# The Celebrity Death Pool 2010 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2009, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574 "2009-12-01T11:44:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/181 "2009-12-23T23:03:44Z")
1. Mary Kate Olsen – Actress (sort of), victim of peaking at age 7. 2. Chris Cooper – Actor, strangely the first person who popped into my head. 3. Barack Obama – President of the US, no friend to red states. 4. Roger Ebert – Film critic, cool guy, not looking so good these days. 5. William Shatner – Actor, giant ham, old Star Trek guy. 6. Britney Spears – Singer, professional emotional wreck 7. Alex Trebek – Game show host, reported dick. 8. Leonard Nimoy – Actor, narrator, also old Star Trek guy. 9. Amy Winehouse – Singer, not fond of rehab. 10. David Hasselhoff – Actor (sort of), floor-burger eating alcoholic. 11. Robert Downey Jr – Actor, former enemy of his liver. 12. Keith Richards – Musician, composed of 52% non-organic chemicals. 13. George W Bush – Former president, vulnerable to pretzels. Plain List: Mary Kate Olsen Chris Cooper Barack Obama Roger Ebert William Shatner Britney Spears Alex Trebek Leonard Nimoy Amy Winehouse David Hasselhoff Robert Downey Jr Keith Richards George W Bush Yes, I feel like a bad person now, thank you. ---
**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:** [December 23, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/182 "2009-12-23T23:57:08Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > John Paul Stevens, the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, was born in 1920. Mr. Justice Thomas has only been around since 1948. Does this affect your choice? Yes. Yes it does. I’ll replace him with someone I thought of this morning instead. **NEW LIST** Lilian Jackson Braun b. 1913–The Author Who Wouldn’t Die Kirk Douglas b. 1916–Is he Spartacus? Or am I Spartacus? Olivia de Haviland b. 1916–Will she die first or will it be Joan Fontaine b. 1917–I love feuds that will only end with death. Zsa Zsa Gabor b. 1917–Will she find her heavenly Green Acres this year? Billy Graham b. 1918–His passing will be big news here in Hippy Hollow NC. John Glenn b. 1921–He’s listed in my Possible Deathpool list as “astro-senator” Prince Philip b. 1921–Will his gaffes continue after death? Bob Barker b. 1923–Insert your own “spay or neuter” joke here Nadine Gordimer b. 1923–South African author Jimmy Carter b. 1924–Insert peanut or Habitat for Humanity joke here Lee Iaccocca b. 1924–Former Ford CEO Paul Gascoigne b. 1967–[This section](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gascoigne#Alcoholism.2C_health.2C_and_legal_problems) on Wikipedia gives me hope Alternates: Barbara Bush b. 1925–Obviously the former First Lady Dick Van Dyke b. 1925–former actor Ariel Sharon b. 1928–Refuses to die Plain List: Lilian Jackson Braun Kirk Douglas Olivia de Haviland Joan Fontaine Zsa Zsa Gabor Billy Graham John Glenn Prince Philip Bob Barker Nadine Gordimer Jimmy Carter Lee Iacocca Paul Gascoigne Barbara Bush Dick Van Dyke Ariel Sharon ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/183 "2009-12-24T00:22:21Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > Has this game ever been played with lists other than Celebs? > > Perhaps more for 2009, than would be for 2010, but can we name Companies that officially file for Chapter 11? > > cough Blockbuster cough. No, it’s always been celebrities. BUT that’s a hell of an interesting idea, and you should start your own pool. I’d play if I bothered to pay attention to the economy beyond trying to keep my own budget intact. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/184 "2009-12-24T01:58:39Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > No, it’s always been celebrities. BUT that’s a hell of an interesting idea, and you should start your own pool. I’d play if I bothered to pay attention to the economy beyond trying to keep my own budget intact. Yeah, that’s the problem, I’m over budget this year as is, And on top of that I have a few other game ideas that I am already working on, Mafia related. ---
**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 24, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/185 "2009-12-24T02:16:31Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > 1. Barack Obama – President of the US, no friend to red states. Welcome, and remember to contribute to our joint attorney fee pool. I’ll email you my paypal info. 🙂 ---
**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 24, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/186 "2009-12-24T03:25:15Z")
John Kerry’s spouse has [cancer.](http://www.theinsider.com/news/3128890_John_Kerry_s_Wife_Teresa_Heinz_Reveals_Breast_Cancer_Battle) ---
