# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/441 "2009-01-01T21:41:17Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > I think the debate about whether or not the Travessors are celebrities is a genuine one. I say they count this time, but from now on we need a better definition of celebrity. I personally picked someone that is only vaguely a celebrity but certainly an austrailian politician with a wiki. I only picked her because she is fat. If a whole religious cult wipes themselves out in one shot it would be all over the news. That qualifies as celebrity in my book. ---
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/442 "2009-01-02T00:11:42Z")
[Claiborne Pell](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101521.html?hpid=topnews) former R.I Senator. Age 90. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/443 "2009-01-02T00:20:18Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > [Patrick Swayze](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_swayze) actor > [Wendy Richard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Richard) actress > [Vasily Aleksanyan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Aleksanyan) enemy of Putin > [Roger Ebert](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Ebert) film critic > [Chi Cheng](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Cheng_(musician)) deftones bassist > [Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrah](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdel_Basset_Ali_al-Megrahi) Lockerbie bomber > [Robert Novak](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Novak) asshole > [Steve Jobs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_jobs) Applehead man > [Joe Andruzzi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Andruzzi) Former NFL > [Orlando Thomas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Thomas) Former NFL > [Steve Smith]([Steve Smith (running back) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Smith_(running_back)) > \<[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve\_Smith\_(running\_back)>](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Smith_%28running_back%29>)) Former NFL > [Abdul Aziz al-Hakim](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Aziz_al-Hakim) Iraqi politician > [James Blake Miller](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Blake_Miller) Marlboro marine, sad footnote. > > Alt [Farrah Fawcett](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrah_Fawcett) Angel. > Alt [Seve Ballesteros](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seve_Ballesteros) Spanish golfer > Patrick Swayze > Wendy Richard > Farrah Fawcett > Roger Ebert > Chi Cheng > Abdel Basset Ali la-Megrahi > Robert Novak > Steve Jobs > Joe Andruzzi > Orlando Thomas > Steve Smith > Abdul Aziz al-Hakim > James Blake Miller > > Alt > > Leonid Stadnyk > Seve Ballesteros Your plain list does not match the detailed list (Farrah Fawcett). I will use the detailed list as you had put more work into that one. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/444 "2009-01-02T00:54:03Z")
> [@qwest](#): > > [Claiborne Pell](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101521.html?hpid=topnews) former R.I Senator. Age 90. I don’t know if anyone has Senator Pell in anyone’s list (this years or last years), but I believe he died yesterday, or in other words in 2008 not 2009. I read a story on him earlier, containing the following story: > [@](#): > > A story from Pell’s 1972 Senate campaign was a favorite in Rhode Island and was told often to illustrate his isolation from the average Joe. > > Pell was campaigning in Providence when it began raining. Pell, who had a formal evening engagement, had forgotten his galoshes. An aide was dispatched and returned with a pair. > > In his very formal manner of speech, Pell asked the aide, “To whom am I indebted for these fine rubbers?” > > “I got them at Thom McAn, senator,” the aide answered, referring to the budget shoe store chain. > > “Well, do tell Mr. McAn that I am much obliged to him,” Pell said. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/445 "2009-01-02T01:07:16Z")
[Donald Westlake](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090101/ap_en_ot/obit_westlake) has died on New Year’s Eve after a heart attack. ---
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/446 "2009-01-02T02:00:15Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > > [@qwest](#): > > > > [Claiborne Pell](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101521.html?hpid=topnews) former R.I Senator. Age 90. > > I don’t know if anyone has Senator Pell in anyone’s list (this years or last years), but I believe he died yesterday, or in other words in 2008 not 2009. [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/01/claiborne.pell.dies/), [The Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101521.html?hpid=topnews), [Associated Press](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jf7b6_bXm0tFK13m5-RXtO4kNO9gD95EL2900) and [Reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/mediaNews/idUSN0132667620090101) specify the Senator died on Thursday January 1 2009. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/447 "2009-01-02T03:07:17Z")
> [@qwest](#): > > [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/01/claiborne.pell.dies/), [The Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101521.html?hpid=topnews), [Associated Press](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jf7b6_bXm0tFK13m5-RXtO4kNO9gD95EL2900) and [Reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/mediaNews/idUSN0132667620090101) specify the Senator died on Thursday January 1 2009. Nobody had him in either year. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/448 "2009-01-02T03:30:31Z")
