# The Celebrity Death Pool 2008 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2007, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439 "2007-12-01T11:46:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/21 "2007-12-04T00:19:01Z")
First, the Excel-friendly “plain list”: Bob Barker Fidel Castro Walter Cronkite Tom Cruise Richard Dawson Hugh Downs Fred Durst James Hetfield Keith Richards Axl Rose Abe Vigoda Barbara Walters Scott Weiland And now, my comments. [ol] [li][Bob Barker](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Barker) (born December 12, 1923)- The Price is Right legendary icon. St. Pete one day will call, “Bob Barker, come on up!”[/li][li][Fidel Castro](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_Castro) (born August 13, 1926)- Cuban dictator. He’s gotta go sooner or later.[/li][li][Walter Cronkite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Cronkite) (born November 4, 1916)- long-retired CBS news anchor. I had to check Wikipedia just to see if he was still alive.[/li][li][Tom Cruise](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cruise) (born July 3, 1962)- Actor, hardcore Scientologist. His involvement in Scientology is going to do him in somehow. He’s gotten loonier over the years.[/li][li][Richard Dawson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawson) (born November 20, 1932)- Original Family Feud host. How many people think he’s going to kick off this year? Survey says…[/li][li][Hugh Downs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Downs) (born February 14, 1921)- ABC News corespondent. I had to check Wiki for this one, too.[/li][li][Fred Durst](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Durst) (born August 20, 1970)- a.k.a. Limp Bizkit. He lives such a reckless lifestyle, something’s bound to get him sooner or later.[/li][li][James Hetfield](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hetfield) (born 3 August 1963, Downey, California)- Metallica vocalist. Rock stars are always on the Grim Reaper’s radar, it seems.[/li][li][Keith Richards](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Richards) (born 18 December 1943)- Rolling Stones fossil. Yeah, I know, he’s destined to live forever, but still…[/li][li][Axl Rose](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axl_Rose) (born February 6, 1962)- Guns n’ Roses frontman. Like a lot of rock stars, he lives his life in the fast lane a little too much.[/li][li][Abe Vigoda](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_Vigoda) (born February 24, 1921)- Actor. Hard to believe he’s still with us. Wiki again.[/li][li][Barbara Walters](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Walters) (born September 25, 1929)- She’s getting up in years, too. I need to have at least one woman on my list anyway.[/li][li][Scott Weiland](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Weiland) (born October 27, 1967)- Lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots. Live on the edge for too long and you’ll eventually fall off.[/li][/ol] As you can see, my list for 2008 is rock-star heavy as they tend to have a shorter longevity due to their extravagant lifestyles. Maybe this strategy will work. ---
**Author:** ![Secret\_Volcano\_Lair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Secret\_Volcano\_Lair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Secret_Volcano_Lair)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/22 "2007-12-04T01:31:21Z")
here’s the “clean” version of my list, sorry for not doing this earlier :smack: Fidel Castro Mikhail Kalashnikov Pete Doherty Amy Winehouse Betty Ford Farrah Fawcett Oral Roberts Billy Graham Bob Barker Lawrence Pfohl Stephen Glover Ariel Sharon Charles Manson ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/23 "2007-12-04T01:45:43Z")
[QUOTE=Secret Volcano Lair] here’s the “clean” version of my list, sorry for not doing this earlier :smack: [/QUOTE] Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/24 "2007-12-04T02:07:11Z")
1. Dom DeLuise 2. Ashley Olsen (tried Mary Kate last year - let’s see how Ashley does in 2008) 3. John Updike 4. Ben “Cooter from the Dukes of Hazzard” Jones 5. Dick Tufeld (voice of the robot in “Lost in Space”) 6. Lois Chiles (actress, Bond Girl in Moonraker) 7. Mohammad Ali 8. Jim Nabors 9. Martin Landau 10. Stephen Hawking 11. Ariel Sharon 12. Nick Nolte 13. Kim Jong Il Alternates will be Tom Bosley, then Henry Kissenger ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/25 "2007-12-04T02:24:35Z")
