# The Celebrity Death Pool 2005 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574 "2004-12-01T21:22:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/41 "2004-12-02T05:57:29Z")
I reserve the right to steal shamelessly from **Captain Lance Murdoch** , who apparently has a direct line to the Angel o’ Death himself. Itself. Whatever. 😃 The Important Folks: 1. Gerald Ford, he looks very shaky. 2. Pope John Paul II. It’s traditional by now. 3. Margaret Thatcher. Couldn’t even speak at Reagan’s funeral. 4. Pervez Musharaff. Someday the insurgents will get lucky. 5. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, ne Ahmad Fadil an-Nazal al-Khalaylah, born 1966. Maybe _we’ll_ get lucky. 6. William Rehnquist The Theater and TV World: 7) Betty Comden (this year was a bad year for composers and lyricists, and this great lady is one of the best lyricists still with us) 8) Jane Wyatt (has had strokes) 9) James Doohan (ditto, plus the Alzheimer’s diagnosis this year) 10) Walter Cronkite 11) Elizabeth Taylor Various: 12) Keith Richards 13) Courtney Love ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@Mona\_Lott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lott)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/42 "2004-12-02T05:57:49Z")
1. Pope John Paul 2 2. Gerald Ford 3. Johnny Carson 4. Elizabeth Taylor 5. Michael Jackson 6. Lady Bird Johnson 7. Walter Cronkite 8. Richard Pryor 9. James Garner 10. Nancy Reagan 11. Tony Danza 12. Barbara Bush, the elder 13. Fred Phelps ---
**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:** [December 2, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/43 "2004-12-02T06:00:14Z")
1. Pope John Paul II (pope) 2. Don Imus (radio personality) 3. Gary Burghoff (actor) 4. Inga Swenson (actor) 5. Billy Graham Sr. (minister) 6. Carrie Fisher (actor) 7. Dean Smith (coach) 8. Charles Nelson Reilly (top row, far right) 9. William Rehnquist (chief justice) 10. John Garang (Sudanese rebel leader) 11. Hubie Brown (coach) 12. Chuck Colson (ex-con-turned-evangelist) 13. Jean-Bertrand Aristide (ousted Haitian leader) Five alternates, in order, should some of the above croak in '04: a. Kirk Douglas (actor) b. Richard Pryor (comedian) c. Chuck D (rapper) d. Ricky Williams (football player) e. Jimmy Carter (ex-president) ---
**Author:** ![Lockz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lockz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockz)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/44 "2004-12-02T06:20:32Z")
1. Elizabeth Windsor (Queen Elizabeth II) 2. Charles Mountbatten-Windsor (Prince of Wales) 3. Karol Józef Wojtyła (ie Pope John Paul II) 4. Mary-Kate Olsen 5. Ashley Olsen 6. Fidel Castro 7. George W. Bush 8. George H.W. Bush 9. Gerald Ford 10. Nelson Mandela 11. Don King 12. Johnny Carson 13. Bob Barker ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/45 "2004-12-02T06:52:02Z")
In no particular order: 1. Pope John Paul II 2. Margaret Thatcher 3. Gerald Ford 4. Fidel Castro 5. Kim Jong-Il 6. Stephen Hawking 7. Lucien Bouchard (Canadian politician/Quebec separatist, so he’d probably hate the Canadian politician designation!) 8. Walter Cronkite 9. Nelson Mandela 10. Barbara Ann Scott (figure skater) 11. Scott Weiland 12. Harry Morgan (M_A_S_H_) 13. Don Cherry (Canadian hockey commentator/loudmouth) I’ll come up with alternates if needed - I actually had Pierre Berton on my 2005 list until he died yesterday :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/46 "2004-12-02T07:06:08Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#): > > 1. Willie Nelson Willie’s technically been dead for years. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Arch\_Trout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@Arch\_Trout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arch_Trout)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/47 "2004-12-02T13:04:58Z")
Here goes: 1. The Pope - (the pope) 2. Jimmy Carter - (history’s greatest monster) 3. John Goodman - (fat actor) 4. Andy ‘Viking’ Fordham - (fat world darts champion) 5. Frank Oz - (jedi master directing frog) 6. Vince K McMahon Jr - (WWE owner) 7. Roger Moore - (eyebrow raising ex-Bond) 8. Allan ‘Bud’ Selig - (Baseball Commish.) 9. Margaret Thatcher - (Iron Lady) 10. Bernard manning - (foul mouthed ‘comedian’) 11. Ringo Starr - (greatest rock drummer in the world tm) 12. Kenny Dalgleish - (ex-Scottish international) 13. John Prescott - (fat politician) ---
**Author:** ![WIGGUM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WIGGUM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIGGUM)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/48 "2004-12-02T13:32:36Z")
1. Melissa Etheridge 2. Bill Clinton 3. William Rehnquist 4. Scott Hamilton 5. Patty Duke 6. William H. Rehnquist 7. Elizabeth Taylor 8. Osama Bin Laden 9. Courtney Love 10. Annette Funicello 11. Estelle Getty 12. Richard Pryor 13. Pope John Paul II ---
**Author:** ![WIGGUM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WIGGUM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIGGUM)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/49 "2004-12-02T13:41:21Z")
Oops. I’ve got Rehnquist on there twice. Substitute one Rehnquist with: **Tina Yothers** ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/50 "2004-12-02T13:52:57Z")
