# The Celebrity Death Pool 2011

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** death-pool\
**Created:** [December 1, 2010, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523 "2010-12-01T09:16:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 22

<div class="post-metadata">

**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 31, 2010, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/421 "2010-12-31T07:04:52Z")

</div>

> [@MsWhatsit](#):
>
> Ineligible. He’s 16 years old.

But he is getting old REAL fast.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/422 "2010-12-31T08:34:01Z")

</div>

1. [Derryn Hinch](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derryn_Hinch) - b. 1944. Australian media personality.
2. [Zsa Zsa Gabor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zsa_Zsa_Gabor) - b. 1917. Retired actress
3. [Miley Cyrus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miley_Cyrus) - b. 1992. We should be so lucky.
4. [Kirk Douglas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Douglas) - b. 1916. Retired actor.
5. [Michael Douglas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Douglas) - b. 1944. Actor.
6. [Elizabeth Taylor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Taylor) - b. 1932. Retired actress
7. [Ariel Sharon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_sharon) - b. 1928. Former Israeli Prime Minister, current body in a bed.
8. [Aretha Franklin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin) - b. 1942. Singer.
9. [Richard O’Sullivan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_O%27Sullivan) - b. 1944. Former actor.
10. [Lou Richards](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Richards) - b. 1923. Retired Footballer (Australian Rules).
11. [Ronnie Biggs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Biggs) - b. 1929. Great Train Robber.
12. [Ben Cousins](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Cousins) - b. 1978. Footballer (Australian Rules).
13. [Julian Assange](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_assange) - b. 1971. Guy playing chicken with the US Government.

Alts. (unchanged from last year)  
[Gene Wilder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Wilder) - b. 1933. Actor.  
[Barack Obama](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama) - b. 1961. President, USA.  
[Albert Finney](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Finney) - b. 1936. Actor.  
Plain text list:  
Derryn Hinch  
Zsa Zsa Gabor  
Miley Cyrus  
Kirk Douglas  
Michael Douglas  
Elizabeth Taylor  
Ariel Sharon  
Aretha Franklin  
Richard O’Sullivan  
Lou Richards  
Ronnie Biggs  
Ben Cousins  
Julian Assange  
Alts.  
Gene Wilder  
Barack Obama  
Albert Finney

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/423 "2010-12-31T09:31:40Z")

</div>

Barbara Bain  
Chevy Chase  
Professor Irwin Corey  
Charlie Daniels  
Ann B. Davis  
Aretha Franklin  
Ervin ‘Magic’ Johnson  
Jerry Lee Lewis  
Jerry Lewis  
Jayne Meadows  
Pat Robertson  
William Shatner  
Larry Storch

Alternates  
Alan Alda  
Rush Limbaugh

Hey for 2010, I guessed the demise of _ **two** _ celebrities.  
Celebrities on my list should no longer feel they have been granted immortality. BWA-HA-HA 😃

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Captain\_Klutz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captain_klutz/32/4993_2.png) [@Captain\_Klutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Klutz)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/424 "2010-12-31T10:08:34Z")

</div>

My amended list:

Yao Defen  
Paul Gascoigne  
Seve Ballesteros  
Aretha Franklin  
Amy Winehouse  
Kim Jong-Il  
Larry Flynt  
Terry Pratchett  
Lindsay Lohan  
Robin Williams  
Lex Luger  
Jeff Conaway  
Michael Douglas

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/425 "2010-12-31T12:39:33Z")

</div>

I’ve been waiting until the last minute but I have to work late tonight and don’t want to forget so I may as well post now.

