# 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:** 48
**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:** [May 2, 2025, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/942 "2025-05-02T23:20:00Z")
Among the other surviving _Laugh-In_ cast with 30+ appearances, you have Barbara Sharma, Ann Elder, and the recently mentioned Moosie Drier. Since Drier was born in the 60s, as I noted, he is the most likely to be the last surviving cast member. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2025, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/943 "2025-05-05T02:09:48Z")
Joel Grey is 93. He’s probably most famous for appearing in the 1972 film _Cabaret_. Before that, he appeared in the 1966 Broadway version of it. He appeared in a television series between 2022 and 2024. His daughter is Jennifer Grey. She is 65. She’s probably most famous for appearing in the 1987 film _Dirty Dancing_. Recently she appeared in the 2024 movie _A Real Pain_. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/944 "2025-05-13T13:41:46Z")
27 posts were split to a new topic: [Jennifer Grey & Ferris Bueller discussion from “Abe Vigoda” thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifer-grey-ferris-bueller-discussion-from-abe-vigoda-thread/1018330) ---
**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:** [May 6, 2025, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/946 "2025-05-06T06:03:22Z")
Here is an interesting one: the guy who trained Clarence the Cross-eyed Lion and Ben the gentle bear and numerous other on-set animals, Ralph Helfer, recently turned 94. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2025, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/947 "2025-05-06T09:38:25Z")
Did he also train Gladly the Cross-eyed Bear? ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/948 "2025-05-08T14:05:39Z")
I had thought that lawyer and advocate Ralph Nader had passed away, so I was surprised to hear him on NPR this morning, complaining about credit cards. He’s 91. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/949 "2025-05-08T14:08:30Z")
Sir David Attenborough celebrates his 99th birthday today. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/950 "2025-05-08T15:55:27Z")
Off the main topic of the thread.. A couple of months ago there was a small discussion about how Sugarfoot was the oldest TV show where all the cast was still living. Will Hutchins was the only member of the main cast and was still living at 94. Since then he passed away. So, now what is the oldest TV show where the entire main cast is still living? ---
**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:** [May 8, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/951 "2025-05-08T16:39:00Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > So, now what is the oldest TV show where the entire main cast is still living? _Star Trek: The Next Generation_? ---
**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:** [May 8, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/952 "2025-05-08T16:51:08Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > _Star Trek: The Next Generation_? I like it as a choice because it has as sizable main cast who are all living. There are shows with smaller casts that go back further, but TNG has a good amount of people and the whole main group is still with us. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2025, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/953 "2025-05-08T17:48:11Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I like it as a choice because it has as sizable main cast who are all living. And, all still active in acting; nearly all of the main cast appeared in _Star Trek: Picard_ in 2023. It undoubtedly helps that most of the cast was in their 30s or younger when the series started, and even the oldest, Patrick Stewart, was only 47 at the start. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/958 "2025-05-08T20:18:17Z")
On the earliest show where the entire cast is still living I got the following from another source. CHiPs - from 1977 The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (animated) -1980 Family Ties and Silver Spoons - 1982 ---
**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:** [May 14, 2025, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/959 "2025-05-14T19:01:20Z")
Janis Ian is still alive at 74. She has done albums and tours in recent years. She has written science fiction stories. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2025, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/960 "2025-05-14T19:28:28Z")
So it’s now been 57 years since she learned the truth. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2025, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/961 "2025-05-18T00:18:07Z")
Speaking of Abe Vigoda, another _Barney Miller_ semi-regular, Kenneth Tigar, is 87, and still working. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2025, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/962 "2025-05-23T04:08:00Z")
I was thinking of Captain Kirk’s girlfriends. They are all still around, save two. Sandra Smith (Janice Lester) – 86 Louise Sorel (Rayna) – 84 France Nuyen (Elaan) – 85 Sabrina Scharf (Miramanee) – 81 Nancy Kovak (Nona) – 90 BarBara Luna (Marlena) – 88 Joan Collins (Edith Keeler) – 92 on May 23rd Shirley Bonne (Ruth) – 91 Barbara Anderson (Lenore Karidian) – 79 Mariana Hill (Helen Noel) – 83 Kim Darby (Miri) – 77 Gone are Angelique Pettyjohn (Shahna) and Joan Marshall (Areel Shaw) both about 33 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/963 "2025-05-23T04:40:48Z")
Barbara Bouchet (Kelinda) - 81 ---
**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:** [May 23, 2025, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/964 "2025-05-23T13:23:52Z")
Also Kathie Browne (Deela), who passed away in 2003. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/965 "2025-05-23T13:36:30Z")
The first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova, is a robust 88. She is a delegate to the Duma (Russia’s Parliament). ---
**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:** [May 23, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/966 "2025-05-23T17:43:37Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Gone are Angelique Pettyjohn (Shahna) and Joan Marshall (Areel Shaw) both about 33 years ago. Good themed death pool list. [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=47) [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=49)