I’m in. Laraine Newman Garrett Morris Keith Richards Joe Piscopo Louie Anderson Roman Polanski Lindsey Lohan Sidney Lumet (had to check wikipedia to make sure he was still alive) John Waters (ditto) John Nash (double ditto) Stephen Hawking Paula Abdul Bob McGrath (Bob from Sesame Street) plain list: Laraine Newman Garrett Morris Keith Richards Joe Piscopo Louie Anderson Roman Polanski Lindsey Lohan Sidney Lumet John Waters John Nash Stephen Hawking Paula Abdul Bob McGrath ---
**Author:** ![Ellef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8dc957/32.png) [@Ellef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellef)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/26 "2007-12-04T11:23:37Z")
First timer in the Death Pool here. I never win anything, so the names on the following list are more or less guaranteed to survive 2008, but here goes: Eric Sykes Norman Wisdom Humphrey Lyttelton Pete Doherty Nicholas “Fatty” Soames Dawn French Amy Winehouse Jeremy Clarkson Marion Jones Patrick Moore Baroness Thatcher David Blaine Norman Painting Alternate: Clarissa Dickson Wright Some explanations, as it’s a bit Brit-oriented: Eric Sykes – Comedy actor/writer/icon (old age) Norman Wisdom – Comedy actor/National hero in Albania, apparently (old age) Humphrey Lyttelton – Jazz musician/game show host/national treasure (old age) Pete Doherty – Musician/celeb boyfriend/druggie (his luck’s got to run out some time soon) Nicholas “Fatty” Soames – MP (autoerotic asphyxiation, found in PVC basque, fishnets, the full works) Dawn French – Comedienne (can’t be healthy to be that size) Amy Winehouse – Singer/walking tabloid circus (suicide – v. sad if this comes to pass) Jeremy Clarkson – TV presenter/loudmouth (failed macho attempt to outdo Richard Hammond) Marion Jones – disgraced sprinter (steroid use catches up with her) Patrick Moore – TV astronomer/xylophonist (old age) Baroness Thatcher – Former UK PM/mad granny in the Conservative Party’s attic/haunting presence (massive stroke) David Blaine – illusionist/attention seeker (botched stunt while attempting to get back into the limelight) Norman Painting – Leading actor in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers (written out of show due to failing health, followed by RL heart attack) Clarissa Dickson Wright – TV chef (heart attack) ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/27 "2007-12-04T11:24:22Z")
Roy Scheider Neil Armstrong Mel Brooks Lindsay Lohan Raúl Castro James Watson Harper Lee Elizabeth Edwards Katie Holmes Robert Clary Betty White Nichelle Nichols Andy Griffith Alternates: Nancy Reagan, Marget Thatcher, Peter O’Toole ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/28 "2007-12-06T02:49:06Z")
Ok, here goes: Willard Scott (he has to go sometime, right) Britney Spears (the meltdown is continuing. Possibly killed by her sister out of jealousy) Hank Aaron Barbara Bush (former first lady) Fidel Castro Alan Greenspan Roger Ebert James Earl Jones OJ Simpson Larry King John Astin (Gomez Adams) Chuck Berry Suzanne Pleshette Alternates Bob Barker Dick Clark Sally Struthers (I think all three of these, but especially the first two, are going to live forever. Therefore, just alternates). **Plain list** Willard Scott Britney Spears Hank Aaron Barbara Bush Fidel Castro Alan Greenspan Roger Ebert James Earl Jones OJ Simpson Larry King John Astin Chuck Berry Suzanne Pleshette Alternates Bob Barker Dick Clark Sally Struthers And I may regret this, but I’ve found the [Who’s Alive and Who’s Dead](http://wa-wd.com/) site to be helpful this year. It’s not fancy, but I liked it. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/29 "2007-12-06T02:51:47Z")
[QUOTE=Lsura] And I may regret this, but I’ve found the [Who’s Alive and Who’s Dead](http://wa-wd.com/) site to be helpful this year. It’s not fancy, but I liked it. [/QUOTE] That was my main source for my 2007 list, and two of my uniques kicked it. ---
**Author:** ![Andrew\_21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@Andrew\_21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andrew_21)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/30 "2007-12-06T03:16:09Z")
William F. Buckley Jr. Fidel Castro Elizabeth Edwards Betty Ford Ingemar Johansson Jack Kevorkian John Jay O’Connor III Sandra Day O’Connor Ariel Sharon George Steinbrenner John Paul Stevens Elizabeth Taylor Mike Tyson Alternates: Omar Abdel-Rahman Margaret Thatcher Tony Snow ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/31 "2007-12-06T12:39:02Z")