Nancy Reagan  
Michael Douglas  
Pete Doherty  
Margaret Thatcher  
Aretha Franklin  
Andy Griffith  
Larry Kramer  
Jerry Lewis  
Fidel Castro  
Rose Marie  
LeRoy Neiman  
Bhumibol Adulyadej  
Harmon Killebrew

In case any of these folks shuffle off in the next few hours here are a couple of  
alternates:  
Betty Ford  
Dick Cheney

And as always, thanks **Amarone** for doing this!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/426 "2010-12-31T13:15:45Z")

</div>

As usual, I’ve gone with a list of really old composers, politicians, and people I strongly dislike. They’ve got to die one of these years…

Milton Babbitt  
George H.W. Bush  
Jimmy Carter  
Ruth Bader Ginsburg  
Christopher Hitchens  
Kim Jong-Il  
Henry Kissinger  
Ennio Morricone  
Krzysztof Penderecki  
Fred Phelps  
Prince Philip  
Ned Rorem  
Margaret Thatcher

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/427 "2010-12-31T14:13:24Z")

</div>

My list of people almost certainly guaranteed to survive till 2012

1- Sarah Palin- This dead fish will go with the flow  
2- Christine O’Donnell- Too bad she couldn’t spend more time with her career, which was-- oh never mind.  
3- Rand Paul- Dies in a massive ego explosion.  
4- Dick Cheney- Finally dies from lack of heart  
5- John Boehner- Falls asleep in nuclear tanning bed  
6- Jeff Gordon- I pick him every year. Nothing against him, just those NASCAR guys roll the dice every Sunday.  
7- Mike Huckabee- Last words: “If I’m saying this just for publicity, may the Lord smite me…”  
8- Barry Bonds- Them 'roids finally take their toll  
9- Bill Shatner- You’re dead, Jim  
10- Charlie Watts- Because everyone always picks Keith Richard  
11- Conan O’Brien- My upset special  
12- Kelly Ripa- Probably won’t die, but young enough to score loads of points  
13- George W. Bush- God finally shows He cares

Plain text:

Sarah Palin  
Christine O’Donnell  
Rand Paul  
Dick Cheney  
John Boehner  
Jeff Gordon  
Mike Huckabee  
Barry Bonds  
Bill Shatner  
Charlie Watts  
Conan O’Brien  
Kelly Ripa  
George W. Bush

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/428 "2010-12-31T14:45:56Z")

</div>

A safe list of likely no unique picks, no theme, and I didn’t wait until 31 December for any gameplay, I just haven’t had the time to put a list together. I’m hoping for a little more than just this year’s Zelda.

1. Rush Limbaugh (12 Jan 51)
2. Aretha Franklin (25 March 42)
3. Peter Falk (16 Sep 27)
4. Pete Doherty (12 Mar 79)
5. Jeff Conaway (5 October 50)
6. Artie Lange (11 Oct 67)
7. Abdel Baset al-Megrahi (1 Apr 52)
8. William “Fridge” Perry (16 Dec 62)
9. Ralph “Fridge” Friedgen (4 Apr 47)
10. Dick Clark (30 Nov 29)
11. Lindsay Lohan (2 Jul 86)
12. Fred Phelps (13 Nov 29)
13. Andy Rooney (14 January 19)

Alternate (for the next 14 hours or so):  
Tom Sizemore (29 Nov 61)  
Plaintext:  
Rush Limbaugh  
Aretha Franklin  
Peter Falk  
Pete Doherty  
Jeff Conaway  
Artie Lange  
Abdel Baset al-Megrahi  
William Perry  
Ralph Friedgen  
Dick Clark  
Lindsay Lohan  
Fred Phelps  
Andy Rooney

Alt:  
Tom Sizemore

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [December 31, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/429 "2010-12-31T15:45:45Z")

</div>

Evidently I cannot count to thirteen. :smack:

My revised list:

David Hasselhoff  
Andrew Lloyd Weber  
Dick Clark  
Mohammed Ali  
Aretha Franklin  
Fidel Castro  
Elizabeth Taylor  
Charles Manson  
Ruth Bader Ginsberg  
Pamela Anderson  
Bob Newhart  
Seve Ballesteros  
Betty Ford

