# 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:** 35
**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:** [February 24, 2009, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/681 "2009-02-24T12:40:49Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > [Kelly Groucutt](http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212210284.shtml), ELO bassist, 62. ELO band members are starting to die off? Excuse me, I feel a prolonged mope coming on. ---
**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 24, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/682 "2009-02-24T15:42:12Z")
[Eric Blau](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/theater/24blau.html?_r=1) creator of "Jacques Brel is Alive & Well and Living in Paris and a host of other works dead at 87. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/683 "2009-02-24T22:31:21Z")
[Kamila Skolimowska](http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/foreign/display.var.2490482.0.Polish_hammer_thrower_dies_at_26.php), who became the youngest female Olympic champion in a throwing field event when she took the gold in the hammer in 2000, has died at the age of 26. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that the Polish athlete died of a [pulmonary embolism](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gmMdPFwJWxj0ryrbtTLISg8KleKAD96H8A400) after collapsing while training in Portugal. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/684 "2009-02-24T22:36:06Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > [Kamila Skolimowska](http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/foreign/display.var.2490482.0.Polish_hammer_thrower_dies_at_26.php), who became the youngest female Olympic champion in a throwing field event when she took the gold in the hammer in 2000, has died at the age of 26. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that the Polish athlete died of a [pulmonary embolism](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gmMdPFwJWxj0ryrbtTLISg8KleKAD96H8A400) after collapsing while training in Portugal. Isn’t pairs figure skating a throwing event? Those dudes toss those pixies halfway across the rink. ---
**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 25, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/685 "2009-02-25T19:36:30Z")
[Phillip Jose Farmer](http://www.pjstar.com/entertainment/x1749108393/Philip-Jose-Farmer-dead-at-91), author, has died at age 91. I know this link is “only” from a newspaper from Peoria, IL but it’s all I can find right now. When it hits the big news sites I’ll update unless someone beats me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/686 "2009-02-25T19:47:09Z")
Neil Gaiman reported the same news earlier on Twitter. Don’t know where he heard 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:** [February 25, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/687 "2009-02-25T23:31:36Z")
> [@Seeker of Truth & Beauty](#): > > [Phillip Jose Farmer](http://www.pjstar.com/entertainment/x1749108393/Philip-Jose-Farmer-dead-at-91), author, has died at age 91. > > I know this link is “only” from a newspaper from Peoria, IL but it’s all I can find right now. When it hits the big news sites I’ll update unless someone beats me to it. [From his official website.](http://www.pjfarmer.com/) ---
**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 25, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/688 "2009-02-25T23:34:29Z")
Hope nobody swipes his grail. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/689 "2009-02-26T00:06:58Z")
> [@Seeker of Truth & Beauty](#): > > I know this link is “only” from a newspaper from Peoria, IL but it’s all I can find right now. When it hits the big news sites I’ll update unless someone beats me to it. Under possible new rules for next year, he isn’t dead until it has been reported by a major news outlet. Maybe he floats in some sort of limbo until then. ---
**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 26, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/690 "2009-02-26T00:08:19Z")
If you’re on Riverworld, are you dead? ---
**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 26, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/691 "2009-02-26T00:42:00Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Under possible new rules for next year, he isn’t dead until it has been reported by a major news outlet. > > Maybe he floats in some sort of limbo until then. Is there a preference that we do not post until we have a link to a major news outlet? Or is it okay to post (as I did) just to point out a death? Personally, I watch this thread not only for my own scoring, but also to keep track of celebrity deaths. (Yeah, I’m a sicko. But I’m in good company!) ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/692 "2009-02-26T03:30:25Z")
> [@Seeker of Truth & Beauty](#): > > Is there a preference that we do not post until we have a link to a major news outlet? Or is it okay to post (as I did) just to point out a death? You were fine. I was just twisting around a discussion that we had a few months ago as to “who counts as a celebrity”, where one suggestion was that the person’s death had to be announced by a major news organization. I twisted into their not being dead until thus announced in order to lead into a feeble reference to the opening of the first Riverworld book. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/693 "2009-02-26T05:01:58Z")
> [@](#): > > So, please, don’t go on any murder sprees just to make me a WINNAR for a few glorious moments. But if you were going to kill some celebrities anyway… ---
**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 26, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/694 "2009-02-26T17:28:28Z")
[Wendy Richard](http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/feb/26/wendy-richard-tributes) has died at age 65. I see 11 people getting 35 points. Goodnight, Miss Brahms. ---
**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 26, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/695 "2009-02-26T17:29:29Z")
[Wendy Richards](http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article2275598.ece) has died. 35 points and poppin’ my cherry! ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/696 "2009-02-26T18:11:08Z")
Holy carp! This is the first time I have scored points in the Death Pool! RIP, Wendy Richards… and thanks for the points. _pious glance upward_ ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/697 "2009-02-27T01:47:16Z")
Damn! It’s gettin’ to the point that watchin’ _Are You Being Served_ makes me want to say “I see dead people.” ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/698 "2009-02-27T01:58:47Z")
As has been mentioned, Wendy Richard passed away. 35 points for: **VunderBob Ms Macphisto Sublight NurseCarmen Shirley Ujest Captain Klutz bowler girl MsWhatsit CowPatty amarone** The main list says 11 picked her, but I only found 10. Who’d I miss? ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/699 "2009-02-27T02:17:31Z")
> [@Sublight](#): > > As has been mentioned, Wendy Richard passed away. > > 35 points for: > **VunderBob > Ms Macphisto > Sublight > NurseCarmen > Shirley Ujest > Captain Klutz > bowler girl > MsWhatsit > CowPatty > amarone** > > The main list says 11 picked her, but I only found 10. Who’d I miss? [me, I think.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10636898&postcount=401) ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/700 "2009-02-27T04:07:51Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > [me, I think.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10636898&postcount=401) You’re right. I must have confused your name with **amarone** ’s and though you were already on the list. 35 points for: **VunderBob Ms Macphisto Sublight NurseCarmen Shirley Ujest Captain Klutz bowler girl MsWhatsit CowPatty amarone amarinth** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=34) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=36)