# The Celebrity Death Pool 2009 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262 "2008-12-01T23:40:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/261 "2008-12-30T03:34:21Z")
Thirty entries ago Michael Jackson was tied for 39th place in this contest. By my count(non-official!) he’s now in sole possession of 6th place. We are all so going to hell!😛 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/262 "2008-12-30T03:54:51Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > We are all so going to hell!😛 Horse puckey. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/263 "2008-12-30T05:22:38Z")
James Arness Sylvia Browne Natalie Cole Gary Coleman Farrah Fawcett Joan Fontaine Andy Griffith Ted Kennedy Jack Klugman Pauline Phillips Nancy Reagan Patrick Swayze Amy Winehouse Alternates Ariel Sharon Roger Ebert Olivia de Havilland ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/264 "2008-12-30T07:19:24Z")
I decided to make my list a mix of fast and loose characters and from the terminal department. _The Ready to make a cover of “Closing time” department:_ \*\* Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan\*\* (born on 1957) the original singer of The Pogues. Alcholic ++ **Amy Jade Winehouse** (1983) singer-songwriter drugs galore. **Jason Becker** (1969) metal guitarist. Has ALS, or "Lou Gehrig’s Disease, still composing. _The “Waiting for the final curtain” department:_ \*\* Patrick Wayne Swayze\*\* (b. 1952) dancer, actor, and songwriter. I agree, this was the last Patrick Swayze Christmas. **Arthur Steven Lange, Jr.** , (1967), American stand-up comedian, radio personality, and actor. Heroin and alcohol don’t mix well… _World leaders dep.:_ **King Bhumibol** , of Thailand, who is 81, was due to give the speech delivered annually on the eve of his birthday and he could not. _The so unfair, at least I can call attention to their efforts, department:_ **Alex Macomber** lies in intensive care fighting a cancer so rare at his age (just 18) that there was even a “Metalfest for Cancer”, a benefit concert in Tacoma, Washington, to raise funds for him and his family. At 23, **Thomas Buckley** just finished going against the bitter weather to walk right across Britain. The Manchester’s Christie Hospital’s Young Oncology Unit will be more than £50,000 better off because of his mammoth effort. - The unrepentant, and therefore good to wish for their points, department:\* Robert David Sanders **“Bob” Novak** (born 1931) is a conservative American political commentator. \*\* Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir\*\* (1944) is the President of Sudan. Bush called on him to be accountable for Darfur. Kettle, meet Pot. **Joaquin Gracilazo Cruz** , 65 years old, has pancreatic cancer. The Bakersfield bondsman, accused of tricking and coercing clients into giving up property that had been put up for bail. _The 4rth and inches to the final football score department:_ **Ronald Edward Springs** (born 1956) is a former professional American football running back. He played 8 seasons in the NFL, Still In a comma. **Orlando Thomas** (born 1972) He played his entire career for the Minnesota Vikings. Fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease. His current condition is so bad that it would be cruel to wish for him to last a year more. - The Alternates:\* Former Amarillo College President **Steven Jones** , terminal cancer. 56 years old. **Michael Jackson** , I wanted to put him in the main list, but several sources came dumping on the unauthorized biographer, until someone else confirms it I have to partially jump out of the bandwagon. **Kalashnikov, Mikhail** (Born 1919) Military engineer who designed the the AK-47 assault rifle. In 2004, he began marketing his own brand of vodka. Just don’t drink and shoot! **And so, here is the Clean List department:** Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowane Amy Jade Winehouse Jason Becker Patrick Swayze Arthur Steven Lange, Jr King Bhumibol Alex Macomber Thomas Buckley Bob Novak Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir Joaquin Gracilazo Cruz Ronald Edward Springs Orlando Thomas Alternates: Steven Jones Michael Jackson Mikhail Kalashnikov ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/265 "2008-12-30T12:04:51Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > **Alex Macomber** lies in intensive care fighting a cancer so rare at his age (just 18) that there was even a “Metalfest for Cancer”, a benefit concert in Tacoma, Washington, to raise funds for him and his family. > > At 23, **Thomas Buckley** just finished going against the bitter weather to walk right across Britain. The Manchester’s Christie Hospital’s Young Oncology Unit will be more than £50,000 better off because of his mammoth effort. Arse! I thought I was the only one who’d spotted these two. Still, I’ve found a couple of others. ---