Alternates:  
Nancy Reagan  
Lindsay Lohan  
Robin Williams

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/430 "2010-12-31T15:51:45Z")

</div>

Whoop, forgot my alternate. Ok, just in case someone shuffles off today, I’ll put Amy Winehouse on the bench.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/431 "2010-12-31T16:04:25Z")

</div>

Aretha Franklin - Singer  
Ethan Zohn - Survivor Africa winner  
Christopher Hitchens – Author & journalist  
Abdelbaset Mohmed Ali al-Megrahi – Lockerbie bomber  
Tony Gwynn – Former Baseball Player  
Eleanor Mondale – Daughter of former VP  
Michael Douglas - Actor  
Seve Ballasteros – former Golfer  
Scott LeDoux – former Boxer  
Orlando Thomas – Former football Player  
Steve Smith – Former football Player  
Willie Wood – Former football player  
Paul Gascoigne – Former English Soccer Player

Aretha Franklin  
Ethan Zohn  
Christopher Hitchens  
Abdelbaset Mohmed Ali al-Megrahi  
Tony Gwynn  
Eleanor Mondale  
Michael Douglas  
Seve Ballasteros  
Scott LeDoux  
Orlando Thomas  
Steve Smith  
Willie Wood  
Paul Gascoigne

Alt:  
Amy Winehouse  
Pete Doherty  
Danny Bonadouche

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/432 "2010-12-31T16:19:09Z")

</div>

New poster here. Here is my list. It’s a mixture of old folks and young people who would get me a high score if they did die.

Dick Cheney  
Jimmy Carter  
Lindsey Lohan  
Richard Dawson (former Family Feud host)  
Kim Jong-il  
Ariel Sharon  
50 cent (Curtis James Jackson III)  
Michael Douglas  
Aretha Franklin  
David Hasselfoff  
Margaret Thatcher  
Whitney Houston  
Anne Rice

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/433 "2010-12-31T16:33:37Z")

</div>

> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#):
>
> **lexi** - You need to reformat your list. Check the OP for correct style.

Here it is sans numbers…

Andy Rooney  
Elisabeth Taylor  
Zsa Zsa Gabor  
Nancy Reagan  
Muhammad Ali  
Julian Assange  
Joseph Ratzinger (AKA the Pope)  
Michael Douglas  
Charlie Sheen  
Stephen Hawking  
Eddy Van Halen  
Eric Roberts  
Woody Harrelson

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/434 "2010-12-31T16:38:43Z")

</div>

Welcome to the dark side, **FliktheBlue!**

This year, I have waited, let other more organized posters do all the work, and then sneaked in and poached as shamelessly as an ivory hunter in a Tanzanian national park. I guess my theme is “Mehitabel is a Lazy, Lazy Kitty”.

Entertainers Who Will Graciously Bow Out:

1. William Shatner (80 years of The Shat!)
2. Aretha Franklin (That cancer is nasty, poor lady)

Two Dicks are always better:  
3) Dick Cheney (heartless before it was literal)  
4) Andy Dick (now watch, he’ll end up being the Keith Richards of Comedy)

Muckety-Mucks  
5) Margaret Thatcher (Baroness whose death will mean awkwardness at BILLY ELLIOT shows in theaters around the world)  
6) George H.W. Bush (notice he’s stopped jumping out of planes on his birthdays)  
7) Christopher Hitchens (he’ll know soon enough if he was right about God, poor guy)

If Christoper’s Wrong About God Existing, These Deaths Will Prove it:  
8) Kim Jong-il (evil North Korean dictator bastard)  
9) Than Shwe (evil Burmese dictator bastard)  
10) Robert Mugabe (evil Zimbabwean dictator bastard)

Alternates:  
11) Ruth Bader Ginsburg (I know she’s sick, but I haven’t heard about any dramatic swings one way or the other)  
12) Fidel Castro (see Ginsburg)  
13) Mikhail Khodorkovsky (sitting in jail in Siberia with Putin mad at you /= continued good health)

