# 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:** 51
**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:** [June 20, 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/919985/1007 "2025-06-20T22:39:32Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > thinking of another Polish politician who came to power after the fall of the Soviet Union Havel was not Polish. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1008 "2025-06-21T17:54:21Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > (where one person is confused with another, as happened with Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko), God, I need to go to bed sooner. My tired eyes read this as “Nelson Mandela and **Sgt. Bilko** ”. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1009 "2025-06-21T20:44:16Z")
Maybe you’re thinking of Jaruzelski? Wikipedia says he died in 2014. ---
**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 21, 2025, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1010 "2025-06-21T21:24:35Z")
Here is another twist on the formula. People who you assumed were older a long time ago, but you are aware they are only actually old now. John Williams - the composer I remember when Phantom Menace came out, we were saying, “Wonder if John Williams will live long enough to score all three movies.” He did. And all three sequels. And is still out there going now. He’s _only_ 93 now, so he was about 66 composing Phantom Menace. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1011 "2025-06-22T03:48:14Z")
A bit obscure, but Lynn Hamilton just passed at 95. She was most well known for playing Donna Harris, Fred Sanford’s girlfriend and later fiancée on the sitcom Sanford and Son. I bring her up for reaching 95 and not mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Tokushizu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@Tokushizu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tokushizu)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1012 "2025-06-22T14:29:02Z")
Fred Smith, founder of FedEx, dead at 80 years old. > **[Fred Smith, FedEx’s innovative founder, is dead at 80 | CNN Business](https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/22/business/fred-smith-fedex-obituary)** > > Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx who helped create the overnight delivery industry, changing the way businesses and consumers get the goods they purchased, has died. He was 80 years old. FedEx always reminds me of my favorite Rodney Dangerfield joke: “My daughter, they call her Federal Express. Yeah, when she goes to a guy’s apartment, she absolutely positively has to be there overnight.” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1013 "2025-06-25T13:30:30Z")
She had a dog named Lassie, was Lost In Space, and was the mother of an “Aztec Princess” on _General Hospital_ (among many other accomplishments)-the lovely June Lockhart turns 100 today! ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1014 "2025-06-25T13:34:20Z")
Missed one! [Bobby Sherman died yesterday](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Sherman) ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1015 "2025-06-25T20:36:05Z")
Happy 100th birthday, June Lockhart. ---
**Author:** ![Tokushizu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@Tokushizu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tokushizu)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 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/919985/1016 "2025-06-26T20:37:38Z")
Bill Moyers, presidential aide and veteran of public TV has passed away at 91. > **[Bill Moyers, Presidential Aide and Veteran of Public TV, Dies at 91](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/business/media/bill-moyers-dead.html)** > > Before becoming known as an unusual breed of television correspondent and commentator, he had a long association with President Lyndon B. Johnson. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2025, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1017 "2025-06-28T00:54:03Z")
I was listening to “The House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals and this prompted me to check. Eric Burdon is still alive at 84. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1018 "2025-06-28T01:28:59Z")
No matter how high he flies, he will never reach the sky. ---
**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 29, 2025, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1019 "2025-06-29T10:32:46Z")
Director Mark Rydell (_On Golden Pond_) turned 96 in March. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1020 "2025-06-30T23:35:27Z")
Johnny Gilbert, who is _still_ the announcer for Jeopardy, (“…and our retuning champion…who’s cash winnings total…”) turns **97** on July 13th! > **[See How 'Jeopardy!' Honored Johnny Gilbert on His 96th Birthday](https://www.tvinsider.com/1143757/jeopardy-announcer-johnny-gilbert-birthday/)** > > The show marked the occasion with a blast from the past. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1021 "2025-07-07T15:05:19Z")
John Astin, who played Gomez Adams in the 1960s Addams Family TV show, is 95. He appears to be the last surviving cast member. I also see that he was born in Baltimore and currently resides there. ---
**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:** [July 7, 2025, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1022 "2025-07-07T23:41:47Z")
I like to read the celebrity birthday section in my newspaper, I usually see at least one person I didn’t realize was still alive. Today it was Doc Severinsen who is celebrating his 98th birthday today. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1023 "2025-07-08T15:25:33Z")
Born in 1932, actor Edward Faulkner celebrated his 23rd birthday last year. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1024 "2025-07-08T15:41:53Z")
At least he’s out of his indentures. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1025 "2025-07-08T16:02:55Z")
Black Sabbath has to be the Abe Vigoda of bands. All original members alive and when they were active, you probably would have expected to see them alive and even performing a final concert 2025. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2025, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1026 "2025-07-08T18:09:01Z")
Was he born on Feb. 29? [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=50) [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=52)