# 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:** 6
**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, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/101 "2008-12-09T02:22:32Z")
Same as last year, and the year before that. These people should pay me for keeping them alive! 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:** ![Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_First_Time)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/102 "2008-12-09T19:51:46Z")
If past years are any guide, people should pay me to list them - it ensures another 12 months of drawing breath and walking the earth. Here are my 2009 selections: 1. Barbara Bush 2. Bettie Page 3. Patrick Swayze 4. Ted Kennedy 5. Dick Vitale 6. Kim Jon-il 7. Roger Ebert 8. Dick Cheney 9. Jack LaLane 10. John McCain 11.Steve Ballesteros 11. Nancy Reagan 12. Dick Clark Alternate: Jerry Lewis ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/103 "2008-12-09T23:32:06Z")
> [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](#): > > If past years are any guide, people should pay me to list them - it ensures another 12 months of drawing breath and walking the earth. > > Here are my 2009 selections: > > 1. Barbara Bush > 2. Bettie Page > 3. Patrick Swayze > 4. Ted Kennedy > 5. Dick Vitale > 6. Kim Jon-il > 7. Roger Ebert > 8. Dick Cheney > 9. Jack LaLane > 10. John McCain > 11.Steve Ballesteros > 11. Nancy Reagan > 12. Dick Clark > > Alternate: Jerry Lewis Can you delete the numbers please? And check the spelling of 6 and 11. ---
**Author:** ![Kalea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@Kalea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalea)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/104 "2008-12-10T00:08:31Z")
I’m going to bet there will be more participants this year. Those of us who played this year but couldn’t post because we were too cheap to subscribe to the board are looking forward to getting our butts kicked by paying members! Subscribing, be back around December 29 with my actual list. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/105 "2008-12-10T00:12:41Z")
> [@Kalea](#): > > I’m going to bet there will be more participants this year. In that case, I demand that my pay be doubled. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/106 "2008-12-10T01:30:43Z")
Well, I’ve been watching this for a couple of years - and the morbid appeal of it has me chiming in this year. 1. Vernon Baker - Only surviving WWII African American to earn the Medal of Honor 2. John W. Finn - Oldest surviving Medal of Honor recipient, and only surviving Pearl Harbor Medal of Honor recipient 3. George Edward Wahlen - Just because I like Navy Corpsmen. And anyone who did what he did on Iwo Jima has to be living on borrowed time 4. Amy Winehouse - She seems to be aging 10 years month 5. Harry Morgan - I’d read up on him recently and his health doesn’t seem to be all that good 6. Fidel Castro - No need to explain this one 7. Ernest Borgnine - Come on - we’ve all been wondering how he could still be alive 8. Patrick Swayze - Hollywood medicine, or not, Pancreatic cancer is a killer 9. Tim Conway - Without Harvey Corman, what does he have left to live for? 😉 10. Kirk Douglas - Just age 11. Olivia de Haviland - One of the two feuding acting sisters 12. Joan Fontaine - The other of the two feuding acting sisters One of these two has to be first to die. 1. Shirley Temple Black - In her 80s, I’m thinking she might be going soon. Especially after reading about her recent fall, and broken arm. Clean list Vernon Baker John W. Finn George Edward Wahlen Amy Winehouse Harry Morgan Fidel Castro Ernest Borgnine Patrick Swayze Tim Conway Kirk Douglas Olivia de Haviland Joan Fontaine Shirley Temple Black ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/107 "2008-12-10T10:56:35Z")
Nancy Reagan Patrick Swayze Ted Kennedy Queen Elizabeth II Jimmy Carter Cloris Leachman Alan Osmond Zsa Zsa Gabor Mary Tyler Moore Greg Louganis Magic Johnson Roger Ebert Bill Cosby Alternates: Russell Johnson Alan Alda Bob Barker ---
**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:** [December 10, 2008, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/108 "2008-12-10T11:53:28Z")
> [@Kalea](#): > > I’m going to bet there will be more participants this year. Those of us who played this year but couldn’t post because we were too cheap to subscribe to the board are looking forward to getting our butts kicked by paying members! > > Subscribing, be back around December 29 with my actual list. I’m wondering if being in the Game Room is going to hurt it. This thread is the only reason why I open this forum. ---
**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 10, 2008, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/109 "2008-12-10T13:10:11Z")
It is my firm intent to read each and every list and steal the best names and then submit a revised list. I am tired of losing. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/110 "2008-12-10T18:13:22Z")
Joe Garagiola Jack Klugman Imelda Marcos Joe Namath Hal Holbrook David Hockney Bruce Jenner Carl Reiner Bob Barker Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Hal Holbrook Mark David Chapman Jerry Lewis Alternates Barbara Billingsley Trini Lopez Nancy Sinatra ---
**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 10, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/111 "2008-12-10T18:29:57Z")
**gwendee** , you have Hal Holbrook twice. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/112 "2008-12-10T18:45:47Z")
Gwendee really hates Hal Holbrook. Or she wants Mark Twain dead too. ---
**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 10, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/113 "2008-12-10T19:36:53Z")
It’s likely too late for this year, but can I suggest a modification for next year? To whit, a ‘first mention bonus’: the person who first nominates someone gets a bonus equal to the number of other people who also mention that person. This would introduce an interesting game dynamic - Dopers would pile on some to be (hopefully) sure of some points, but disdain others to get ahead of the pack, while encouraging an early posting date which would add to the excitement. Otherwise we’re all at the feet of Rachm Qoch, aren’t we? ---
**Author:** ![Sanity\_Challenged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Sanity\_Challenged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanity_Challenged)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/114 "2008-12-10T22:29:54Z")
Might as well give this a shot: Amy Winehouse Bob Barker BB King Neil Armstrong Patrick Swayze Buzz Aldrin Phyllis Diller Kirk Douglas David Prowse Muhammad Ali Nancy Reagan Shirley Temple Artie Lange ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/115 "2008-12-10T23:58:30Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > **gwendee** , you have Hal Holbrook twice. I have used the first alternate, Barbara Billingsley, until I hear otherwise. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/116 "2008-12-11T02:15:33Z")
Kim Jong Il Fidel Castro Olivia DeHaviland Ruth Westheimer Ted Kennedy Amy Winehouse Elizabeth II Twyla Tharp Barbara Bush Elizabeth Edwards O.J. Simpson Daniel Schorr Gerald Freeman Alternates: Lance Armstrong Terry Garr Maya Angelou Gee, I’ve never played before! I’m excited! ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/117 "2008-12-11T02:33:39Z")
**freckafree** , why did you just put Olivia de Haviland on your list, but not her sister, Joan Fontaine? ---
**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 11, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/118 "2008-12-11T03:13:05Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > **freckafree** , why did you just put Olivia de Haviland on your list, but not her sister, Joan Fontaine? Joan Fontaine didn’t cramp Scarlet’s style. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/119 "2008-12-11T04:07:13Z")
Well, I’ll give this a shot. Queen Elizabeth Billy Graham Muhammed Ali Hugh Hefner Keith Richards Fidel Castro Lauren Bacall Bill Gates Ted Kennedy Judi Dench Famke Janssen Lindsay Lohan John McCain Alternate: Prince Charles ---
**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:** [December 11, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/120 "2008-12-11T18:07:49Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > **freckafree** , why did you just put Olivia de Haviland on your list, but not her sister, Joan Fontaine? Because it would be just like that mealy-mouthed, whey-faced little thing to up and die first! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=7)