# 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:** 70
**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 5, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1387 "2026-07-05T00:53:25Z")
**Sidney Furie** - director of the extremely bad Superman IV. He’s still alive. He also directed the Iron Eagle movies. He’s a hack, but he keeps working. He’s 93, but had a movie just 3 years ago. Man, Superman IV. My family paid to see it in the theater and when we left, I remember my Dad saying, “Wow, the flying looked so fake. Everything looked fake. That was really bad.” ---
**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:** [July 5, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1388 "2026-07-05T20:51:11Z")
Eva Marie Saint has been mentioned in this thread. But she was born of the fourth of July and just turned 102. ---
**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:** [July 7, 2026, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1389 "2026-07-07T17:21:00Z")
Today (July 7th) is Ringo Starr’s 86th birthday! ---
**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:** [July 7, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1390 "2026-07-07T18:45:14Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > It occurred to me just now that Louise Lasser (_Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman_) is still with us. She just recently turned 87. > > Edit: upon looking, her costar Greg Mullavey is also still alive, and will turn 87 later this year. And Louise Lasser [has now passed](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/arts/television/louise-lasser-dead.html). ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1391 "2026-07-09T00:25:32Z")
Is it unreasonable to add Mitch McConnell to this list? Asking for a friend. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2026, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1392 "2026-07-11T12:12:43Z")
Happy 99th birthday to conductor Herbert Blomstedt! ---
**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 11, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1393 "2026-07-11T15:10:30Z")
Neeme Jarvi is also still alive at 89. He conducted the Detroit Symphony for many years, but his main claim to fame is that, at some point, he had more recorded albums than anyone. Conducting, obviously, but the guy had 500+ CDs or Albums out there at one point. He left the DSO many years ago, but still conducts all the time. I thought he was much older than 89. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2026, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1394 "2026-07-11T15:19:16Z")
Conducting orchestras does seem to have a positive effect on one’s lifespan. (See also Zubin Mehta of the NY and Israel Philharmonics, still with us at 90.) ---
**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 11, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1395 "2026-07-11T16:28:44Z")
Itzhak Perlman was the long-term-interim for the DSO after Neeme Jarvi left and he is still going at 80. It was great, because if you went to see the DSO, you usually got a violin performance from Perlman in addition to him conducting the orchestra normally. ---
**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:** [July 12, 2026, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1396 "2026-07-12T20:38:35Z")
Singer-songwriter Judy Collins is still alive at 87. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2026, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1397 "2026-07-13T11:13:08Z")
Yesterday was Bill Cosby’s 89th birthday. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1398 "2026-07-14T15:54:59Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Conducting orchestras does seem to have a positive effect on one’s lifespan. Waving a baton around sure seems like it’d give you a good cardio workout. Some conductors really work themselves into a sweat up there! Our local guy looks like he’s run a marathon at the end of the concerts. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1399 "2026-07-14T20:36:37Z")
Like this? [Weird Al conducting orchestra](https://youtu.be/Ssa1EnJt9UI?is=ht2iNWiasHKLneFT) ---
**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:** [July 16, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1400 "2026-07-16T22:43:46Z")
As I just posted in the Death Pool thread, actor Hal Williams has passed at 91. He was Marla Gibbs’s character Mary Jenkins’s husband Lester. Which reminds me that Marla Gibbs herself is still with us at 95. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2026, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1401 "2026-07-17T15:46:41Z")
Arthur Bremer, who attempted to kill George Wallace in 1972, is still alive at 75. He was in prison from 1972 to 2007. He’s not even on probation anymore since 2025. He doesn’t even wear an electronic monitor anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2026, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1402 "2026-07-17T23:35:33Z")
Richard Lester, who directed the Beatles in _A Hard Day’s Night_ and _Help!_, is still with us at 94. ---
**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 18, 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/919985/1403 "2026-07-18T00:04:48Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Richard Lester, who directed the Beatles in _A Hard Day’s Night_ and _Help!_, is still with us at 94 Yes, Richard Donner dies, while Richard Lester and Sidney J. Furie continue to live. They directed Superman 2-4. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1404 "2026-07-19T02:17:05Z")
Herbert Jefferson Jr, Boomer from TOS: BSG still with us at 79. I’d swear I’d heard he’d died. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1405 "2026-07-19T02:32:10Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > As I just posted in the Death Pool thread, actor Hal Williams has passed at 91. He was Marla Gibbs’s character Mary Jenkins’s husband Lester. > > Which reminds me that Marla Gibbs herself is still with us at 95. Can’t believe I forgot to note that Williams played Gibbs’s husband in the show _227_. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1406 "2026-07-19T02:42:29Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > [Plas Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plas_Johnson) will (hopefully) turn 95 in a few weeks. While not a household name, most people have heard him play saxophone, most notably playing the melody on the theme for “The Pink Panther” by Henry Mancini, recorded in 1963. Alas, he did not make it to 95. He died two days ago, just a few days shy of his 95th birthday. Along with the Pink Panther theme, he also played the piccolo on “Rockin’ Robin”, the sax on “Wouldn’t it be nice” by the Beach Boys, and the flute on the Boz Skaggs tune, “Lowdown.” along with many other albums. [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=69) [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=71)