Billy Graham Kirk Douglas Charlton Heston Margaret Thatcher Elizabeth Taylor Ronnie Biggs Harold Pinter Dick Cheny Fidel Castro Shirley Temple Bob Barker Ariel Sharon Billy Graham Alternate: Mohammed Ali This is last years list with new nominees to replace last year’s winners. I am pleased to be able to submit this early as I will be busy over the new year. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/32 "2007-12-06T12:45:31Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] Billy Graham Kirk Douglas Charlton Heston Margaret Thatcher Elizabeth Taylor Ronnie Biggs Harold Pinter Dick Cheny Fidel Castro Shirley Temple Bob Barker Ariel Sharon Billy Graham Alternate: Mohammed Ali This is last years list with new nominees to replace last year’s winners. I am pleased to be able to submit this early as I will be busy over the new year. [/QUOTE] Billy Graham is in twice. I will replace one with Muhammad Ali. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/33 "2007-12-06T13:42:47Z")
Grumble! Ali will never die. He is on everyone’s list. That’s what I get for hurrying. ---
**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 7, 2007, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/34 "2007-12-07T13:18:41Z")
[QUOTE=amarone] We have no rule about what constitutes “celebrity,” because it makes our heads hurt to think about this. [/QUOTE] We’ve been pretty much saying that if someone’s death is reported by two major news reporting agencies (CNN, New York Times, one of the reputable foreign press outlets, etc.) then they’re a celebrity. Should we finally make this the rule for defining celebrity? And thanks, **a35362** for your stewardship of The Pool over the last few years. Every now and then I remember your post about when John Paul II dies, and giggle. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/35 "2007-12-09T13:59:42Z")
[QUOTE=Sean Factotum] We’ve been pretty much saying that if someone’s death is reported by two major news reporting agencies (CNN, New York Times, one of the reputable foreign press outlets, etc.) then they’re a celebrity. Should we finally make this the rule for defining celebrity? [/QUOTE] I’m responding partly to bump this thread - where is everyone? I never thought this thread would go off the first page. If we want to discuss celebrity rules, there are two other situations that have been mentioned: [ul] [li]people who are merely related to celebrities, not celebrities in their own right[/li][li]people who are only famous because of their illness[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/36 "2007-12-09T14:10:56Z")
[QUOTE=amarone] If we want to discuss celebrity rules, there are two other situations that have been mentioned: [ul] [li]people who are merely related to celebrities, not celebrities in their own right[/li][li]people who are only famous because of their illness[/li][/ul] [/QUOTE] And this is why our heads hurt. Celebrity is not self-evident, so you rule will engender more disagreements, not less. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/37 "2007-12-09T15:04:40Z")
Britney Spears Kevin Federline J. K. Rowling Prince Harry Camilla Parker Bowles Mel Brooks Andrew Sullivan Michael Kinsley Mary Kate Olsen Robert Plant Ringo Starr Sen. Robert Byrd Stevie Nicks ---
**Author:** ![Electrical\_Storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac8455/32.png) [@Electrical\_Storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electrical_Storm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/38 "2007-12-09T15:58:44Z")
My picks for 2008: Fidel Castro Jerry Lewis Bo Diddley Oral Roberts Vanna White Hulk Hogan Sean Connery Pamela Anderson Phil Spector Eunice Kennedy Kirk Douglas Gary Busey Billy Graham alternate Perez Hilton ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/39 "2007-12-09T17:27:24Z")
Might as well post the same list as last year. I wonder if I can get some monetary rewards from these people, seeing as I’m the reason the grim reaper leaves them alone. Tom Petty Andy Griffith Carol Channing Rob Reiner Pat Buchanan Ron Santo Rip Torn Phyllis Diller Farrah Fawcett Bob Barker Jerry Stiller Bob Newhart Kenan Thompson ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/40 "2007-12-09T18:33:39Z")
Fidel Castro Ariel Sharon Esther Williams Betty Ford Annette Funicello Estelle Getty Billy Graham Muhammad Ali Joe Paterno Blake Fielder-Civil Amy Winehouse Britney Spears Lindsay Lohan Alternates: Larry Hagman Kevin Federline Courtney Love [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439.md?page=3)