# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/441 "2023-11-04T19:48:43Z")
The one we see now was a look alike replacement. There’s proof the first one died if you a have a record player that you can run backwards. Seriously, I think this poster is too young to understand what us geezers consider to be an Abe Vigoda. Paul has always been old to him, just like Abe Vigoda was always old to us. ---
**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 5, 2023, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/442 "2023-11-05T04:57:22Z")
> [@nitter](#): > > The last time I read the news about Paul was he did something with Apple, iPod I guessed? Last thing I heard about it, Paul’s label was kerfuffling with iCorp because they objected to their same name being used by a company that had become involved in the music business. On the subject of music, I looked up a James Darren, who is a solid 87. Ironically, I looked him up to figure out who his sidekick was in that one movie, which was _For Those Who Think Young_, a piece of beach trash. Turns out that other guy was Woody Woodbury, who is scant months away from the century mark. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/443 "2023-11-05T05:31:52Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > On the subject of music, I looked up a James Darren, who is a solid 87. Ironically, I looked him up to figure out who his sidekick was in that one movie, which was _For Those Who Think Young_, a piece of beach trash. Turns out that other guy was Woody Woodbury, who is scant months away from the century mark. Your mention of James Darren and co-stars made me wonder if anyone else from _The Time Tunnel_ is still around. From what I can find, Robert Colbert (92) and Lee Meriwether (88) are still with us. Whit Bissell and John Zaremba have gone the way of all flesh. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2023, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/444 "2023-11-06T01:21:10Z")
And as of a few years ago he was still active (I saw him.spesk about his life and work just before the late unpleasantness) ---
**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 9, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/445 "2023-11-09T01:02:41Z")
The movie _Carnal Knowledge_ was made in 1971. Fifty-two years later, the entire credited cast - Ann Margret, Art Garfunkel, Candice Bergan, Carol Kane, Cynthia O’Neal, Jack Nicholson, and Rita Moreno - are still alive, along with the writer Jules Feiffer. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/446 "2023-12-14T20:09:55Z")
Another Doctor Who one is William Russell, who was on the first episode back in 1963, and is now 99 years old. He made a small appearance in a recent episode of the show 60 years later, setting some sort of record I’m sure. ---
**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 14, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/447 "2023-12-14T20:24:56Z")
The Death Pool thread is great place to find some Abe Vigodas. Some of the ones from that thread that I was surprised are still alive include these. Doc Severinson Diana Ross Gene Hackman Dabney Coleman Jimmy Swaggert Neil Diamond Carol Burnett Tom Brokaw Chubby Checker Frankie Valli Not enough for a full themed death pool list, but I like the idea of a themed list based on Abe Vigodas 😜. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/448 "2023-12-15T00:43:44Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > He made a small appearance in a recent episode of the show 60 years later, setting some sort of record I’m sure. Someone who set another sort of record is Brenda Lee, whose version of the song “Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree” finally was number one on the charts, 65 years after it was released. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/449 "2023-12-15T02:05:10Z")
True, although Ms Lee is only 78, because she was 13 when the song was recorded, which is remarkable. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2023, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/450 "2023-12-15T03:44:20Z")
So, she is comin’ on strong, now? ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/451 "2023-12-15T03:45:28Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > True, although Ms Lee is only 78, because she was 13 when the song was recorded, which is remarkable. Which would explain why her voice shreds my eardrums. Most 13-year-olds are not good singers yet. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2023, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/452 "2023-12-15T04:02:07Z")
I thought I had mentioned this one in this thread but apparently not. The tv series _Police Woman_ premiered back in 1974, which means it will hit this fiftieth anniversary next year. And all of its cast is still alive; Angie Dickinson (92), Earl Holliman (95), Ed Bernard (84), and Charles Dierkop (87). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/453 "2023-12-15T06:56:55Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The tv series _Police Woman_ premiered back in 1974, which means it will hit this fiftieth anniversary next year. And all of its cast is still alive; Angie Dickinson (92), Earl Holliman (95), Ed Bernard (84), and Charles Dierkop (87). We should get ready for more stories like this. My son works at an assisted living facility with several residents over the age 100, one of them is 107. Most of them are very active, and according to my son they consume a lot of alcohol. There are almost 90,000 centenarians in the US now, and nearly 600,000 world wide. A group of surviving 80 and 90 year olds still stands out, but is becoming more commonplace. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/454 "2023-12-15T16:37:56Z")
Centenarians exist and are becoming more common. But the average life expectancy in America is 73.5 years. A predetermined group of four people living ten, thirteen, eighteen, and twenty-one years past the average is noteworthy. ---
**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 16, 2023, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/455 "2023-12-16T00:53:43Z")
A few days ago I had this tune running around in my head that I couldn’t identify. Finally, I googled “bouncy 60’s instrumental”. I found a video that had brief snippets of many tunes answering that general description. The song in question was on it and is “Tijuana Taxi” by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Herb Alpert, still with us at 88. ---
**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:** [December 18, 2023, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/456 "2023-12-18T17:12:40Z")
James Meredith was an important figure in the civil rights movement back in the early sixties. He was the first black student to be admitted to then segregated University of Mississippi back in 1962. Meredith wasn’t just a figurehead; he initiated the legal battle for his admission. I just learned that Meredith is still alive at the age of 90. ---
**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:** [December 18, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/457 "2023-12-18T22:20:08Z")
My mother is 91. You would probably not have heard of her, but she is the only person in the US with the name she has. Very possibly in the world. There is a story to that. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/458 "2023-12-20T16:45:58Z")
Your mother is Isaac Asimov? ---
**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:** [December 20, 2023, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/459 "2023-12-20T23:38:31Z")
Obviously not. Isaac Asimov would have been 103 this year (more than a decade older than my mom) if he had not purchased the agricultural property three decades ago, and as much as my mother confounded, befuddled and derailed my mental and emotional growth, Asimov would have done much worse. (Actually, my mother did quite well – my sad state is my own damn fault.) ---
**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:** [December 21, 2023, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/460 "2023-12-21T00:27:37Z")
Maybe a whoosh here but Isaac Asimov commented on several occasions about how he was the only person with his name in the country. [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=22) [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=24)