# 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:** 13
**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, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/241 "2021-06-09T15:51:22Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > 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. Okay, maybe I’d heard that in the news and misremembered it then, that makes sense. I’m glad to hear he’s in good hands. ---
**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 11, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/242 "2021-06-11T20:49:28Z")
I was mildly stunned to see an op-ed in today’s Wall St. Journal by…Bob Dole. Both Mrs. J. and I thought he’d been dead for years. ---
**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 11, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/243 "2021-06-11T21:36:29Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I was mildly stunned to see an op-ed in today’s Wall St. Journal by…Bob Dole. He was the lone former presidential candidate who voted for Trump(twice actually). Neither Bush, Bush Jr., John McCain, nor Mitt Romney did, but Dole did it out of obligation to the Republican party. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/244 "2021-06-12T01:37:26Z")
I’m sorry but the title of this thread bothers me. Shouldn’t it be ‘Abes Vigoda’? ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/245 "2021-06-12T01:48:53Z")
I’m pretty sure it’s “Abe Vigodae.” ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/246 "2021-06-12T17:53:37Z")
Seems that males dominate this thread, so I’ll toss out a female. Barbara Rush is still with us at 94. ---
**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 14, 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/919985/247 "2021-06-14T15:46:16Z")
Angela Landsbury is even a little older than Barbara Rush, and most of the roles I have seen her in she seemed middle age or older. Most. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2021, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/248 "2021-06-14T16:05:57Z")
Surprised Robert Duvall hasn’t been mentioned; 20 years ago he was the “old guy in every movie ever” amongst my group of friends (144 movies under his belt!). ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/249 "2021-06-14T16:35:44Z")
Check her out as the young princess in “The Court Jester” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/An_XG30nJis/hqdefault.jpg "The Court Jester (1955) - A hypnotized Danny Kaye romances Angela Lansbury") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An_XG30nJis) ---
**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 14, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/250 "2021-06-14T16:41:16Z")
She was even hotter as the maid in _ **Gaslight** _ (1944): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eIlzY-UcYZU/maxresdefault.jpg "Gaslight (1944) - Flirting with the Maid Scene (2/8) | Movieclips") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIlzY-UcYZU) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2021, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/251 "2021-06-14T17:23:09Z")
> [@Lantern2](#): > > I just learnt that van Dyke had a cameo in the Mary Poppins sequel and it’s the most delightful thing ever. I’ll one-up you on that - In order for the 93-year-old actor to play the Chairman of the Board, they had to an old-age makeup on him - he didn’t look old enough! And, yes, he did all his own dancing, ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/252 "2021-06-15T14:38:06Z")
I may as well nominate Rich Little, who seemed to be everywhere in the 1980s, only to apparently drop off the face of the earth. But hey, look, he was just [profiled by CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rich-little-still-making-a-great-impression/) two weeks ago, in what he claims is his first appearance on network television in 30 years. And not only that, he’s still working at 82, doing live shows in Las Vegas. > **[Rich Little: Still making a great impression](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rich-little-still-making-a-great-impression/)** > > At 82, the comedian who has impersonated hundreds of celebrities and politicians over the years shows no signs of letting up. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/253 "2021-06-15T15:30:32Z")
South African human rights activist Bishop Desmond Tutu is still alive at age of the 89. ---
**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 15, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/254 "2021-06-15T20:08:25Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > I may as well nominate Rich Little, who seemed to be everywhere in the 1980s, only to apparently drop off the face of the earth. But hey, look, he was just [profiled by CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rich-little-still-making-a-great-impression/) two weeks ago, in what he claims is his first appearance on network television in 30 years. And not only that, he’s still working at 82, doing live shows in Las Vegas. > > [Rich Little: Still making a great impression - CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rich-little-still-making-a-great-impression/) If you asked him, I’m sure Little could imitate Vigoda, too. 🙂 ---
**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 15, 2021, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/255 "2021-06-15T20:25:11Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > South African human rights activist Bishop Desmond Tutu is still alive at age of the 89. I remember when he met with the French defense minister back in the '90s. The media called it the Tutu and Leotard Conference. 😖 ---
**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:** [June 16, 2021, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/256 "2021-06-16T02:38:40Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > South African human rights activist Bishop Desmond Tutu is still alive at age of the 89. I thought Nelson Mandela was the one who was still alive 😜. ---
**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 16, 2021, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/257 "2021-06-16T03:11:12Z")
Mandela would be turning 103 in July. He has been gone a while. Tutu is a mere pup in comparison, not even 90 yet. ---
**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 16, 2021, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/258 "2021-06-16T04:30:15Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > > [@dorvann](#): > > > > South African human rights activist Bishop Desmond Tutu is still alive at age of the 89. > > I thought Nelson Mandela was the one who was still alive 😜. He had that effect on people. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/259 "2021-06-16T12:50:47Z")
I was actually debating whether or not I should have mentioned Nelson Mandela and Mandela Effect when I made my post but I didn’t want to be accused of derailing the thread to an off topic discussion. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/260 "2021-06-17T00:27:59Z")
I just found out Erich von Däniken–who wrote the book _Chariots of the Gods_-first published in 1968-- is still alive at 86. (For those of who don’t know the book claims that the technologies and religions of many ancient civilizations were created given by ancient astronauts (i.e. extraterrestrials) who were thought to be gods.) Von Däniken is one of the originators of the idea. [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=12) [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=14)