# Who are our current "Abe Vigodas"? (people you might be surprised to learn are still alive) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** actor-characters\ **Created:** [September 7, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985 "2020-09-07T01:18:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/221 "2021-05-25T21:34:24Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Some comments are good. Some are great. But yours was simply Perfecto Glad someone noticed! ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/222 "2021-06-01T02:02:22Z")
The Dionne Quintuplets born in 1934 have two surviving members who have just celebrated their 87th birthday. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionne\_quintuplets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionne_quintuplets) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/223 "2021-06-01T02:35:54Z")
I mentioned in the B. J. Thomas obituary thread that I was surprised to find that composer Burt Bacharach is still alive at 93. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/224 "2021-06-01T15:21:54Z")
And Gavin MacLeod’s recent death surprisingly revealed that Ed Asner is **still** chugging along at 91. I know he’s been mentioned before in this thread, but still - of all the people on MTM, who’d have guessed the overweight slob would be the one to last so long? (And of course Betty White is eternal - 99 and still hella funny.) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/225 "2021-06-01T15:46:33Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > And Gavin MacLeod’s recent death surprisingly revealed that Ed Asner is **still** chugging along at 91. I know he’s been mentioned before in this thread, but still - of all the people on MTM, who’d have guessed the overweight slob would be the one to last so long? He was just so much younger on the show than we realized. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/226 "2021-06-01T16:28:50Z")
Dick van Dyke has been mentioned in this thread as still living at 95. He was interviewed on _CBS This Morning_ and appears to be in astounding shape for a man of his age. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5k9K16xb9s) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/227 "2021-06-01T16:33:47Z")
I’m a little surprised that it took this long for Dick van Dyke to get honored by the Kennedy Center. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/228 "2021-06-01T18:48:32Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > in astounding shape for a man of his age Last year Orson Bean was crossing the street when he failed to properly cope with traffic (or traffic failed to properly cope with him). It took two cars to do him in. At age 91. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/229 "2021-06-01T21:57:38Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I mentioned in the B. J. Thomas obituary thread that I was surprised to find that composer Burt Bacharach is still alive at 93. My brother has his Members Only jacket! Or did. His (bro’s) wife had a landscaping business for house plants and did the plants at Bacharach’s house. She was given his old jacket one day and gave it to my brother. From then on it Bacharach’s jacket. Pat Boone is 87. Doesn’t it seem like he should be in his 90s…or at least dead??? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/230 "2021-06-01T22:01:03Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Pat Boone is 87. Doesn’t it seem like he should be in his 90s…or at least dead??? I mean, heck, his daughter Debby is 64! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/231 "2021-06-05T16:21:32Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’m a little surprised that it took this long for Dick van Dyke to get honored by the Kennedy Center. Same for Joan Baez. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/232 "2021-06-06T06:34:06Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Dick van Dyke has been mentioned in this thread as still living at 95. He was interviewed on _CBS This Morning_ and appears to be in astounding shape for a man of his age. That’s because … he’s a _dancer_! 🕺 ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/233 "2021-06-06T07:07:35Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oL3AijekRYw/hqdefault.jpg ""Mr. Dawes Jr." Clip | Mary Poppins Returns") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL3AijekRYw) I just learnt that van Dyke had a cameo in the Mary Poppins sequel and it’s the most delightful thing ever. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/234 "2021-06-06T16:52:48Z")
I just discovered that Harry Belafonte is still alive. He turned 94 earlier this year. He recorded the ‘Banana Boat’ song (Day-O!) in 1956. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/235 "2021-06-09T13:29:27Z")
I had the impression 20 years ago that Jerry Lee Lewis was teetering on the brink (hard living). But he’s still hanging in at 85 or so, though apparently not performing any more. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/236 "2021-06-09T13:33:11Z")
How about Henry Kissinger? Still alive at 98, still married to Nancy, still (as far as I know) living up in Kent, Connecticut. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/237 "2021-06-09T13:43:50Z")
There are a few rock stars and actors that don’t fit the Abe Vigoda thing, but I’m always shocked are still alive simply because I’m shocked their lifestyle didn’t kill them - or at least take years off their lives. Keith Richards is one. Boy George is another. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/238 "2021-06-09T14:13:46Z")
I read Wikipedia’s obituaries each day, as well as the day’s birthdays of prominent people. I look to see who’s the oldest person born that day, and then how many names down the list until its someone I knew of. Today is Jackie Mason’s 90th. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/239 "2021-06-09T14:20:47Z")
I have no idea why, but for some reason I thought I remembered hearing that the wonderful Canadian actor Michael Hogan, who played Colonel Tigh on Battlestar Galactica, had passed away. I was finally watching the 12 Monkeys series recently, and I was thrilled to see him in six episodes in season 3 (I think), after it took me a minute to recognize him. When I checked imdb to confirm it was who I thought it was, I was surprised to read that he was indeed still kicking. Not sure where the notion that he’d died came from; he’s only 72 or so anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/240 "2021-06-09T15:48:25Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > Not sure where the notion that he’d died came from; he’s only 72 or so anyway. He had a bad fall and has indeed had a long recovery. He is not back to full health yet, but yes, he is a live and recovering. He hit his head really bad and felt ok until the middle of the night when he realized something was wrong. His wife has been taking care of him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985.md?page=13)