# 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:** 18
**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:** [November 25, 2022, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/341 "2022-11-25T05:31:47Z")
I was reminded yesterday of one of my favorite shows from my childhood; _The Hollywood Squares_. I just checked and found out that Peter Marshall is still alive at 96. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2022, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/342 "2022-11-25T08:24:36Z")
For my money, she would have been been the perfect choice to play [Aunt May](https://www.google.com/search?q=aunt+may&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS924US924&hl=en-US&prmd=ivn&sxsrf=ALiCzsa9ZUlptghlLyZ5NmevUGS58gfeAA:1669364621799&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiisaHq88j7AhUuTDABHXE5AfcQ_AUoAXoECAEQAQ&biw=320&bih=454&dpr=2#imgrc=ydyoO3BKOBQouM) in a Spider-Man movie. ---
**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:** [November 25, 2022, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/343 "2022-11-25T10:21:13Z")
Maybe she could still pull it off if they make another one. Here she is in the trailer for her latest film (from 2014): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QHFkp5IpKNo/maxresdefault.jpg "And So It Goes Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Michael Douglas, Diane Keaton Movie HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHFkp5IpKNo) (She’s the old woman who’s constantly smoking.) ---
**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:** [November 25, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/344 "2022-11-25T16:59:58Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > [Frances Sternhagen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Sternhagen), the actress best known (to me, anyway) for her recurring role as Cliff Clavin’s mother on _Cheers_, is still alive at 92. She already seemed to be an old woman back on _Cheers_, so I had assumed she’d long since passed on. But nope, according to Wikipedia she’s been taking roles on TV, film, and on stage as recently as 2014. Thank you, she is a perfect example. She was only 50-55 while playing Cliff’s mother. She is 17 years older than John Ratzenburger, but it was very clear she was playing an older woman than she really was. I had no idea she was not 65-70. ---
**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:** [November 25, 2022, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/345 "2022-11-25T17:54:04Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Thank you, she is a perfect example. That’s very gratifying to hear, coming from the OP! > [@Mahaloth](#): > > She is 17 years older than John Ratzenburger, but it was very clear she was playing an older woman than she really was. I had no idea she was not 65-70. Even today you’d be hard pressed to say she wasn’t 65 to 70. Look at the trailer I just posted—does that look like an 84-year-old woman to you? She seems barely older than her co-star, Michael Douglas. A bit wrinklier, sure, but just as sprightly. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/346 "2022-11-26T21:05:07Z")
Just saw that Rich Little turns 84 today. That’s not especially old but it’s been so long since I’d heard about him that I just would’ve assumed he died years ago. ---
**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:** [November 26, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/347 "2022-11-26T21:30:55Z")
I nominated him back in June of 2021: > [@Who are our current "Abe Vigodas"? (people you might be surprised to learn are still alive)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/252): > > 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. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2022, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/348 "2022-11-27T01:04:10Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Just saw that Rich Little turns 84 today. That’s not especially old but it’s been so long since I’d heard about him that I just would’ve assumed he died years ago. There was another impersonator who specifically impersonated John Kennedy. After Kennedy died, and of course died so dramatically, his impersonator found it hard to get work. Vaughn Meader was his name, I just looked it up. > **[JFK Impersonator Vaughn Meader: Death of a Career](https://mobituaries.com/news/the-podcast/season-3/season-2/season-1/jfk-impersonator-vaughn-meader/)** > > For one brief shining moment in the early 1960s, John F. Kennedy impersonator Vaughn Meader was on top of the world. He was the voice of the hit comedy album "The First Family" which broke sales records and even won the Grammy for Album of the Year.... ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/349 "2022-11-28T00:43:30Z")
We had his album – loved it. “The rubber duck is mine.” ---
**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:** [November 28, 2022, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/350 "2022-11-28T01:29:44Z")
I just noticed that Mamie van Doren (who was in _Sex Kittens Go to College_) will be turning 92 in a couple months. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/351 "2022-11-28T11:21:37Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I just noticed that Mamie van Doren (who was in _Sex Kittens Go to College_) will be turning 92 in a couple months I just noticed that Robert Wagner is already there! ---
**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:** [November 29, 2022, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/352 "2022-11-29T02:16:40Z")
Famed actor and voiceover artist James Earl Jones is 91 years old. ---
**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:** [November 29, 2022, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/353 "2022-11-29T02:35:01Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Famed actor and voiceover artist James Earl Jones is 91 years old I kind of think a lot of people know he’s still alive, though. Maybe not, though. ---
**Author:** ![ThatCanadianGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@ThatCanadianGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThatCanadianGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/354 "2022-11-29T16:36:19Z")
Rich Little - who is from my home town - dropped off the radar because he just didn’t keep up with the new generation. He was kind of big back in the day. Today, there are many who do better impressions of today’s stars than Little did in my opinion. Rich did impressions of Jack Benny and Richard Nixon for example where the voice was OK, he just exaggerated the hand movements and manerisms. He even said himself “how do you imitate Brad Pitt?” ---
**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:** [November 29, 2022, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/355 "2022-11-29T17:55:57Z")
He was already mentioned twice - in posts #252 and #345. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2023, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/356 "2023-01-21T17:23:03Z")
Buzz Aldrin has already been mentioned upthread, but it’s worth noting that not only is he still alive, he just got married on his 93rd birthday! He was wed to Anca Faur, age 63, who is the executive vice president of Aldrin’s company, Buzz Aldrin Ventures. > **[Buzz Aldrin marries for the fourth time, aged 93](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64359316)** > > The former US astronaut, who was the second man on the moon, married his partner in Los Angeles. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/357 "2023-05-30T17:18:12Z")
Henry Kissinger has just turned 100 and is not only alive, but fairly active, travelling and writing. ---
**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 30, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/358 "2023-05-30T17:37:42Z")
He is older than Anne Frank and Martin Luther King, Jr. They are dead and yet, he lives. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2023, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/359 "2023-05-30T20:29:12Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Henry Kissinger has just turned 100 and is not only alive, but fairly active, travelling and writing. He was mentioned in the third post of this thread, back when he was a young man of 97. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2023, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/360 "2023-05-30T23:18:00Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Henry Kissinger has just turned 100 and is not only alive, but fairly active, travelling and writing. Only a master diplomat could craft that good a deal with the devil. Mind you, looking back on the 70s, the devil came out okay, too. [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=17) [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=19)