Havel was not Polish.
God, I need to go to bed sooner. My tired eyes read this as “Nelson Mandela and Sgt. Bilko”.
Maybe you’re thinking of Jaruzelski? Wikipedia says he died in 2014.
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.
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.
Fred Smith, founder of FedEx, dead at 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.”
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!
Missed one!
Happy 100th birthday, June Lockhart.
Bill Moyers, presidential aide and veteran of public TV has passed away at 91.
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.
No matter how high he flies, he will never reach the sky.
Director Mark Rydell (On Golden Pond) turned 96 in March.
Johnny Gilbert, who is still the announcer for Jeopardy, (“…and our retuning champion…who’s cash winnings total…”) turns 97 on July 13th!
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.
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.
Born in 1932, actor Edward Faulkner celebrated his 23rd birthday last year.
At least he’s out of his indentures.
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.
Was he born on Feb. 29?