# 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:** 33
**Author:** ![Seeker\_of\_Truth\_and\_Beauty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Seeker\_of\_Truth\_and\_Beauty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seeker_of_Truth_and_Beauty)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/641 "2009-02-07T02:11:34Z")
[James Whitmore](http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-james-whitmore7-2009feb07,0,1015401.story) has died at 87. It appears, from a quick search, that no one had him. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/642 "2009-02-07T02:26:56Z")
☹ “Brush up your Shakespeare! Start doing it now.” ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/643 "2009-02-07T06:40:31Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > [Frederiek Nolf](http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/9182516/Belgian-cyclist,-21,-found-dead-in-hotel-room-bed?MSNHPHMA), a Belgian cyclist who was participating in the Tour of Qatar race, was found dead at the age of 21. Nolf’s Topsport Vlaanderen Mercator teammates withdrew from the competition, which was scheduled to end today. I recall reading in Scientific American last year that top-level cyclists already have such low resting heart rates that when they engage in blood doping they become especially susceptible to heart failure in their sleep. According to the article it’s not uncommon for them to wear heart monitors when they sleep because of it. The linked article above says he was “tested every four months for doping and… was drug free,” but there is currently no accepted test to detect autologous blood doping (saving your own blood and re-injecting it later). ---
**Author:** ![MarkF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MarkF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkF)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/644 "2009-02-07T14:54:32Z")
[Edmund de Rothschild](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/edmund-de-rothschild-banker-and-horticulturalist-who-modernised-rothschilds-and-restored-the-family-gardens-at-exbury-1570728.html) has chilled out! [Dewey Martin](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dewey-martin-drummer-with-buffalo-springfield-1570730.html) of Buffalo Springfield fame. I guess there’s something NOT happening here now… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/645 "2009-02-07T19:48:53Z")
Actor [James Whitmore](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090207/us_nm/us_whitmore_2), dead at 87. Oops, I see I’m been beaten to it. ---
**Author:** ![Seeker\_of\_Truth\_and\_Beauty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Seeker\_of\_Truth\_and\_Beauty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seeker_of_Truth_and_Beauty)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/646 "2009-02-08T21:27:26Z")
[Blossom Dearie](http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126076.html) has died at 82. ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/647 "2009-02-09T13:06:24Z")
> [@Seeker of Truth & Beauty](#): > > [Blossom Dearie](http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126076.html) has died at 82. ☹ Per **Seeker** ’s link, Dearie provided vocals for _School House Rock_ eps “Figure Eight” and “Unpack Your Adjectives.” Makes her immortal in my book. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveroptic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiveroptic/32/8257_2.png) [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/648 "2009-02-09T13:29:50Z")
“Unpack Your Adjectives” was the very first thing I thought of, too. Now I feel very old and very sad. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/649 "2009-02-09T14:12:15Z")
The wrong [Janet Jackson](http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/02/06/probe-after-arrested-woman-dies-100252-22871453/) at 47 ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/650 "2009-02-10T16:40:54Z")
LPGA Co-Founder [Betty Jameson](http://www.lpga.com/content_1.aspx?pid=18717&mid=4) has passed away at age 89 a few days ago. I don’t think anyone had her, but she was a pioneer in her profession and it is worth noting ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/651 "2009-02-10T19:36:37Z")
[Mel Kaufman](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gi1e07VaQoj05I96MgQJFbIEXHmQD968DSR80), who played linebacker for the Washington Redskins from 1981 to '88 and contributed to three Super Bowl appearances (including two titles) for the NFL team, has died at the age of 50. Kaufman had spent last fall as the linebackers coach at his alma mater, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. ---
**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:** [February 10, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/652 "2009-02-10T22:05:03Z")
Actor [Phil Carey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Carey), best known for playing Asa Buchanan on One Life to Live, dead at 83. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/653 "2009-02-11T02:16:34Z")
[Shirley Jean Rickert (Measures)](http://www.picking.com/og-shirley.jpg) died on Feb. 6 at age 82, according to her website. She had a brief, but memorable tenure as a “Little Rascal.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/654 "2009-02-11T10:33:38Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > [Mel Kaufman](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gi1e07VaQoj05I96MgQJFbIEXHmQD968DSR80), who played linebacker for the Washington Redskins from 1981 to '88 and contributed to three Super Bowl appearances (including two titles) for the NFL team, has died at the age of 50. Kaufman had spent last fall as the linebackers coach at his alma mater, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I was going to the University of Maryland while Kaufman was playing for the Redskins. My hate for the skins is only surpassed by my hate for the Cowboys and Eagles. But Mel always seemed like a gentleman. I remember one time one of my roomates called up a sports show that Mel was on to ask a question. He did it just for the hell of it even though he knew nothing about football. I had to coach him on what to say and he actually didn’t sound like an idiot. Mel was very gracious to all his fans. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/655 "2009-02-12T17:49:53Z")
[Molly Bee](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/11/BAER15RPOK.DTL), an actress and country singer best known for her 1952 recording of _I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus_, has died at the age of 69. She appeared regularly on _The Pinky Lee Show_ and Tennessee Ernie Ford’s variety program during the early years of television. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/656 "2009-02-15T13:52:58Z")
[She keeps going and going.](http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/02/14/amy_winehouse_admitted_to_hospital_in_st) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/657 "2009-02-15T14:18:43Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > [She keeps going and going.](http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/02/14/amy_winehouse_admitted_to_hospital_in_st) I saw this story yesterday and made a mental note. Even if she makes it through this year, she is staying on my list next year. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/658 "2009-02-16T13:46:08Z")
[John McGlinn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McGlinn), musical theatre recording activist, died and was found about 3 or 4 days later on February 14, 2009.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/659 "2009-02-16T14:24:37Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I saw this story yesterday and made a mental note. Even if she makes it through this year, she is staying on my list next year. This is at least the third time she’s been on my list, all for naught. She may end up joining Tara Reid and Britney Spears on the “no, Death Poolers, we’re just taunting you” list. And what about Michael freaking Jackson? I’m thinking now his December announcement was because he knows it’s Death Pool season. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/660 "2009-02-16T14:50:09Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > And what about Michael freaking Jackson? I’m thinking now his December announcement was because he knows it’s Death Pool season. Can we list just his nose next year? Does it _have_ to be the whole person? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=34)