# 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:** 44
**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:** [March 31, 2025, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/862 "2025-03-31T21:19:32Z")
To be fair, he _is_ immune to conventional weapons. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/863 "2025-04-05T21:45:39Z")
I thought composer [David Amram](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Amram) had died at least a decade ago, but he’s still alive at 94. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/864 "2025-04-06T15:23:53Z")
Now 95, Tippi Hedren went from being a top-billed movie star to seeing her daughter become a top-billed movie star to seeing her granddaughter become a top-billed movie star… ---
**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:** [April 6, 2025, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/865 "2025-04-06T16:32:54Z")
And since her granddaughter Dakota Johnson is already 35, if she has a child soon (and she is currently engaged), Hedren could possibly live to see her great-grandchild become a child star if that great-grandchild chooses to become an actor while still a child. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/866 "2025-04-06T18:27:36Z")
You know, Dakota Johnson being Madame Web brings to mind that Tobey Maguire’s outings as Spider-Man featured Rosemary Harris as Aunt May, who even _then_ was — well, old enough to have been married to Cliff Robertson, right? Which puts her at 97 now? ---
**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:** [April 6, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/867 "2025-04-06T20:39:35Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > married to Cliff Robertson This is confusing. Yes, she’s 97. No, she’s never been married to Cliff Robertson. She was married and divorced once and married and widowed once. Or were you saying something else? ---
**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:** [April 6, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/868 "2025-04-06T20:41:51Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > This is confusing. Yes, she’s 97. No, she’s never been married to Cliff Robertson. She was married and divorced once and married and widowed once. Or were you saying something else? She played Aunt May, like I was saying. And, well, Aunt May was married to Uncle Ben, who was played by — Cliff Robertson. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/869 "2025-04-06T21:44:56Z")
Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/870 "2025-04-07T07:29:45Z")
[Mary Costa](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182250/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk), the original Princess Aurora from _Sleeping Beauty_, just turned 95. If memory serves, she’s the last surviving Princess from the movie. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2025, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/871 "2025-04-07T10:26:17Z")
I checked the cast of Perfect Strangers and all of the main cast is still alive. I thought maybe at least one of the “older” members might not be. Star Trek The Next Generation has been brought up as maybe the oldest show with all of the main cast sill alive (not counting the show with one person). Perfect Strangers was one year after Star Trek. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2025, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/872 "2025-04-07T10:30:43Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > I checked the cast of Perfect Strangers and all of the main cast is still alive. I thought maybe at least one of the “older” members might not be. Star Trek The Next Generation has been brought up as maybe the oldest show with all of the main cast sill alive (not counting the show with one person). Family Ties? ---
**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:** [April 7, 2025, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/873 "2025-04-07T14:12:22Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Family Ties?. After The Love Boat, which has now had at least one death, the other answer is CHIPS. Was that just a two person cast, though? I have never seen it. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/874 "2025-04-07T17:40:25Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > After The Love Boat, which has now had at least one death, the other answer is CHIPS. Was that just a two person cast, though? I have never seen it. While the focus was on Ponch and Jon, there were several other regulars, most notably Robert Pine (Sgt. Getraer), who appeared in every episode. According to IMDB, six actors appeared in 80+ episodes, and it looks like they 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:** [April 7, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/875 "2025-04-07T18:20:55Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > While the focus was on Ponch and Jon, there were several other regulars, most notably Robert Pine (Sgt. Getraer), who appeared in every episode. According to IMDB, six actors appeared in 80+ episodes, and it looks like they are all still alive Nice. I think CHIPS kind of has it, then. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2025, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/876 "2025-04-08T02:10:14Z")
And the opposite… What is the most recent show where at least one of the main characters have died. Could easily be Mid-Century Modern which came out about 2 weeks ago. One of the main cast is Linda Lavin who died during after filming seven or so episodes. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2025, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/877 "2025-04-08T23:44:53Z")
Philosopher and social theorist Jürgen Habermas is 95. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/878 "2025-04-10T10:31:35Z")
Watching an old episode of ER yesterday, I decided to check up on John Cullum, who played one of the doctor’s elderly father. I also remember (wrinkly) him from another 90’s hit show, Northern Exposure. I was really surprised to learn Cullum is still around, age 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:** [April 10, 2025, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/879 "2025-04-10T23:44:41Z")
> [@Toxylon](#): > > Northern Exposure Almost all of the main cast is still around. Peg Phillips (Ruth Ann) is the only actor who was in more than fifty episodes who is gone (she would be well over 100 if she were alive today). ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/880 "2025-04-11T08:55:43Z")
Well, so is the cast of ER. The 90’s wasn’t that long ago. The point was the few _elderly actors from 30 years ago_ who are still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/881 "2025-04-16T04:23:33Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > 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. I don’t recall ever watching any game shows he hosted, but his name was so unusual I’ve always remembered it. He has died now. > **[Wink Martindale, Host of ‘Tic-Tac-Dough’ and ‘Gambit,’ Dies at 91](https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/wink-martindale-dead-tic-tac-dough-gambit-1236370318/)** > > Wink Martindale, host of classic game shows like "Tic-Tac-Dough" and "Gambit," has died. He was 91. [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=43) [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=45)