Plain vanilla, no sprinkles please:

William Shatner  
Aretha Franklin  
Dick Cheney  
Andy Dick  
Margaret Thatcher  
George H.W. Bush  
Christoper Hitchens  
Kim Jong-il  
Than Shwe  
Robert Mugabe

Ruth Bader Ginsburg  
Fidel Castro  
Mikhail Khodorkovsky

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/435 "2010-12-31T16:55:24Z")

</div>

Madonna  
Jack Black  
Jon Bon Jovi  
Clint Eastwood  
Daniel Craig  
Oksana Grigorieva  
Reggie Bush  
Jessica Biel  
Mike Sorrentino  
Nicole Polizzi  
Kanye West  
Jennifer Lopez  
Donny Osmond

Mike & Nicole are “the situation” and “snooki” from The Jersey Shore reality TV show.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/436 "2010-12-31T17:45:37Z")

</div>

Mostly my 2010 list, since none of them had the decency to die during the year. Come on folks! Don’t hang in there!

Lauren Bacall  
Zsa Zsa Gabor  
Ariel Sharon  
Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh  
Nelson Mandela  
Steve Jobs  
Alan Greenspan  
Michael Douglas  
Mike Wallace  
Hugh Hefner  
Aretha Franklin  
Courtney Love  
Robert Redford

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/437 "2010-12-31T17:59:04Z")

</div>

Since I’m an idiot, please put my three alternates in the main list so I have 13, thanks!

William Shatner  
Aretha Franklin  
Dick Cheney  
Andy Dick  
Margaret Thatcher  
George H.W. Bush  
Christoper Hitchens  
Kim Jong-il  
Than Shwe  
Robert Mugabe  
Ruth Bader Ginsburg  
Fidel Castro  
Mikhail Khodorkovsky

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/438 "2010-12-31T18:05:36Z")

</div>

> [@Emily\_Litella](#):
>
> Madonna  
> Jack Black  
> Jon Bon Jovi  
> Clint Eastwood  
> Daniel Craig  
> Oksana Grigorieva  
> Reggie Bush  
> Jessica Biel  
> Mike Sorrentino  
> Nicole Polizzi  
> Kanye West  
> Jennifer Lopez  
> Donny Osmond
> 
> Mike & Nicole are “the situation” and “snooki” from The Jersey Shore reality TV show.

I knew Mike had a name, but this is the first I’ve learned of Snooki’s given name

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/439 "2010-12-31T18:43:30Z")

</div>

My revised list as the deadline approaches:

**World misleaders:**  
Kim Jong-il - He will be less “[ronery](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ronery)” in hell.  
Dick Cheney - No heart, No pulse, undead.  
Laurent Koudou Gbagbo - Ivory Coast president, now a dictator as it refuses to acknowledge he lost the recent election, civil war looming.

**Singers:**  
Areta Franklin - Musical band wagon pick  
Amy Winehouse - Slurry speech in last Russian concert points to another (final?) drug meltdown.  
Gerry Rafferty - What disease he doesn’t have? It is a wonder that he made it to 2011.  
Anne Feeney - Political activist, folk musician and singer-songwriter, very nasty kind of lung cancer

**Actors:**  
Michael Douglas - This time the acting bandwagon pick.

**Pro wrestlers:**  
Superstar Billy Graham - His wrestling crusade will end soon thanks to third stage liver disease.  
Raymond Louis Heenan - Bobby the Brain Heenan, pile dived not by brain cancer, throat cancer.

