# 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:** 35
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/682 "2024-09-28T17:43:14Z")
She went apeshit! ---
**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:** [September 29, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/683 "2024-09-29T19:01:15Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Herb Alpert, still with us at 88. And showing no signs of stopping. > **[Jazz legend Herb Alpert releases his 50th album](https://www.npr.org/2024/09/28/nx-s1-5094876/jazz-legend-herb-alpert-releases-his-50th-album)** > > NPR's Scott Simon speaks with a legend of jazz, Herb Alpert, who has just released his 50th album. It is called "50." ---
**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:** [September 29, 2024, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/684 "2024-09-29T19:28:06Z")
For some reason I thought that I’d read an obit on Frank Langella, but I was wrong. He’s still with us. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2024, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/685 "2024-10-01T13:20:42Z")
President Carter celebrates his 100th birthday today, the first former POTUS to do so. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2024, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/686 "2024-10-01T18:27:42Z")
The actor [John Amos](https://variety.com/2024/tv/obituaries-people-news/john-amos-dead-good-times-roots-1236161810/) passed away a couple of months ago, apparently. I could have sworn he’d died a few years back, but I guess not. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/687 "2024-10-01T18:52:06Z")
Not exactly a household name, but [Carol Kaye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Kaye) is one of the few surviving members left of [The Wrecking Crew](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wrecking_Crew_(music)), the group of Los Angeles session musicians that played on just about every hit to come out of the 60s. She played guitar on “La Bamba” and “You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling”. She played bass on “The Beat Goes On” and “Good Vibrations” and many, many other hits. She’s 89 years old and still playing. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2024, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/688 "2024-10-01T18:53:47Z")
[John Ashton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ashton_(actor)) died recently. He is best known for the Beverly Hills Cop movies. He’s the detective that isn’t Judge Reinhold or Eddie Murphy. He was only 75 though, hardly a Vigoda. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/689 "2024-10-01T23:43:44Z")
I learned today that Toni Basil of “Hey Mickey” fame is still around (81) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/690 "2024-10-02T00:54:41Z")
After being mentioned in the debate thread for tonight, shocked that Ben Stein is still around @ age 80, after swearing I saw his obit a few years ago. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2024, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/691 "2024-10-02T01:13:54Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > After being mentioned in the debate thread for tonight, shocked that Ben Stein is still around @ age 80, after swearing I saw his obit a few years ago He kind of ended up being a creationist, I think? Goes against his super-intellectual persona. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/692 "2024-10-02T14:26:40Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > I learned today that Toni Basil of “Hey Mickey” fame is still around (81) She was also in the toast scene in _Five Easy Pieces_. Among the main cast still alive you’ve got Jack, of course. But Billy Green Bush who played Nicholson’s workin’ and drinkin’ buddy may still be alive (no death listed) and about to turn 89. Wait, hold on. Fannie Flagg is still alive? Just turned 80. That one is a surprise to me. Sally Struthers and Lois Smith are well known for being alive. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/693 "2024-10-02T14:52:52Z")
I saw a youtube video on _Mork & Mindy_. Pam Dawber is not only still alive (and still hot at 127 years old) but is still married to Mark Harmon. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/694 "2024-10-02T19:21:44Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > and still hot at 127 years old Shouldn’t that be “and still hot at 127 years young”? ---
**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:** [October 2, 2024, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/695 "2024-10-02T20:50:54Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Five Easy Pieces and _Easy Rider_. I’d say that those two movies and _Hey, Mickey_ are her three most well-known items. It appears she hasn’t done much of anythiing since 1990. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/696 "2024-10-03T05:20:22Z")
Im gonna put this here cause its kinda related and i dont want to open a whole thread to just a piece of trivia Darren McGavin was 52 (!) when he did Kolchak. I find that remarkable because…someone back then actually looking his age??? Or even a little younger. If you told me McGavin was 40 in that series, I’d believe it in a second. Simon Oakland was 59. Am I wrong in thinking they look pretty good for their age? I was thinking it was also remarkable to give a guy a series at that age. But then I remembered Barnaby Jones and Quincy. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2024, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/697 "2024-10-03T08:01:59Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > Darren McGavin was 52 (!) when he did Kolchak. He looked 52 to me. Dressing like an old time reporter didn’t help. 11 years later in A Christmas Story he doesn’t look that much older though. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/698 "2024-10-03T19:41:03Z")
Surprised to see that Charo is still around at the (alleged) age of 73. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/699 "2024-10-03T23:42:23Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Shouldn’t that be “and still hot at 127 years young”? In Death Pool speak, she is currently at 28 pts, turning 27 in a couple weeks or so. Perhaps **St Cad** was counting in, like, horse years or somesuch. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2024, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/700 "2024-10-04T00:37:25Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Surprised to see that Charo is still around at the (alleged) age of 73. She’s more likely to be 83 (probably born in 1941), and her actual age has apparently been the subject of controversy and changes for a long time. As per Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > Charo’s year of birth is the subject of [dispute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_fabrication#Actors_and_comedians). Her Spanish birth certificate and passport, as well as her American naturalization papers, give her birthdate as March 13, 1941. She later claimed she was born in 1947, then changed it to 1949.[[16]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charo#cite_note-17) In 1977, she asserted in a court hearing that her passport and naturalization papers were incorrect and that her birthdate was January 15, 1951.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charo#cite_note-rvf-baeza-4) > > Several newspaper articles around the time of her 1966 wedding to Cugat gave Charo’s age as 17.[[17]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charo#cite_note-18) Others referred to her as Cugat’s “18-year-old protégée”.[[18]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charo#cite_note-wilson091664-19) An April 1966 column on the wedding plans stated that she was 20 and Cugat was 60.[[19]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charo#cite_note-wilson0466-20) Many sources identified her as 21 on the day of her wedding.[[20]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charo#cite_note-raffetto66-21)[[21]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charo#cite_note-trend-22)[[22]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charo#cite_note-23) > > Later, when asserting her birthdate was 1951, she claimed her parents allowed her to falsify her age to appear older when marrying Cugat. However, that would have made her 15 at the time, contradicting her claim to have graduated from school at 16, not yet having begun her performing career. She has never clarified the discrepancy. > **[Charo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charo#Birth_year_controversy)** > > María Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza,\[note 1\] professionally known by her stage name Charo, is a Spanish-born actress, singer, comedian, and flamenco guitarist who rose to international prominence in the 1960s on American television, as well as starring in several films. > Charo began playing classical (Spanish-style) guitar at the age of nine, training under the famed guitarist Andrés Segovia. In 1966, she married 66-year-old bandleader Xavier Cugat and moved to the United States with him... ---
**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:** [October 5, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/701 "2024-10-05T13:22:40Z")
The Charo Confusion is an issue we will deal with if people have her upon her death. [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=34) [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=36)