# 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:** 49
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/967 "2025-05-23T19:51:43Z")
Doc Severinsen (bandleader of the NBC Orchestra) is 97. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/968 "2025-05-24T16:01:55Z")
The first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova, is a robust 88. She is a delegate to the Duma (Russia’s Parliament). Sorry accidental double post ---
**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 24, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/969 "2025-05-24T17:18:58Z")
Speaking of notable Russians, some 47 years ago [Anatoli Bugorski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatoli_Bugorski) was working on the equipment when a 76GeV particle beam fired through his head. He experienced a number of health problems, but will likely turn 83 in about a month. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/970 "2025-05-24T22:39:58Z")
Inspired by a different thread, I realized that Judd Hirsch is still with us at 90. ---
**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 25, 2025, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/971 "2025-05-25T05:01:55Z")
84 years ago on May 24th, a lad was born in Minnesota and given the name Robert Zimmerman. He is still with us, still performing. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/972 "2025-05-25T21:20:18Z")
I have her on a DeathPool list. ---
**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 27, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/973 "2025-05-27T02:51:26Z")
Gary Snyder, at 95, is the last living significant figure of the beatnik movement. ---
**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 28, 2025, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/974 "2025-05-28T05:02:46Z")
Today, for some reason, I got to wondering how old Christopher Lloyd is. The answer is 86. I would have guessed older. ---
**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 28, 2025, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/975 "2025-05-28T08:45:10Z")
Connie Francis is now 87. In 1963 she recorded a song called “Pretty Little Baby”. It has just become a hit on TikTok. Francis barely remembers the song. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/976 "2025-05-29T00:19:53Z")
A post I saw on Facebook about the Dionne quintuplets made me wonder if any of them are still alive. Two of them are- Annette and Cecile. They’re 91 today. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/977 "2025-05-29T00:34:57Z")
What a coincidence that they’re the same age. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/978 "2025-05-29T01:00:03Z")
Update: President Tyler’s last living grandson died on May 25, 2025. (As did a cool bit of trivia.) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/979 "2025-05-29T18:31:52Z")
May he rest in peace. Here’s more: [Harrison Ruffin Tyler, grandson of President Tyler, dies at 96 : NPR](https://www.npr.org/2025/05/29/nx-s1-5415207/president-tyler-grandson-harrison-ruffin-tyler) ---
**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 30, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/980 "2025-05-30T16:00:36Z")
Gabe Kaplan of _Welcome Back, Kotter_ is 80. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/981 "2025-05-30T20:40:09Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > > I was looking through the cast list for the movie _MASH_ earlier today and a surprising number of the actors in that movies are still alive, for a movie that was made fifty-four years ago. > > My annual themed list is the cast of the MASH movie and TV show. The show has had fairly good success in having cast survive. It premiered 52 years ago and we still have Alan Alda, Loretta Switt, Gary Burghoff, Jamie Farr, Mike Farrell. GW Bailey and Jeff Maxwell are also still living. We’ve lost Mclean Stevenson, Larry Linville, Wayne Rogers, and Harry Morgan. Morgan made it to 96, though. > > My list is: > > … > Loretta Swit > … May she rest in peace: [Loretta Swit Dead: 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on 'M\*A\*S\*H' Was 87](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/loretta-swit-dead-mash-hot-lips-houlihan-1236233958/) ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/982 "2025-06-02T15:48:00Z")
Czarcasm just posted a thread about Dr Demento (Barret Eugene Hansen) retiring after 55 years which means I just learned he was still alive at age 84. [https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-will-no-long-be-in/1019108/1](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-will-no-long-be-in/1019108/1) ---
**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:** [June 2, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/983 "2025-06-02T16:16:42Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > Czarcasm just posted a thread about Dr Demento (Barret Eugene Hansen) retiring after 55 years which means I just learned he was still alive at age 84. I’d love to know. Was he still mainly playing goofy songs? Is there a large market, not including Al Yankovic, for funny songs? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2025, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/984 "2025-06-02T16:21:57Z")
Classical pianist Gary Graffman is 96. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/985 "2025-06-02T16:23:14Z")
And Classical guitarist John Williams is 84. Not as old as the composer, but we all knew the composer was alive, but I had to look up the guitarist. > **[John Williams (guitarist)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Williams_(guitarist))** > > John Christopher Williams AO OBE (born 24 April 1941) is an Australian-born classical guitarist renowned for his ensemble playing as well as his interpretation and promotion of the modern classical guitar repertoire. In 1973, he shared a Grammy Award in the Best Chamber Music Performance category with fellow guitarist Julian Bream for Together (released in the US as Julian and John (Works by Lawes, Carulli, Albéniz, Granados)). Guitar historian Graham Wade has said that "John is perhaps the mo... ---
**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:** [June 2, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/986 "2025-06-02T16:31:41Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I’d love to know. Was he still mainly playing goofy songs? Is there a large market, not including Al Yankovic, for funny songs? My understanding is that, yes, his show was, and is, still largely about funny songs. There’s never been a “large market” for those songs – it’s always been a niche – but, historically, novelty songs have sometimes managed to crack the top 40 chart. In addition to “Weird Al,” there have been other artists in the past who specialized in funny/novelty/parody songs, like Alan Sherman, Ray Stevens, Spike Jones, and Stan Freberg, all of whom had numerous albums (and some hits), and whose work probably still gets played on Dr. Demento’s show. [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=48) [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=50)