# 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:** 31
**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:** [August 11, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/602 "2024-08-11T18:35:51Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > That girl is only a couple years younger than him I assume you are referring to Marlo Thomas, who’s been married to Donahue since 1980. And, yes, she’s 86. She still sometimes appears on ads for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which was founded by her father. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2024, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/603 "2024-08-11T19:09:16Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I assume you are referring to Marlo Thomas, who’s been married to Donahue since 1980. When I saw @eschereal’s post about her age, I thought “Damn, she looked pretty good when she played Rachel’s mom on _Friends_.” Then I looked it up and saw that she played that role from 1996 through 2002. That’s (sigh) 25 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/604 "2024-08-11T19:42:05Z")
Controversial leader of the Nation of Islam the Minister Louis Farrakhan is 91 years old ---
**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:** [August 11, 2024, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/605 "2024-08-11T20:06:58Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Then I looked it up and saw that she played that role from 1996 through 2002. That’s (sigh) 25 years ago. She also had a small role in _Ocean’s 8_, which was only 6 years ago, and looked pretty good for being 81 years old in that. [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DlyvZYZUcAAGJpv.jpg:large) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DlyvZYZUcAAGJpv.jpg:large) ---
**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:** [August 11, 2024, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/606 "2024-08-11T21:07:56Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Then I looked it up and saw that she played that role from 1996 through 2002. That’s (sigh) 25 years ago. To be more precise, Marlo Thomas was only in three episodes. One was first shown on January 18, 1996 (28 years ago). It was the episode where Ross’s ex-wife marries her girlfriend. One was first shown on May 2, 1996 (28 years ago). It was the episode where she shows up at a surprise birthday party for Rachel. One was first shown on April 24, 2002 (22 years ago). It was the episode where there was a baby shower for Rachel. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/607 "2024-08-11T21:13:34Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Marlo Thomas was only in three episodes. Thanks for the info…I would have guessed she appeared in more episodes than those three. That prompted me to search for the late Ron Leibman, who played Rachel’s dad. He appeared in four episodes. Again, I would have guessed more. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2024, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/608 "2024-08-11T22:19:15Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > To be more precise, Marlo Thomas was only in three episodes. One was first shown on January 18, 1996 (28 years ago). It was the episode where Ross’s ex-wife marries her girlfriend. The one with the lesbian wedding? > [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > One was first shown on May 2, 1996 (28 years ago). It was the episode where she shows up at a surprise birthday party for Rachel. The one with the two parties? ---
**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:** [August 11, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/609 "2024-08-11T22:32:21Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The one with the lesbian wedding? Which apparently also featured the half-sister of the Speaker of the House. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2024, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/610 "2024-08-15T01:40:56Z")
As God as my witness, I thought Richard Sanders (aka Les Nessman) was dead. But I just learned he’s still alive and will be turning 84 this month. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2024, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/611 "2024-08-15T14:08:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > As God as my witness, I thought Richard Sanders (aka Les Nessman) was dead. Like Mr. Vigoda, Sanders looked considerably older than he actually was when he was on _WKRP_. He was only in his late 30s, but due to his thinning, graying hair, he probably seemed to be at least a decade older. Given that the show was on over 40 years ago, it’d be a fair assumption to believe that he was in his 90s by now, if he was even still alive. [![](https://www.seattleforgrowth.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/les-nessman.jpg) ](https://www.seattleforgrowth.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/les-nessman.jpg) ---
**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:** [August 15, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/612 "2024-08-15T15:36:39Z")
It was the Mandela effect with me. I was sure I had heard of Sanders’ death at some point. I must have confused him with Frank Bonner. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/613 "2024-08-16T19:04:25Z")
Huh. Julie Newmar is not only alive, but is only 91. Hard for my brain to process she and Shatner are the same age, pretty much. I didn’t realize she was alive. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2024, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/614 "2024-08-16T22:55:16Z")
Following the death of Glynis Johns (Lady Penelope Peasoup) earlier this year, there are three remaining Batman TV villains: Julie Newmar (Catwoman), John Astin (The Riddler), and Joan Collins (The Siren). (Lee Meriwether, who played Catwoman in the 1966 theatrical film, but not the TV show, is also 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:** [August 17, 2024, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/615 "2024-08-17T02:37:52Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Julie Newmar is not only alive, but is only 91. Hard for my brain to process she and Shatner are the same age Also, Maurice Micklewhite (_Alfie_) is 8 days older than Shatner. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2024, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/616 "2024-08-17T03:01:22Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Also, Maurice Micklewhite (_Alfie_) is 8 days older than Shatner. Uh, I think Shatner is almost two years _older_ than him. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2024, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/617 "2024-08-17T03:08:11Z")
yes, I read wrong ---
**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:** [August 17, 2024, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/618 "2024-08-17T03:44:27Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > yes, I read wrong. I do admit, though, that I think of Michael Caine as being older than Shatner. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2024, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/619 "2024-08-17T04:26:19Z")
Shatner never could have done Harry Palmer. Or the old man in _Around the Bend_. Or a whole lot of greater and lesser roles that Caine owned. But I have to admit, he was good in _Free Enterprise_. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2024, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/620 "2024-08-17T04:46:36Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > June Lockhart turned 99 last month, and was, in my 1960s childhood, emblematic of what was best about adult women.- > > [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm2q-F6FdoY&pp=ygUNanVuZSBsb2NraGFydA%3D%3D](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm2q-F6FdoY&pp=ygUNanVuZSBsb2NraGFydA%3D%3D) I love this clip and was about to link to it myself! In case anyone hasn’t watched it, it’s June Lockhart on the Virginia Graham talk show in 1970, admonishing Graham for saying homophobic things on the show. That was _years_ before anyone would think any actor would stand up for gays, let alone Lassie’s mother. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2024, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/621 "2024-08-17T08:12:44Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > That was _years_ before anyone would think any actor would stand up for gays, let alone Lassie’s mother. I think you underestimate the support for homosexuals in 1970. Here’s one comparison of the difference in attitudes from 1977 to 2019. The percentage who support homosexuals has gone up a lot. It hasn’t gone up from zero to almost all though. It’s gone from a significant percentage to most of the population. This is mostly caused by the ones who didn’t support homosexuals dying of old age, not mostly from ones within an age group changing their attitudes over time: > **[Gallup First Polled on Gay Issues in '77. What Has Changed?](https://news.gallup.com/poll/258065/gallup-first-polled-gay-issues-changed.aspx)** > > Americans today have very different views about LGBT issues than they did in 1977, when Gallup first polled about gays and lesbians. [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=30) [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=32)