# 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:** 62
**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:** [February 14, 2026, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1227 "2026-02-14T04:01:26Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I have one. Chester Karrass, the guy who you always used to see advertised in Airplane magazines because of his negotiation seminars. > > He’s alive and 101. He turns 103 in just four months. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2026, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1228 "2026-02-15T23:36:54Z")
Richard Lester, director of the Beatles movies Help! and Hard Days Night, is still alive at age 94. Oh, he also directed Superman III…and re-shot Superman II after they fired Dick Donner. ---
**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 16, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1229 "2026-02-16T00:04:15Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > He turns 103 in just four months. This is the picture of Chester Karrass that always appeared in his ads in the in-flight magazines. “You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate” was his tagline. I always thought he had a slappable face. 😛 [![](https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/C5603AQEvl5sFNNsg8w/profile-displayphoto-shrink_200_200/profile-displayphoto-shrink_200_200/0/1517601319739?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=KcUo75HyB-EEZIUg43jvHEQLVvZQB8M_eUx4Db4qWDg) ](https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/C5603AQEvl5sFNNsg8w/profile-displayphoto-shrink_200_200/profile-displayphoto-shrink_200_200/0/1517601319739?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=KcUo75HyB-EEZIUg43jvHEQLVvZQB8M_eUx4Db4qWDg) ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1230 "2026-02-16T00:07:50Z")
Nowhere near as bad as Mark Zuckerberg, IMO. He’s just punchable. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2026, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1231 "2026-02-16T00:11:47Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I always thought he had a slappable face. 😛 And he kept that picture from the 1960s or 70s and never updated it. I agree about his face being slappable and a name like Chester…he’s the only or one of the only I’ve actually heard have that name. Here he is a few years ago and he looks a lot more normal. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j53JQ-_8hrs/hqdefault.jpg "Dr. Chester L. Karrass") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j53JQ-_8hrs&t=12) ---
**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 16, 2026, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1232 "2026-02-16T01:30:10Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Same for Joan Baez. Still with us at 85. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1233 "2026-02-17T01:10:00Z")
Until today I thought Robert Duvall had died years ago. I wonder who I had him confused with. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2026, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1234 "2026-02-17T03:23:32Z")
Larry Linville? ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1235 "2026-02-17T15:29:55Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > Until today I thought Robert Duvall had died years ago. I wonder who I had him confused with. Robert Redford who died last September? ---
**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:** [February 17, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1236 "2026-02-17T16:43:23Z")
His daughter, Shelly DuVall, who died in 24? ---
**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 17, 2026, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1237 "2026-02-17T16:46:11Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > His daughter, Shelly DuVall Shelly and Robert were not related. Her father was, in fact, named Robert, but was not the actor. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1238 "2026-02-17T16:47:31Z")
oops! TIL… ---
**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 17, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1239 "2026-02-17T16:49:16Z")
Robert Wagner, of _It Takes a Thief_, _Switch_, and _Hart to Hart_, turned 95 last week. His wife, actress Jill St. John, is also still alive, at age 85. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1240 "2026-02-18T09:42:03Z")
96, actually. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1241 "2026-02-18T20:21:31Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Robert Wagner, of _It Takes a Thief_, _Switch_, and _Hart to Hart_, turned 95 last week. His wife, actress Jill St. John, is also still alive, at age 85 And “Number Two” in Austin Powers. ---
**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 18, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1242 "2026-02-18T20:28:54Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > And “Number Two” in Austin Powers. From Mad Magazine’s review of _Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me_: > Rob Lowe’s performance as a young Robert Wagner is dead-on. But the guy playing the old Robert Wagner sucks! ---
**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:** [February 18, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1243 "2026-02-18T21:37:59Z")
Not an actor, but famous nonetheless: former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan turns 100 on March 6th. (A key to longevity? His wife, news anchor Andrea Mitchell, is only 79) ---
**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:** [February 20, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1244 "2026-02-20T18:07:45Z")
Someone in the TV series thread mentioned a new show featuring Ben Kingsley. He was 39 when he played Gandhi in 1982, but seemed much older. He’s not been on my radar for many years, but he’s 82 and still working regularly. ---
**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 23, 2026, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1245 "2026-02-23T00:24:46Z")
Werner Erhard ran EST back in the seventies. It was a supposed self-help program where people paid money to be yelled at. Erhard cashed out and retired in the late eighties. So I’m surprised when I checked and found out he’s still alive. ---
**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 23, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1246 "2026-02-23T00:31:06Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Robert Wagner, of _It Takes a Thief_, _Switch_, and _Hart to Hart_, turned 95 last week. His wife, actress Jill St. John, is also still alive, at age 85. Wagner is the only surviving cast member from _It Takes a Thief_. But his co-stars Sharon Gless and James Hong, from _Switch_, and Stefanie Powers, from _Hart to Hart_, are also alive. [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=61) [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=63)