**Author:** ![Sami41](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@Sami41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sami41)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/266 "2008-12-30T12:33:04Z")
Jimmie Johnson Prince Charles Ozzy Osborne Clint Eastwood Lindsey Lohan Neil Patrick Harris Fidel Castro Nancy Reagan Ron Santo Vin Scully Charles Manson George Steinbrenner Steve Wynn Alternates: Queen Elizabeth II Jack Black ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/267 "2008-12-30T14:07:56Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > **Ronald Edward Springs** (born 1956) is a former professional American football running back. He played 8 seasons in the NFL, Still In a **comma.** Could be worse. He could be in a colon. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/268 "2008-12-30T14:17:22Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Could be worse. He could be in a colon. If they take out half of his large intestine, does that mean he has a semicolon? ---
**Author:** ![nofloyd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nofloyd/32/2870_2.png) [@nofloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nofloyd)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/269 "2008-12-30T15:25:48Z")
Shirley Bassey Prince Charles Peter Falk Ricky Gervais Helen Hunt Michael Jackson Billy Joel Shirley Jones Lindsay Lohan Bill Murray Rachael Ray Patrick Swayze Abe Vigoda A few comments: Abe Vigoda - gotta be true sometime, why not 2009. Rachael Ray - just don’t like her, the giggle, EVOO, bleh. I feel pretty small for putting her on just for that, but there it is. Now Bill Murray - I’ve had this weird feeling about him this year. I think I saw a clip of him talking about parachuting and feeling good and I remembered that Rod Serling had this period where he went parachuting and said he felt great and was dead not long after. Am I just imagining this? Dunno, but he doesn’t look well to me. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/270 "2008-12-30T15:41:27Z")
A few hand-picked here, but most, with a prayer to **Rachm** for guidance, drawn at random from slips of paper in a cup. Ray Bradbury, author Harry Morgan, actor Phyllis Diller, comedienne Richard Adams, author Billy Graham, evangelist Jerry Lewis, actor Dom DeLuise, actor Gene Wilder, actor Angela Lansbury, actress Shirley Temple, actress Alan Alda, actor Julie Andrews, actress Bob Barker, game show host Clean list: Ray Bradbury Harry Morgan Phyllis Diller Richard Adams Billy Graham Jerry Lewis Dom DeLuise Gene Wilder Angela Lansbury Shirley Temple Alan Alda Julie Andrews Bob Barker Alternates: Ruth Buzzi John Goodman Bea Arthur ---
**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:** [December 30, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/271 "2008-12-30T16:15:25Z")
Mostly unchanged from last year’s list. Lauren Bacall Fidel Castro Farrah Fawcett Billy Graham Yousaf Gillani Larry Hagman Henry Kissinger Jerry Lewis Robert Mugabe Ariel Sharon Than Shwe Patrick Swayze Elizabeth Taylor ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/272 "2008-12-30T16:34:33Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > _The so unfair, at least I can call attention to their efforts, department:_ > > **Alex Macomber** lies in intensive care fighting a cancer so rare at his age (just 18) that there was even a “Metalfest for Cancer”, a benefit concert in Tacoma, Washington, to raise funds for him and his family. > > At 23, **Thomas Buckley** just finished going against the bitter weather to walk right across Britain. The Manchester’s Christie Hospital’s Young Oncology Unit will be more than £50,000 better off because of his mammoth effort. Wow dude. I just gotta call these out as lame. Didn’t we used to have a rule that people couldn’t be on the list if their sole reason for being famous was that they were terminally ill? Our standards have dropped. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/273 "2008-12-30T17:30:49Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > Wow dude. I just gotta call these out as lame. Didn’t we used to have a rule that people couldn’t be on the list if their sole reason for being famous was that they were terminally ill? Our standards have dropped. :dubious: Both were mentioned by the press and they mentioned efforts other than just being terminally ill, but I will defer to the judge of the contest if there is a direct complaint. ---