**Author:** ![St.Anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@St.Anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Anger)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/187 "2009-12-24T04:15:41Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Can you post a list in plain format please (i.e. a list of just names, and only the initial letters in capitals)? My pleasure! Lex Luger Amy Winehouse Lemmy Kilmeister Artie Lange Steve O Lyndon Larouche Kim Jong Il Verne Troyer Suge Knight Prince Charles Ronnie James Dio Phyllis Diller Roy Horn Alternates: 1. Brock Lesnar 2. Kris Kristofferson 3. Don Coryell 4. Hamid Kharzai ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/188 "2009-12-24T04:19:08Z")
> [@St.Anger](#): > > My pleasure! Thanks. You are now in the system. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/189 "2009-12-24T05:12:27Z")
Mel Brooks Blake Edwards Elizabeth Edwards Betty Ford Blake Fielder-Civil Zsa Zsa Gabor Stedman Graham Elisabeth Hasselbeck Teresa Heinz Kerry Todd Palin Nancy Reagan Elizabeth Taylor Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Alternates: Bobby Brown Dyan Cannon Empress Michiko of Japan There’s a theme this year. I’ve never done themed lists before. I’m also taking Muhammed Ali, Robert Byrd, Fidel Castro, Dick Clark, Billy Graham, and Ariel Sharon off my list. They’ve been warned and if you have any (or all) of them, this could be your year. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/190 "2009-12-24T05:54:18Z")
So I guess the more “X is still alive?!” people you have, the better? ---
**Author:** ![Registered\_at\_Last](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@Registered\_at\_Last](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Registered_at_Last)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/191 "2009-12-24T06:03:31Z")
Here goes … another first time player, long time fascinated ghoul. Now that I am **Registered at Last** I can finally do this. It always felt wrong to register JUST for the Death Pool. But now I can indulge guilt free. So here goes, a fairly musical list… Reshma, 62 - Pakestani Folk Singer Ronnie James Dio, 67- Black Sabbath etc singer Candye Kane, 44- Singer Irwin Barker - Canadian Comedian [Steve Mazan](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2083431/bio), 39 - Comedian [“Dying to do Letterman”](http://dyingtodoletterman.com) (\*\* Can I get a ruling on eligibility?) He is MORE famous due to his cancer … not clear that he would be known at all without it. [This](http://www.spike.com/video/steve-mazan-stand-up/2676123) clip appears to be from prior to his diagnosis. Bryant Gumbel, 61 Johnny Hallyday, 66 - “French Elvis” Morrissey, 50 - Singer Elton John, 62 Chester Bennington, 33 - Linkin Park singer Mehdi Hassan, 82 - Pakistani singer Jack Savidge - Friendly Fire singer Steve Jobs, 54 Alternates: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 76 Elizabeth Edwards, 60 Robert Byrd, 92 Plain Text List: Reshma Ronnie James Dio Candye Kane Irwin Barker Steve Mazan Bryant Gumbel Johnny Hallyday Morrissey Elton John Chester Bennington Mehdi Hassan Jack Savidge Steve Jobs Alternates: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Elizabeth Edwards Robert Byrd ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/192 "2009-12-24T07:08:54Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > There’s a theme this year. I’ve never done themed lists before. I’m also taking Muhammed Ali, Robert Byrd, Fidel Castro, Dick Clark, Billy Graham, and Ariel Sharon off my list. They’ve been warned and if you have any (or all) of them, this could be your year. Oh sure, like Sharon can hear your warning. Poor guy is lying there, thinking he is safe, but NOOOOO! you took him off your list. I am getting an early start on my handbasket to hell this year. 😃 > [@Meeko](#): > > So I guess the more “X is still alive?!” people you have, the better? Only if they die. If they survive, it is just another year of “I thought he died years ago!” and no points. ---
