# 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:** 41
**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:** [January 24, 2025, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/802 "2025-01-24T05:03:42Z")
Joan Collins is 91. She was 14 years younger than her first husband, 2 years younger than her second husband, 2 years older than her third husband, 14 years younger than her fourth husband, and 32 years younger than her present husband. I guess that she’s going to divorce him soon and marry a guy who’s about 60 years younger than him. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2025, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/803 "2025-01-24T06:34:31Z")
Can’t I ever write a post without errors? I meant to write: Joan Collins is 91. She was 14 years younger than her first husband, 2 years younger than her second husband, 2 years older than her third husband, 14 years older than her fourth husband, and 32 years older than her present husband. I guess that she’s going to divorce him soon and marry a guy who’s 60 years younger than her. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/804 "2025-01-25T13:26:59Z")
Marla Gibbs (Florence from The Jeffersons) was on an episode of Will Trent last week. She is 94 years old. She had only one or two lines and was sitting down - playing a very old lady. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/805 "2025-01-27T14:18:01Z")
The mention of a “László Tóth” in the Oscar nominations thread reminded me that humorist/actor Don Novello recently turned 82. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2025, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/806 "2025-02-06T02:47:03Z")
Elmo Shropshire (of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” fame) is still alive 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:** [February 6, 2025, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/807 "2025-02-06T03:29:43Z")
> [@K364](#): > > Marina Oswald (former wife of Lee Harvey Oswald) is still with us, age 83 Sirhan Sirhan is still alive at 80. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/808 "2025-02-06T15:20:29Z")
That would be nothing within gen pop, but as far as assassins go, he’s way out there. ---
**Author:** ![Tokushizu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@Tokushizu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tokushizu)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/809 "2025-02-08T15:33:56Z")
I always enjoyed Mr. Roberts’ work. May he rest in eternal peace. > **[Tony Roberts, a Nonchalant Pal in Woody Allen’s Films, Dies at 85](https://dnyuz.com/2025/02/07/tony-roberts-a-nonchalant-pal-in-woody-allens-films-dies-at-85/)** > > Tony Roberts, the affable actor who was best known as the hero’s best friend in Woody Allen movies like “Annie ---
**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:** [February 8, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/810 "2025-02-08T18:48:12Z")
> [@Tokushizu](#): > > I always enjoyed Mr. Roberts’ work. Definitely. I got to see him, opposite Julie Andrews, in the pre-Broadway tryout of _Victor/Victoria_ in Chicago in 1995. He had taken on the role of Toddy – Robert Preston’s role in the film – which was not a small task, given how much Preston had owned that role, but Roberts was great in it. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/811 "2025-02-08T22:53:31Z")
But he can be reached at Frozen Tundra 5-8755. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2025, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/812 "2025-03-01T18:57:38Z")
Just discovered that [Jaye P. Morgan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaye_P._Morgan) is still alive and is now 93. Has been basically retired from showbiz, though, since 1984. Only played ~herself in _Home Alone 2_ and actually herself in _Confessions of a Dangerous Mind_. Aren’t there game shows out there that could use a Jaye P.? ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2025, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/813 "2025-03-01T19:00:14Z")
I’m pretty sure all the pioneers of Rock and Roll are all gone. The last one was Jerry Lee Lewis who died in 2022. Of the writers, managers, producers, or studio musicians from that era of, say, up to 1957 I could only find Mike Stoller, age 91, Berry Gordy (95) ---
**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:** [March 1, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/814 "2025-03-01T19:59:54Z")
Maria Ellen Holly is currently 92. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2025, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/815 "2025-03-01T20:37:57Z")
> [@K364](#): > > I’m pretty sure all the pioneers of Rock and Roll are all gone. The last one was Jerry Lee Lewis who died in 2022. Of the writers, managers, producers, or studio musicians from that era of, say, up to 1957 I could only find Mike Stoller, age 91, Berry Gordy (95) Pat Boone, Freddy Cannon, Chubby Checker, Sonny Curtis, Dion DiMucci, Fabian Forte, Wanda Jackson, and Cliff Richard are all still alive. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/816 "2025-03-01T20:58:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Pat Boone He’s been quiet lately. Last I heard of him was when he was living next door to Ozzy Osbourne. Osbourne talked about how Pat Boone was one of the best neighbors. Did not care at all what others did. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/817 "2025-03-01T20:59:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Pat Boone, Freddy Cannon, Chubby Checker, Sonny Curtis, Dion DiMucci, Fabian Forte, Wanda Jackson, and Cliff Richard are all still alive. Just looked this up: Paul Anka is alive, too! Wow! ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/818 "2025-03-01T21:34:46Z")
I wouldn’t consider Pat Boone as a “Pioneer of Rock and Roll”. He’s more like Dean Martin in my view. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/819 "2025-03-01T22:15:46Z")
It’s a matter of opinion. I feel Boone was an important figure in early rock and roll. He helped bring the genre into the mainstream by making “safe” cover versions for white audiences. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/820 "2025-03-01T23:36:18Z")
The Donner party was a group of pioneers. First isn’t always best, or even very good. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2025, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/821 "2025-03-02T00:09:49Z")
I am constantly amazed that Chubby Checker is still alive. Apparently losing most of the excess weight (thanks to the Twist?) early in life, and keeping it off, helps. His wife is also still alive. Married in 1963. As mentioned upthread, a classmate of Chubby’s in high school became Fabian. Also still alive. Signed a record contract in 1957 and first charting record was released in 1958. [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=40) [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=42)