**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 30, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/274 "2008-12-30T17:46:17Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > Didn’t we used to have a rule that people couldn’t be on the list if their sole reason for being famous was that they were terminally ill? Our standards have dropped. The standards were higher in past years. This restriction was in effect 2000-2002: “Celebrity status will be determined loosely. In case of disagreement, a majority vote of the posters will be binding.” This was the rule in 2003: “Since ‘celebrity’ is loosely defined, when in dispute, the posters of the SDMB will rule on celebrity status by a date to be determined soon after the pick’s death. My guess is that if major news media outlets report your death, you’re a celebrity for our purposes.” The current rule has been in effect since 2006: “We have no rule about what constitutes “celebrity,” because it makes our heads hurt to think about this.” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/275 "2008-12-30T18:02:17Z")
Years ago after lurking for ages I whipped out the credit card and my first ever post was my Death Pool list. then I forgot to post in time twice. I have ZERO points lifetime, my only close call was George Carlin, but I missed that year. So in desperate effort to get a point in some way shape or form here are some old guys that have to give in sooner or later; Ted Kennedy Ralph Wilson (owner of the Buffalo Bills) Larry Flint Fidel Castro Abe Vigoda Ernest Borgnine Guys with dangerous hobbys and fast toys; Jay Leno John Travolta Harrison Ford Richard Branson Jeff Gordon with the hazzardous occupation and _BAM_ Emril Lagasse can’t get away with eating all that forever and my perennial favorite for unhealthy living Courtney Love. All you peole picking Amy Winehouse as the trendy pick have to see true mastery to Ms. Love of how to live hard and be put away wet yet slog on. Amy has years of debauchery ahead of her. Lindsy Lohan, Paris Hilton and Britney are mere dilatants. Ted Kennedy Ralph Wilson Larry Flint Fidel Castro Abe Vigoda Ernest Borgnine Jay Leno John Travolta Harrison Ford Richard Branson Jeff Gordon Emril Lagasse Courtney Love ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/276 "2008-12-30T18:22:04Z")
**Sorry, I must make a change.** I would like to switch Angela Lansbury for Doris Day. (My husband advised me to take Gene Wilder off the list, but I’ve never played without him. What if I’m helping to keep him alive?) Revised list: Ray Bradbury Harry Morgan Phyllis Diller Richard Adams Billy Graham Jerry Lewis Dom DeLuise Gene Wilder Doris Day Shirley Temple Alan Alda Julie Andrews Bob Barker ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/277 "2008-12-30T18:43:09Z")
We should, like, start a club of People Who Didn’t Pick Patrick Swayze In The 2009 Death Pool. It’d be like the People Who Didn’t Like _Dances With Wolves_ Society, only more exclusive. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/278 "2008-12-30T19:27:19Z")
Britney Spears Paris Hilton Nicky Hilton Mary-Kate Olsen Mischa Barton Lindsay Lohan Nicole Richie Pink Amy Winehouse Miley Cyrus Vanessa Hudgens Samantha Ronson Chyna ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/279 "2008-12-30T19:47:13Z")
> [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](#): > > Miley Cyrus Too young. (Rule 3. d.) ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/280 "2008-12-30T21:04:45Z")
Most of the names below are unambiguous, but I suspect that there are a number of Antonio Fernandezes – the one below is Antonio “King Tone” Fernandez, former leader of the NYC Latin Kings. Bobby Bowden Fidel Castro Raul Castro Ahmad Chalabi Andy Dick Antonio Fernandez Ramzan Kadyrov Hamid Karzai Garry Kasparov Ted Kennedy Mandy Patinkin Ariel Sharon Patrick Swayze Alternate: Miep Gies [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=15)