# 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:** 72
**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 29, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1427 "2026-07-29T02:15:20Z")
I had the first two. ---
**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 29, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1428 "2026-07-29T02:24:00Z")
Talia Shire’s father, the composer David Shire, turned 89 a few weeks ago. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2026, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1429 "2026-07-29T04:43:29Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Al Pacino, Talia Shire, Gianni Russo, and John Martino Also Sofia Coppola ---
**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 29, 2026, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1430 "2026-07-29T05:02:44Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Also Sofia Coppola Let’s define cast members as those who appeared in at least two scenes and had a line. ---
**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 29, 2026, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1431 "2026-07-29T05:05:51Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Talia Shire’s father, the composer David Shire, turned 89 a few weeks ago. David Shire is Talia’s ex-husband. Her father was Carmine Coppola, who died in 1991. ---
**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 29, 2026, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1432 "2026-07-29T13:33:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Pop trivia quiz: Without looking it up, can you name the four living cast members from _The Godfather_? (Hint: Abe Vigoda is not a correct answer.) It’s crazy to see so few alive. My wife had not seen all the Godfathers before, so we put them on in 4K resolution. Over a few days, we saw them all. The first one remains the standout for me and my wife. I know part 2 gets even more acclaim, but we both think the original one is the best overall movie of that series. At least Francis Ford Coppola is also alive still, but boy was his last film terrible. ---
**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 30, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1433 "2026-07-30T18:13:38Z")
Today is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 79th birthday! So much for the idea that steroids are lethal. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2026, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1434 "2026-08-03T15:30:22Z")
I read an article about the _Odyssey_ movie this morning, and was surprised to see Joyce Carol Oates weighing in. She is 88. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2026, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1435 "2026-08-03T17:10:09Z")
Some random ones who haven’t been mentioned: Johnny Bench, baseball player, is still alive at 78 Johnny Mathis, singers whose career goes back into the fifties, is still alive at 90 Dick Smothers, one half of the Smothers Brothers, is still alive at 87. Mark Spitz, Olympic swimmer, is still alive at 76 Jim Stafford, who performed several popular novelty songs in the early seventies, is still alive at 82. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1436 "2026-08-03T20:46:49Z")
Today Is former Buffalo Bills head coach Marv Levy’s 101st birthday! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1437 "2026-08-03T21:24:22Z")
I saw a news story about William Shatner yesterday, and my response was “he’s still alive?!” Fairly well-off looking for a 95 year old too, must have good genes. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2026, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1438 "2026-08-03T21:57:20Z")
Mixed bag. Shatner’s Dad died at 69 years old. Mom, though, lived until 87. Note: he had a sister live to 95 like him, but she died at that age. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1439 "2026-08-03T23:57:18Z")
Did not know about Johnny Mathis, that’s a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2026, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1440 "2026-08-04T00:39:18Z")
Not to mention his 5 years as head coach of the CFL Montreal Alouettes ---
**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:** [August 4, 2026, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1441 "2026-08-04T05:04:06Z")
Another case of “Why am I looking this up?” Here are the cast members of _Barney Miller_ (1975-1982), ranked by how many episodes they appeared in. Hal Linden - 171 eps - alive at 95 Max Gail - 170 eps - alive at 83 Ron Glass - 164 eps - died in 2016 at age 71 Steve Landesberg - 124 eps - died in 2010 at age 74 Ron Carey - 121 eps - died in 2007 at age 71 Jack Soo - 103 eps - died in 1979 at age 61 James Gregory - 66 eps - died in 2002 at age 90 Abe Vigoda - 63 eps - died in 2016 at age 94 Barbara Barrie - 37 eps - alive at 95 Gregory Sierra - 37 eps - died in 2021 at age 83 ---
**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:** [August 4, 2026, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1442 "2026-08-04T13:27:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Here are the cast members of _Barney Miller_ (1975-1982), ranked by how many episodes they appeared in. Looks like a pretty long-lived cast for the most part. I think Star Trek: The Next Generation remains the oldest show to have _all_ of its main cast still living. I can’t think of one older, unless there is an older show with a very tiny cast of 2-3 people. I’m thinking “Perfect Strangers”, which is older and has a tiny cast…and all are alive. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1443 "2026-08-04T18:00:45Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Looks like a pretty long-lived cast for the most part. I think Star Trek: The Next Generation remains the oldest show to have _all_ of its main cast still living. From other discussions I think its CHiPs. I have wondered what is next in line. Maybe it’s the Star Trek show. ---
**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:** [August 4, 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/919985/1444 "2026-08-04T18:07:39Z")
I’ve mentioned _Police Woman_ in the past. It ran from 1974 to 1978. Its cast was Angie Dickinson, Earl Holliman, Ed Bernard, and Charles Dierkop. The first of these to die was Dierkop in 2024, so fifty years with a living cast. Holliman and Bernard have also died since then so now it’s a show with one surviving cast member. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2026, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1445 "2026-08-04T18:12:54Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > From other discussions I think its CHiPs. _CHiPS_ is pretty impressive. Counting supporting roles, it has fourteen surviving cast members. Clarence Gilyard, who died in 2022, is the only cast member not alive. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2026, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1446 "2026-08-06T04:04:58Z")
Vinko Bogataj, the ski jumper who epitomized “the agony of defeat” for years on _ABC’s Wide World of Sports_ is still alive at 78. He’s a painter, now. ETA: Corrected network in show title. [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=71) [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=73)