I have a new strategy this year. I also am stuck on the last two people on my list since three people I picked last year decided to die for once. But the new strategy is a sure-fire winner… ---
**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:** [December 2, 2004, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/51 "2004-12-02T13:58:24Z")
1. Ashley Olsen 2. Mary-Kate Olsen 3. Charlotte Church (this being the first year all three are eligible) 4. Ken Jennings 5. Peter Jennings 6. Tom Brokaw 7. Dan Rather 8. Elizabeth Taylor Wilder Hilton Todd Fisher Burton Burton Warner Fortensky yada yada yada 9. Ringo Star 10. Paul McCartney 11. Keith Richards 12. Mick Jagger 13. Ted Kennedy Sr. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/52 "2004-12-02T14:01:23Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > 1. Keith Richards Isn’t he dead already. On second thought, he just looks that way. Herion and tobacco must have amazing properties as preservatives… 😃😃😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/53 "2004-12-02T14:10:37Z")
1. Tammy Faye Bakker Resner – quasi-celebrity 2. Jack Palance - actor 3. Charlton Heston – actor/spokesman for God 4. James Doohan - actor 5. Fidel Castro – The Last Communist 6. His Holiness John Paul II 7. Richard Pryor – comedian/actor 8. Lady Bird Johnson – ex-First Lady 9. Ayad Allawi – Iraqi politico 10. Elizabeth Taylor (Annie-Xmas beat me to using all her names) 11. Nancy Reagan – another ex-First Lady 12. William Rehnquist - jurist 13. Kurt Busch – drives fast, turns left a lot I dumped Ms. Love from my list at the last minute. Because if she does live, she’s gonna be pissed at everyone that voted for her, and come looking for you. Mark my words. ---
**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:** [December 2, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/54 "2004-12-02T14:12:25Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Isn’t he dead already. On second thought, he just looks that way. Herion and tobacco must have amazing properties as preservatives… 😃😃😃 Keith & Beach Boy Brian Wilson could be held as proof that drugs have a link with longevity. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/55 "2004-12-02T14:19:43Z")
1. Pope John Paul II 2. Michael Jackson 3. Estelle Getty 4. James Doohan 5. Michael J. Fox 6. Osama Bin Laden 7. Saddam Hussein 8. Jack Kevorkian (the infamous “Dr Death” currently in jail for assisted suicide) 9. Jack Black (famous fat funny guy = death curse) 10. Stephen Hawking 11. Margaret Thatcher and my two odd-ball, Hail Mary, counts: 12. William Fucking Shatner 13. Frankie Muniz (19 years old this month, and has more fast cars than any teenager should). ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/56 "2004-12-02T14:24:20Z")
Ack. I just reviewed the rules again and saw the political prisoners clause. With that in mind my new list is… 1. Pope John Paul II 2. Michael Jackson 3. Estelle Getty 4. James Doohan 5. Michael J. Fox 6. Osama Bin Laden 7. Stephen King 8. Jack Kevorkian (the infamous “Dr Death” currently in jail for assisted suicide) 9. Jack Black (famous fat funny guy = death curse) 10. Stephen Hawking 11. Margaret Thatcher and my two odd-ball, Hail Mary, counts: 12. William Fucking Shatner 13. Frankie Muniz (19 years old this month, and has more fast cars than any teenager should). ---
**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:** [December 2, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/57 "2004-12-02T14:47:41Z")
Well, here goes nothin’ … 1. Tom Wolfe, auteur 2. The Rev. Al Sharpton, “It’s all good.” 3. Yogi Berra, “Déjà vu all over again!” 4. Ronnie Biggs, train robber 5. Courtney Love, train wreck 6. Angela Lansbury, movie star 7. Liz Taylor, formerly glamorous movie star 8. Bob Denver, “Gilligan!!!” 9. Carol Channing, torch singer 10. George Jones, c/w singer 11. Andy Dick, reckless actor 12. Dick Cheney, reckless politico 13. Jeff Gordon, non-wreckless NASCAR driver Alternates, in order, in case any of the above croak before 12/31: 1. Clay Aiken, “Idol” crooner 2. Jack Nicholson, Lakers fan 3. Margaret Thatcher, Sir Dennis Thatcher’s widow ---
**Author:** ![Lockz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lockz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockz)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/58 "2004-12-02T15:08:49Z")
Grr, now I remember someone who should’ve been included from the beginning. Replace Don King with Margaret Thatcher. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/59 "2004-12-02T15:15:13Z")
1. Pope John Paul II 2. Bob Barker 3. Richard Pryor 4. Johnny Carson 5. Keith Richards 6. Bob Dylan 7. Walter Cronkite 8. Andy Rooney 9. Jimmy Carter 10. Barbara Streisand 11. Grace Slick 12. Fidel Castro 13. Michael Jackson ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/60 "2004-12-02T15:48:40Z")
My first year playing! 1. Gordon Hinckley, Mormon leader 2. Lindsey Lohan, actress and party girl 3. Robert Dole, former presidential candidate 4. G. Gordon Liddy, talk-show host and former Watergate figure 5. Harold Gould, actor 6. Beatrice Arthur, actress 7. Nelson Mandela, former South African leader 8. Joseph Wapner, former California Superior Court and “People’s Court” judge 9. Conrad Bain, actor 10. Alexander Haig, former Secretary of State 11. Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and Great Britian 12. Robert S. McNamera, former Secretary of Defense 13. Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574.md?page=4)