but you can opt out of receiving the “special offers”). ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/411 "2004-06-02T14:26:16Z")
Forgot to mention: with the death of Archibald Cox, **Uvula Donor** now has 14 points. Congratulations, **Uvula Donor**! I will try to get the monthly update done today or tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/412 "2004-06-02T16:05:10Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > Well, **DeVena** , whenever I log on and see that a celebrity has passed away, I eagerly click on this thread (bookmarked!) to see if the death notice has been posted. I was scooped on the Randall story, but can provide [this obit](http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5181220). > > Besides being a prolific actor, the man originally known as Leonard Rosenberg was a frequent guest on game shows. I particularly remember a “$10,000 Pyramid” (or was it the $25,000 version?) episode on which Randall had to give clues for the word “weather” without saying that term. He said something along the lines of “This part of a news broadcast tells you _whether_ it’s going to rain or be sunny.” When he was “buzzed” for using the word I’ve italicized, he protested by pointing out that he pronounced it “Hwether”, as opposed to “wether”, and thus committed no wrong. He lost the argument, but confirmed that the real-life Tony Randall was not totally unlike his fastidious Felix Unger character. [semi-relevant hijack]Tony Randall was passionate about the English language. He served for quite a while on the _American Heritage Dictionary_’s (IIRC) Usage Committee. So it does not surprise me in the least that he would be that anal about “whether” and “weather” being pronounced differently.[/SRH] Robin ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/413 "2004-06-03T01:26:52Z")
As of June 2nd, the Celebrity Death Pool scoreboard stands as follows… Still in the lead is the indomitable **Captain Lance Murdoch** with 75 points. In second place is **notfrommensa** with 51 points. Tied for third are **Angel Heart Caricci Mullinator** and **zoog** with 41 points each. **Sternvogel** - 40 points **cadolphin** and **Rico** - tied with 21 points each. **earthpuppy Lathe of Heaven Mudshark Saitou** and **smam** - tied with 18 points each. **DeVena gobear** and **Skammer** - tied with 16 points each. **NoGoodNamesLeft** and **Santos L Halper** - tied with 15 points each. **Uvula Donor** - 14 points **Single Serving Friend** - 6 points **Mr. Babbington** - 5 points **ataraxy22** and **Cicada2003** - tied with 3 points each. And yes, once again… **all the rest of us** with zilch. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/414 "2004-06-03T01:57:09Z")
**MsRobyn** I remember Tony Randall, on a talk show, mentioning the word for that notch in the upper lip is called the _philtrum_. It figures he’d be the kind of guy who’d know that. (And I’m the kind of guy that would remember that. I fit in just fine here at the SDMB). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/415 "2004-06-03T04:38:13Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Forgot to mention: with the death of Archibald Cox, **Uvula Donor** now has 14 points. [Here](http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0531coxobit31.html) is Cox’s obituary. Interesting that the man whose firing came to be known as the “Saturday Night Massacre” died Saturday, as did Senate Select Committee on Watergate Chief Counsel Sam Dash. Bob Woodward has frequently said that “Deep Throat” is still alive, and that the legendary source’s identity won’t be revealed as long as that’s the case. Wonder if Woodward will outlive “Deep Throat”, or if the secret will literally die with Bob… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Zamboni)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/416 "2004-06-05T15:08:06Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > [Here](http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0531coxobit31.html) is Cox’s obituary. Interesting that the man whose firing came to be known as the “Saturday Night Massacre” died Saturday, as did Senate Select Committee on Watergate Chief Counsel Sam Dash. Bob Woodward has frequently said that “Deep Throat” is still alive, and that the legendary source’s identity won’t be revealed as long as that’s the case. Wonder if Woodward will outlive “Deep Throat”, or if the secret will literally die with Bob… If Woodward dies before Deep Throat does, I would hope that Deep Throat would reveal him or herself. It would be sad to never know who Deep Throat really is. ---
**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:** [June 5, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/417 "2004-06-05T15:35:56Z")
I believe the identity of Deep Throat, along with other information from Woodward and Bernstein’s investigation, has been placed in a sealed file in a college library with instructions for it to be opened in fifty years. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/418 "2004-06-05T15:40:21Z")
Fifty years after what, 1973? That wouldn’t matter if W&B feel it’s okay to name the person after he/she’s gone. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/419 "2004-06-05T20:52:48Z")
NBC is reporting that Ronald Reagan has died. ---
**Author:** ![Squonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squonk)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/420 "2004-06-05T20:57:15Z")
Finally, I’m (and probably everybody else) on the board. 7 whole points! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359.md?page=22)