**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:** [December 24, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/193 "2009-12-24T13:13:09Z")
I had no idea that James Randi was a member on our boards. YAY and BOO! Now I have to pick someone else to give the gift of life. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/194 "2009-12-24T13:15:36Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > I had no idea that James Randi was a member on our boards. > YAY and BOO! Now I have to pick someone else to give the gift of life. See post 154. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/195 "2009-12-24T14:04:03Z")
**Courtney Love** – widow of Kurt Cobain, known drug addict, recently lost custody of her daughter. **Elin Nordegren Woods** – soon-to-be-ex-wife of golfer Tiger Woods **Adam “Pacman” Jones** – ex-NFL cornerback, strip club devotee, enjoys making it rain **Horatio Sanz** – obligatory overweight SNL cast member **Amy Winehouse** – everyone on earth told her to go to rehab, she said no, no no **Barack Obama** – because there are still way too many racists out there, and the Secret Service apparently can’t keep reality TV wannabes away from him **Kim Jong Il** – crazy midget **Fidel Castro** – pretty sure he’s already dead **Osama bin Laden** – ditto **Lindsey Lohan** – prime for a drunk driving incident any day now **Elizabeth Edwards** – breast cancer is a bitch **Ron Santo** – according to Wikipedia, was given a life expectancy of 25 years at age 18. He was born in 1940. He’s totally due. **Fran Drescher** – Random pick of a semi-young person who had a serious cancer at one point Alternates: **Kanye West** – obligatory hip-hop artist, douchebag **Mary-Kate Olsen** – would avoid making this list if she would eat a fucking sandwich every now and then Cleaned-up: Courtney Love Elin Nordegren Woods Adam “Pacman” Jones Horatio Sanz Amy Winehouse Barack Obama Kim Jong Il Fidel Castro Osama bin Laden Lindsey Lohan Elizabeth Edwards Ron Santo Fran Drescher Alternates: Kanye West Mary-Kate Olsen ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/196 "2009-12-24T14:06:02Z")
Playing it safe: Fidel Castro Queen Elizabeth Steve Jobs Muhammad Ali Kim Jong-Il Hugh Hefner Nelson Mandela Roger Ebert Aaaaand… Robin Williams Gilbert Gottfried Julie Andrews David Bowie David Hasselhoff ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/197 "2009-12-24T15:10:05Z")
Posting this without reading anyone else’s picks (except the ones right above this, which I can’t help but see as I type). I don’t think I’ve ever scored a point in this game yet… Tommy LaSorda Phyllis Diller Don Dokken John Rigas Tommy James Jamie Farr Burt Ward Diana Ross Linda Lavin Lily Tomlin Carol Burnett Ray Price Conrad Bain ---
**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 24, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/198 "2009-12-24T15:15:27Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > **Horatio Sanz** – obligatory _overweight_ SNL cast member [Not anymore.](http://www.zimbio.com/Horatio+Sanz/articles/3/Saturday+Night+Live+SNL+Horatio+Sanz+Loses) ---
**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:** [December 24, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/199 "2009-12-24T16:51:02Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Invalid pick: > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=55248](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php) According to the link, James Randi is a ‘guest’, not a ‘member’. So we need a ruling – is this an invalid pick or not? ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/200 "2009-12-24T16:55:40Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > According to the link, James Randi is a ‘guest’, not a ‘member’. So we need a ruling – is this an invalid pick or not? I will allow it. See post 154. I would not differentiate between guests and members - I don’t think that is the key distinction. I will apply a similar criterion as for the new “only famous for being sick” rule. If someone is only known for being a doper, then they are invalid picks. If someone independently famous chooses to become a doper, they are fair game. Winning prizes for writing (deliberately) crap fiction does not make a person independently famous… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574.md?page=11)