Blimey, I just remembered about the death pool today. Damn it. Oh well, I didn’t do so bad last time I posted on this board in '03. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/449 "2009-01-02T03:44:51Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > Perhaps there should be thread specifically for the review and possible revision of the DeathPool Rules? FWIW, I have no problem with the rules as they stand, but there seems to be some interest so why not have its own thread? Discussion thread started [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10639975#post10639975). ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/450 "2009-01-02T12:26:09Z")
> [@lel](#): > > Blimey, I just remembered about the death pool today. Damn it. Oh well, I didn’t do so bad last time I posted on this board in '03. Welcome back, friend lel ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/451 "2009-01-02T14:53:13Z")
We have 180 entrants this year (last year 161). We have 831 celebrities (805). The top nominees are: ```auto Patrick Swayze 96 Fidel Castro 76 Ted Kennedy 69 Amy Winehouse 67 Michael Jackson 45 Ariel Sharon 38 Nancy Reagan 35 Billy Graham 33 Farrah Fawcett 32 Elizabeth Taylor 28 Steve Jobs 26 Kim Jong-il 25 Kirk Douglas 23 Queen Elizabeth 19 Bob Barker 19 Dick Clark 19 Seve Ballesteros 19 Elizabeth Edwards 18 Robert Novak 18 Roger Ebert 18 Muhammad Ali 17 Peter Falk 16 Lindsay Lohan 15 Barbara Bush 15 Dick Cheney 15 Barack Obama 14 O. J. Simpson 14 Walter Cronkite 14 Margaret Thatcher 13 Stephen Hawking 13 Jerry Lewis 12 John McCain 11 Wendy Richard 11 Keith Richards 10 Andy Dick 10 Britney Spears 10 George H. W. Bush 10 Pete Doherty 10 Zsa Zsa Gabor 10 ``` 558 (67%) were unique picks. These numbers could be slightly inaccurate because I usually find a few instances of a celebrity being named differently. I catch misspellings because they appear next to each other, but differences like “Liz Taylor” and “Elizabeth Taylor” may elude me for a while. Those that like to play along, please feel free to PM me if you have any differences. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/452 "2009-01-02T15:15:33Z")
What’s the deal with Michael Jackson? Did I miss something like a cancer announcement? Or is this just a general reflection that he’s unstable? ---
**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:** [January 2, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/453 "2009-01-02T15:20:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > What’s the deal with Michael Jackson? Did I miss something like a cancer announcement? Or is this just a general reflection that he’s unstable? There was a news story that he is in need of a lung transplant and too ill to survive it. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/454 "2009-01-02T15:50:29Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > There was a news story that he is in need of a lung transplant and too ill to survive it. That story originated in a British tabloid, and was reprinted extensively. Michael Jackson’s publicist has [denied there is any truth to that story](http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20248694,00.html). ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/455 "2009-01-02T16:02:09Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > That story originated in a British tabloid, and was reprinted extensively. Michael Jackson’s publicist has [denied there is any truth to that story](http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20248694,00.html). Even still, a nutbar like Jackson is a good bet for an early death. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/456 "2009-01-02T16:56:13Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Even still, a nutbar like Jackson is a good bet for an early death. It’s kind of surprising he made it to 50. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/457 "2009-01-02T17:07:23Z")
It only took me 25 hours to score 79 points. > **[Senior hockey league player dies from fight-related injury | CBC Sports](https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/senior-hockey-league-player-dies-from-fight-related-injury-1.793185)** > > Don Sanderson, a defenceman for the Whitby Dunlops, died in Hamilton General Hospital early Friday after ending up in a coma beginning Dec. 14, when he struck his head on the ice during a game fight. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/458 "2009-01-02T17:08:30Z")
World’s oldest living person Maria de Jesus stopped qualifying for the ‘living’ part of the title today, scoring a whopping zero points and (apparently) first blood\* in the death pool for me. Reuters report on her death: [Reuters | Breaking International News & Views](http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE5012Q520090102) \*ETA: OK, a tie with Cpt. Lance Murdoch ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/459 "2009-01-02T17:58:52Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > World’s oldest living person Maria de Jesus stopped qualifying for the ‘living’ part of the title today, scoring a whopping zero points and (apparently) first blood\* in the death pool for me. > > Reuters report on her death: [http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE5012Q520090102](http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE5012Q520090102) > > \*ETA: OK, a tie with Cpt. Lance Murdoch Sorry, I’m going to award it to the good Captain. I only have one trophy, and it appears that Don Anderson died at [1:15 AM](http://www.whitbydunlops.com/)(6:15 AM GMT), versus [just after 10 AM](http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090102/ts_afp/portugalsocietydemography_090102163342) GMT. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/460 "2009-01-02T18:28:01Z")
Is this a record for fastest points scored, or what? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=24)