# Who were the most famous people when you were growing up who have completely disappeared? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761 "2016-11-22T19:33:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/181 "2016-11-26T09:21:03Z")
Oh, you stay out of this. He doesn’t have to shoot you now. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/182 "2016-11-26T15:19:22Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Everyone that was in a 90s boy band except Justin Timberlake. And Donny Wahlberg. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/183 "2016-11-26T16:54:11Z")
I still see Cheech Marin occasionally, but what ever happened to Tommy Chong? It’s as if he went up in a cloud of smoke. ---
**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:** [November 26, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/184 "2016-11-26T17:39:27Z")
He played Leo for a while on _That 70s Show_, but he’s battled both prostate and colon cancer in the last few years. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/185 "2016-11-26T18:43:21Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > I still see Cheech Marin occasionally, but what ever happened to Tommy Chong? It’s as if he went up in a cloud of smoke. He recently (as in the Dubya years) went to jail for selling drug paraphernalia, and then was later in the news for asking Obama to pardon him for the conviction that sent him there. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/186 "2016-11-26T19:21:25Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > He recently (as in the Dubya years) went to jail for selling drug paraphernalia, and then was later in the news for asking Obama to pardon him for the conviction that sent him there. Oddly enough, his cellmate was Jordan Belfort of **The Wolf of Wallstreet** fame. Belfort claims that Tommy Chong is the one that convinced him to write the book that spawned the hit movie. > **[How Jordan Belfort's Prison Bunkmate — Tommy Chong — Inspired Him To Write...](https://www.businessinsider.com/jordan-belforts-prison-bunkmate-was-tommy-chong-2014-2)** > > "It took me about 11 months \[to finish the book\], seven days a week, 15 hours a day." ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/187 "2016-11-26T19:26:50Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > I still see Cheech Marin occasionally, but what ever happened to Tommy Chong? It’s as if he went up in a cloud of smoke. He was on _Dancing With the Stars_ a couple of seasons ago. Yes, really. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/188 "2016-11-26T19:46:37Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > No, it’s RABBIT season! ELMER season! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LAV25](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/97f17d/32.png) [@LAV25](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAV25)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/189 "2016-11-27T00:40:30Z")
Kelly LeBrock. She was in Weird Science, then that Steven Seagal movie, married him, and… What was that dude’s name? The one who was famous for misspeaking himself? George Herbert Walker something or other… ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/190 "2016-11-27T15:08:34Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > …“Mikey” from the Life cereal commercial. He washed a packet of pop rocks down with a can of soda and the ensuing reaction caused his stomach to explode, killing him. _Everyone_ knows that. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/191 "2016-11-28T12:13:37Z")
Fawn Hall ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/192 "2016-11-28T13:10:15Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > As for Natalie Merchant, I’m pretty sure she still does some songwriting and recording, but she’s had at least one child so that no doubt keeps her busy. A lot of musical artists—men and women—have children. How is that by itself an explanation for Merchant’s career path? > [@](#): > > p.s. Before the Lemonheads got a major-label contract, my brother interviewed them when he was a college DJ. He described them as “wet noodles”. Meaning? > [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > It’s also fair to say that I’m not good at faces, and indeed that’s one of the reasons I don’t see many movies to this day. Too confusing to keep the characters straight. Don’t you think you kind of buried the lead there? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/193 "2016-11-28T14:58:07Z")
My 17 year old had no idea who Alan Alda is. ---
**Author:** ![ElderSign](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eldersign/32/8263_2.png) [@ElderSign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElderSign)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/194 "2016-11-28T16:08:04Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Where do old celebrities go now that they don’t have _Hollywood Squares_ and _The Love Boat_ anymore? Celebrity judges, reality shows, Youtube, or podcasts. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/195 "2016-11-28T23:37:26Z")
> [@skdo23](#): > > He washed a packet of pop rocks down with a can of soda and the ensuing reaction caused his stomach to explode, killing him. _Everyone_ knows that. Now really, _why_ must you perpetuate these obviously false urban legends? Honestly… Everybody _really_ knows he grew up to be Marilyn Manson. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/196 "2016-11-28T23:54:24Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > A lot of musical artists—men and women—have children. How is that by itself an explanation for Merchant’s career path? Well, these aren’t musical artists, but I believe they’re been mentioned already. Pam Dawber married Mark Harmon and retired from acting to raise a family. And when Rick Moranis’s wife died, he quit acting to take care of their kids. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/197 "2016-11-29T00:44:30Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Well, these aren’t musical artists, but I believe they’re been mentioned already. Pam Dawber married Mark Harmon and retired from acting to raise a family. And when Rick Moranis’s wife died, he quit acting to take care of their kids. There’s a difference between saying “she gave up acting to take care of her kids full time” and “she has a kid.” The latter doesn’t imply the former. That’s what I mean when I say that saying she has a kid isn’t enough _by itself_ to explain her career. ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/198 "2016-11-29T01:10:12Z")
> [@5\_time\_champ](#): > > Some folks still alive: > Doc Sevrenisen appeared in our homes almost every night as leader of NBC Orchestra on the Tonight Show for 25 years. He’s still touring - I saw him earlier this year. Rocking purple leather jeans, no less. ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/199 "2016-11-29T01:12:03Z")
> [@DrForrester](#): > > I saw him in Ann Arbor, MI. Someone asked for “Alice”. His explanation of why he no longer performs Alice was actually LONGER than Alice would’ve been. Oh, and then, a few years later, he did a big 40th Anniversary of Alice tour. Gosh, that was 2006. So, maybe he’s doing a 50th Anniversary of Alice tour now… He is - or at least was this Summer. I got to see him in August; his son’s touring with the band, as well. Last time I saw Arlo was 1987, and he’s every bit as entertaining today. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761/200 "2016-11-29T01:24:13Z")
I haven’t read the thread, but I’ll throw in Father Guido Sarducci, Harry Anderson, and Willie Tyler and Lester. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-people-when-you-were-growing-up-who-have-completely-disappeared/772761.md?page=11)