**Other:**  
Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi - Bomber  
Christopher Hitchens - Writer  
Rich Buhler - Radio preacher

**Clean list:**

Kim Jong-il  
Areta Franklin  
Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi  
Laurent Koudou Gbagbo  
Dick Cheney  
Amy Winehouse  
Michael Douglas  
Christopher Hitchens  
Rich Buhler  
Anne Feeney  
Gerry Rafferty  
Superstar Billy Graham  
Raymond Louis Heenan

**Alternates:**  
Mike Marqusee  
Muhammad Ali

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/440 "2010-12-31T18:45:02Z")

</div>

Looks like a big ol’ goose egg for me in 2010, my first year in the Pool. Not gonna let that happen again! (No theme.)

- Pro golfer \*\*Seve Ballesteros \*\*(53).  
Supposedly responding well to treatment for a brain tumor. Still – a _brain tumor_! Come on!
- Often rumored-dead but still-breathing Cuban dictator \*\*Fidel Castro \*\*(84).  
Fidel’s been on his death bed since about 1998. One of these years it’ll take.
- Ex- Vice President and multiple heart-attack survivor \*\*Dick Cheney \*\*(69).  
To quote Obi-wan Kenobi: “He’s more machine than man, now.” But machines wear out too… Right?
- \*\*Maggie Daley \*\*(67), wife of longtime Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.  
Breast cancer, now spread to her bones and organs. Richie is stepping down as Mayor in 2011 to be at her side.
- Actor \*\*Michael Douglas \*\*(66).  
Throat cancer. He could beat it, but if he doesn’t, I suspect he’ll go fast.
- \*\*Aretha Franklin \*\*(68), the one and only Queen of Soul.  
Pancreatic cancer is some nasty shit. I wish her the best, but I’ll be surprised if she sees 2012.
- \*\*Zsa Zsa Gabor \*\*(93).  
Yeah, yeah, a bandwagon pick and scant points, I know. But like I said, I don’t want to get shut out two years in a row.
- News/sportscaster and former Today Show host \*\*Bryant Gumbel \*\*(62).  
Haven’t heard much about his health lately, but lung cancer doesn’t just go away.
- Funnyman/MDA advocate \*\*Jerry Lewis \*\*(84).  
The more I read about his myriad health issues, the more I marvel that he’s made it this long. Laaaady Luck is bound to run out on him soon.
- University of Florida football coach \*\*Urban Meyer \*\*(46).  
Just a hunch. He retired suddenly a year ago after a heart scare. He quickly un-retired, but has now re-retired. He may know something he’s not telling.
- \*\*Eleanor Mondale \*\*(50), daughter of former Vice President Walter Mondale.  
_Eleanor, gee, I think you’re swell,  
But I’ve heard that you’re not well,  
So you’re going on my list here.  
I picked you last time, you survived,  
Though it’s nice you’re still alive,  
Maybe you can help me this year?_
- \*\*Lura Lynn Ryan \*\*(76), former First Lady of Illinois.  
Hubby George is currently in the pokey for his corrupt ways as Secretary of State and Governor, and was recently denied early release to be with his ailing wife, who is said to be near death.
- Former British Prime Minister \*\*Margaret Thatcher \*\*(85).  
Sounds like Maggie’s been sliding steadily downhill for some time now.

As unlikely as it is that any of these folks (let alone three of them!) will kick the bucket in the next 11 or so hours, here are my alternates (in preferred order of use):

- Ex-Monkee \*\*Peter Tork \*\*(68)
- Supreme Court Justice \*\*Ruth Bader Ginsburg \*\*(77)
- Poison frontman and reality TV sleaze \*\*Bret Michaels \*\*(47)

Seve Ballesteros  
Fidel Castro  
Dick Cheney  
Maggie Daley  
Michael Douglas  
Aretha Franklin  
Zsa Zsa Gabor  
Bryant Gumbel  
Jerry Lewis  
Urban Meyer  
Eleanor Mondale  
Lura Lynn Ryan  
Margaret Thatcher  
Peter Tork  
Ruth Bader Ginsburg  
Bret Michaels

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523.md?page=21)

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523.md?page=23)
