# 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:** 73
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1447 "2026-08-06T04:09:39Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > AMC’s I think autocorrect helpfully “fixed” that for you. ABC’s Wide World of Sports. ---
**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, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1448 "2026-08-06T04:12:55Z")
I make enough typos on my own without autocorrect’s help. I was still within the window to edit the post and correct that. Thanks for catching it so quickly. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1449 "2026-08-06T04:18:27Z")
I always liked reading how > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Vinko Bogataj, the ski jumper who epitomized “the agony of defeat” had no idea he was being shown in his agony of defeat, week after week after week, until many many years later. ---
**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 6, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1450 "2026-08-06T15:40:47Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > I’m not sure how famous she is, but Betty Brosmer is 95. She was a popular pin up girl in the 1950s and a frequent subject of muscle magazine photoshoots in the 60s and 70s. > > Her husband was Joe Weider, who created professional bodybuilding (including the Mr Olympia contest) as a conduit to sell his muscle magazines. He also brought Arnold Schwarzenegger to the States. today Betty turns 97! [![](https://i.ibb.co/SXRymTdN/IMG-2279.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/SXRymTdN/IMG-2279.jpg) Here she is at 94. [![](https://i.ibb.co/Rpj1Zw6Z/IMG-2280.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/Rpj1Zw6Z/IMG-2280.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1451 "2026-08-11T17:11:27Z")
Two of the four original members of the group The Four Seasons, founded in 1960, are still with us: Bob Gaudio is 83 Frankie Valli is 92 ---
**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 11, 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/919985/1452 "2026-08-11T18:12:06Z")
Checking the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions. Everybody in the 1986 group has died. I believe the last survivor was Jerry Lee Lewis, who died in 2022. Smokey Robinson, age 86, is the only living person from the 1987 group. It picks up with 1988. We still have Bob Dylan, Al Jardine, Mike Love, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, and Ringo Starr ---
**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 11, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1453 "2026-08-11T18:39:43Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It picks up with 1988. We still have Bob Dylan, Al Jardine, Mike Love, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, and Ringo Starr. Did Paul and Ringo get in as solo artists? ---
**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:** [August 11, 2026, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1454 "2026-08-11T19:23:34Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > The Four Seasons Joe Pesci, who wasn’t yet anything like a major actor, introduced the members of The Four Seasons to each other. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1455 "2026-08-11T19:40:37Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Did Paul and Ringo get in as solo artists? Paul is (as are John and George, both of whom were inducted posthumously as solo artists); Ringo is, as well, though not through the main ballot, but via a separate category (“Award for Musical Excellence”). ---
**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 11, 2026, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1456 "2026-08-11T19:43:52Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > > It picks up with 1988. We still have Bob Dylan, Al Jardine, Mike Love, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, and Ringo Starr. > > Did Paul and Ringo get in as solo artists? They were inducted in 1988 as members of the Beatles. (Jardin and Love were inducted as members of the Beach Boys and Ross was inducted as a member of the Supremes.) McCartney and Starr did later get inducted as solo artists; McCartney in 1999 and Starr in 2015. ---
**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 11, 2026, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1457 "2026-08-11T22:00:35Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Paul is (as are John and George, both of whom were inducted posthumously as solo artists); Ringo is, as well, though not through the main ballot, but via a separate category (“Award for Musical Excellence”). My take has always been that George’s solo music was best. And, to be honest, he has many of the best Beatles songs as well. I guess I’m a George fan. I do admit, though, that Paul is very impressive on his own. I did not like John’s music that much. I haven’t listened to Ringo. ---
**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 12, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1458 "2026-08-12T00:36:28Z")
I feel Harrison’s strength was that he was self-contained as a creator. Lennon and McCartney needed each other as rivals to bring out their best work. Which is why both of them rarely reached the same heights after they moved on to solo careers. Ringo was probably the best player in the Beatles but I don’t think anybody is ranking him at the same level as the other three as a creator. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1459 "2026-08-13T14:29:25Z")
Actress Rebecca Schull, perhaps best known as Faye in _Wings,_ is still with us at 97 (born February 1929). ---
**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:** [August 13, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1460 "2026-08-13T21:41:46Z")
Charo is still around and still playing guitar. I follow her on Threads. But _nobody knows how old she is._ From an online article: Charo is 75 years old based on her officially recognized birth date of January 15, 1951. However, her exact age has long been a subject of Hollywood and public mystery, as early Spanish records and documents suggested she was actually born in 1941 (which would make her 85). **Age and Birth Date Details** - **Official Birth Date:** January 15, 1951 (recognized via a 1977 U.S. court ruling) - **Disputed Birth Year:** 1941 (found in initial European records and early paperwork) - **Current Age:** 75 (or 85, depending on the disputed records) ---
**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 13, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1461 "2026-08-13T21:55:11Z")
The Death Pool will not know what to do. We are going to need a “Charo determination” at some point. ---
**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 14, 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/919985/1462 "2026-08-14T05:02:19Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > Charo is still around and still playing guitar. She also has a recent movie, _Stop! That! Train!_. ---
**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 15, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1463 "2026-08-15T00:18:34Z")
With the death of Randolph Mantooth last month, I assumed that Kevin Tighe was now the only living cast member from _Emergency!_ (and naturally he’s the one I have as my Death Pool pick). But I was wrong. I just found out that Robert Fuller, who played Dr Brackett on the series, is alive at 93. ---
**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 16, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1464 "2026-08-16T16:37:31Z")
Jiang Zemin lived a pretty long time, but one Abe Vigoda we haven’t noticed is his wife, who is still alive. She’s 98 years old. Wang Yeping ---
**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 16, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1465 "2026-08-16T23:07:01Z")
Friday was Steve Martin’s 81st birthday. What a jerk. ---
**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 18, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-our-current-abe-vigodas-people-you-might-be-surprised-to-learn-are-still-alive/919985/1466 "2026-08-18T15:37:54Z")
Another one I just saw. Shelley Duvall, who played Olive Oyl in the 1980 movie _Popeye_, died in 2024. But Roberta Maxwell, who played her mother Nana Oyl, is still alive. (Maxwell was only eight years older than Duvall when she played her character’s mother.) [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=72) [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=74)