# 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:** 39
**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:** [December 21, 2024, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/762 "2024-12-21T01:28:34Z")
Not exactly a household name, but I just discovered that Tenley Albright is still alive at 89. She was a five-time U.S. champion figure skater, won an Olympic silver medal at the 1952 Winter Games in Oslo, and became the first American woman to win gold four years later in Cortina d’Ampezzo. After retiring from skating, she was a surgeon. ---
**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 21, 2024, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/763 "2024-12-21T02:08:27Z")
Christmas music theme… [Brenda Lee](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Lee), mentioned last year, is still rockin’ now at 80. Surprisingly older is [Gayla Peavey](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayla_Peevey), 81, who recorded “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” in 1953 at age 10. Older still is [Mavis Staples](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples) at 85. Famous for much more, she makes this ‘list’ because she sang one of my favorite Christmas songs - the title track for _Christmas Vacation_, played over the animated title sequence in the Chevy Chase movie. ---
**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 21, 2024, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/764 "2024-12-21T03:13:40Z")
I had to look up if figure skater and commentator Dick Button is alive. Yep. He’s 95 and still going. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/765 "2024-12-21T03:34:21Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Older still is [Mavis Staples](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples) at 85. Famous for much more, she makes this ‘list’ because she sang one of my favorite Christmas songs - the title track for _Christmas Vacation_, played over the animated title sequence in the Chevy Chase movie. She just released a new album! ---
**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:** [December 21, 2024, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/766 "2024-12-21T03:38:58Z")
I was surprised to read today that Dyan Cannon is 87 and very much alive. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/767 "2024-12-21T16:25:07Z")
And Gene Shalit, still kicking it at 98! (He’ll be 99 in March) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/768 "2024-12-22T08:11:02Z")
I notice someone who shall not be named has picked him for the Death Pool. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/769 "2024-12-22T18:49:30Z")
Wink Martindale is alive at 91. Forgot all about him but looked up to see how old Margo Martindale was. Stunned to find this out. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/770 "2024-12-22T20:59:18Z")
According to Wikipedia, Penelope Keith is still alive at 84. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/771 "2024-12-23T15:27:08Z")
Steve Martin has always looked old. He’s currently 79. ---
**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:** [December 23, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/772 "2024-12-23T15:27:51Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Steve Martin has always looked old. Turning gray in your 30s will do that to you. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/773 "2024-12-23T15:29:59Z")
Steve hasn’t changed much since the Father of the Bride films in the 90’s. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/774 "2024-12-24T00:51:45Z")
Barbara Bain is 93. She was the original undercover agent on Mission Imposible in 1966. Barbara costared with her husband Martin Landau. He died in 2017. She was 35 in 1966. ---
**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:** [December 24, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/775 "2024-12-24T00:57:35Z")
Wasn’t she also Mrs. Barney Miller? ---
**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:** [December 24, 2024, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/776 "2024-12-24T01:00:01Z")
That was Barbara Barrie. Barbara Bain and Martin Landau also starred together on _Space: 1999_. And, Ms. Bain is still acting, with a credit in an episode of the 2024 TV series _Before_. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/777 "2024-12-24T01:06:05Z")
[Barbara Barrie](https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0057363/) is also 93 and still acting! ---
**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:** [December 24, 2024, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/778 "2024-12-24T01:24:19Z")
And Barbara Babcock is 87, though she hasn’t had a credit since 2004. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/779 "2024-12-24T03:14:26Z")
Edy Williams, the “perennial starlet,” is 83. Dancer and actress Barrie Chase is 91. ---
**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 26, 2024, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/780 "2024-12-26T21:09:32Z")
I knew Woodcock’s son as an undergrad. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2024, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/781 "2024-12-26T21:17:02Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Actresses in the Bond films seem to enjoy long lives. According to Wikpedia, Daniela Bianchi, Luciana Paluzzi, Akiko Wakabayashi, Mie Hama, and Jill St. John are all still alive. AFAICT, Tsai Chin — the shortest of the Bond girls? — is still alive as well, and older than all of ‘em! [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=38) [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=40)