# 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:** 15
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/281 "2021-12-18T22:24:08Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Retired to write novels instead of acting. Huh. Appropriately named for it, then. Bob Uecker. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2021, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/282 "2021-12-20T15:19:52Z")
William Daniels and spouse Bonnie Bartlett are still alive at 94 and 92. ---
**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:** [December 23, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/283 "2021-12-23T17:44:16Z")
Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records, is 92 and still very much alive. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/284 "2021-12-29T19:27:04Z")
I would have put John Madden on this list. I’m assuming I mentally check him off as dead back when Pat Summerall died. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/285 "2021-12-29T19:33:34Z")
A few weeks ago, ABC had a live show showing present-day actors performing scripts from episodes of Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes. Jimmy Kimmel hosted and introduced Norman Lear, who produced both shows (and many others). He’ll be 100 years old in July. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2021, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/286 "2021-12-29T19:52:56Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > …Jimmy Kimmel hosted and introduced Norman Lear, who produced both shows (and many others). He’ll be 100 years old in July. I heard him on NPR and they asked him the key to living so long. His answer was one of the few I have taken to heart. He said that for him, once something happens, he says in his head, “OK. Done. Next” He meant good or bad. The highs are amazing, but he always felt great for awhile and then told himself, “OK. Done. Next.” The lows/bads are also really difficult. He processed his frustration or grief(or anger) and then told himself, “OK. Done. Next.” He said his refusal to linger or hold onto things too long helped him live a long time. Neat guy. ---
**Author:** ![trumpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@trumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trumpet)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/287 "2022-05-03T19:34:26Z")
bob dole died two days before that, too. jinx ---
**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:** [May 4, 2022, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/288 "2022-05-04T03:06:32Z")
One thing I have noticed is with the old TV shows, if somebody dies in the show, the actor may well still be around. There were a few characters on _Star Trek_ who were unthinkably old according to the show who died young. One of them was being made all but immortal by magic flowers but the actor passed on even before the episode aired. Numerous characters who got shot down on _Gunsmoke_ are the actors who are still around or died very recently. It is almost a given. Perhaps it is the extra dialog that the survivors had to utter that shortened their lives. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2022, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/289 "2022-05-04T04:47:59Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Larry Storch, Corporal Agarn of **F Troop** is 97 years old. And 2 years after this post was made Larry Storch is still with us at the age of 99. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2022, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/290 "2022-05-04T06:19:27Z")
While Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon have died, Doc Severinsen is still alive at 94. ---
**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 4, 2022, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/291 "2022-05-04T15:00:46Z")
Who thought after nearly 30 years on the Tonight Show, he’d live another 30 years post-Tonight show? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2022, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/292 "2022-05-04T15:45:34Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Who thought after nearly 30 years on the Tonight Show, he’d live another 30 years post-Tonight show Who thought that he would live long enough for an entire generation to be able to grow up and ask “Who’s Doc Severinsen?”? ---
**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:** [May 4, 2022, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/293 "2022-05-04T18:08:57Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I’m always surprised when I hear mention of Pope Benedict XVI. I always assumed that a pope was the pope until he died, but Benedict resigned in 2013 after holding the position for 8 years. He’s now 93. Another one for the “still with us two years later” file: the Pope Emeritus turned 95 last month. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/294 "2022-05-07T14:56:14Z")
An avid obituary reader, I’m usually well on top of who’s underground. I know Robert Clary from Hogan’s Heroes and Roger Corman are still alive, but I had to confirm that Galloping Gourmet Graham Kerr was too. ---
**Author:** ![hostility](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hostility](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hostility)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/295 "2022-05-07T18:39:36Z")
MAD Magazine’s Al Jaffee is **101**! (apologies if he was mentioned earlier; I couldn’t find it) ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/296 "2022-05-07T22:29:02Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@Omniscient](#): > > > > So naming a bunch of old people isn’t really the game. > > > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > > Perhaps so, but the title of the thread doesn’t do the question full justice. > > > [@Omniscient](#): > > > > The body of the OP makes it clear though > > > > > [@Mahaloth](#): > > > > > > I’ll go first. > > > > > > Willie Mays is still alive at age 89. And God bless him, a national treasure. > > I don’t think the intent of Mahaloth’s OP was only people who have always looked elderly. > Has Willie Mays always seemed old? I’ve never heard that before. He just seems like he’s been around forever. Happy belated birthday to the Say Hey Kid, who turned 91 on May 6th. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2022, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/297 "2022-05-07T23:37:21Z")
Willie is, in fact, the oldest living Baseball Hall-of-Famer. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2022, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/298 "2022-05-08T00:29:09Z")
Angela Lansbury seems like she should be older, because she started so young. She was only 18 when she made _Gaslight_ (her first movie). It was released when she was 19. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2022, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/299 "2022-05-08T01:35:38Z")
Very surprised to see that Loretta Lynn is still with us. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2022, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/300 "2022-05-08T01:41:52Z")
> [@hostility](#): > > MAD Magazine’s Al Jaffee is **101**! (apologies if he was mentioned earlier; I couldn’t find it) Ah, the fold in guy! > **[Mad Fold-in](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Fold-in)** > > The Mad Fold-In is a feature of the American humor and satire magazine Mad. Written and drawn by Al Jaffee until 2020, and by Johnny Sampson thereafter, the Fold-In is one of the most well-known aspects of the magazine, having appeared in nearly every issue of the magazine starting in 1964. The feature was conceived in response to centerfolds in popular magazines, particularly Playboy. > Explaining his original inspiration, Jaffee said: > Playboy had a foldout of a beautiful woman in each issue, an... [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=14) [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=16)