People who died in 2010; early projections
April 14, 2010 3:21 AM Subscribe
Zsa Zsa Gabor will probably die this year. Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi will definitely die. Fidel Castro and Eli Wallach may or may not die this year. Geez, I don't want to make #1 on the Death List.
Agreed - Michael Foot, "Tramp". Didn't read any further...
posted by ntrifle at 3:30 AM on April 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by ntrifle at 3:30 AM on April 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
I like the titles:
Fidel Castro 84, Dictator
Peter Tork 68, Monkee
Margaret Thatcher 85, Milk Snatcher
Betty Ford 94, Clinic owner
James Garner 82, Jim Rockford
posted by three blind mice at 3:34 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Fidel Castro 84, Dictator
Peter Tork 68, Monkee
Margaret Thatcher 85, Milk Snatcher
Betty Ford 94, Clinic owner
James Garner 82, Jim Rockford
posted by three blind mice at 3:34 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Zsa Zsa has reclaimed 7 years and has a reprieve.
posted by a non e mouse at 3:51 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by a non e mouse at 3:51 AM on April 14, 2010
What is this? A Monday?
posted by srboisvert at 4:12 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by srboisvert at 4:12 AM on April 14, 2010
Just don't make any bets on Abe Vigoda. The man is IMMORTAL.
posted by grubi at 4:13 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by grubi at 4:13 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Zsa Zsa Gabor is still alive?
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:43 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:43 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I didn't realize that Fats Domino was still alive, or what happened to him in Katrina.
posted by Jaltcoh at 4:44 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by Jaltcoh at 4:44 AM on April 14, 2010
Any predictions for Italian dictator Benito Mussolini?
Is he still hanging around?
posted by chillmost at 5:01 AM on April 14, 2010 [4 favorites]
Is he still hanging around?
posted by chillmost at 5:01 AM on April 14, 2010 [4 favorites]
Wow, these ghouls have been active since 1987. That takes... uh... commitment. And I hope Mr Mandela keeps disappointing them. (First appearance in 1989.)
posted by The Mouthchew at 5:02 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by The Mouthchew at 5:02 AM on April 14, 2010
The little skull & crossbones icon next to those who have passed on is a little... uh....
posted by shakespeherian at 5:24 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 5:24 AM on April 14, 2010
As somebody who had Rose Kennedy in his death pool through most of the 80s and early 90s, I can tell you that Zsa Zsa Gabor is no sure thing. Stocking your picks with centenarians is a rookie move.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 5:26 AM on April 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 5:26 AM on April 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
Crude, artless and boring. And Zsa Zsa may have fudged her actual birthdate, but she is probably 90, not 100.
posted by applemeat at 5:27 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by applemeat at 5:27 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Actually I appreciate this site for having a concise list of people whom I'd presumed were dead but are, in fact, living: Ray Bradbury! Olivia De Havilland!
posted by shakespeherian at 5:29 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 5:29 AM on April 14, 2010
I don't find it crude or ghoulish so much as I find it an interesting take on Western death weirdness. I was thinking about the expected media frenzy when Dennis Hopper dies. When your grandmother dies, it's too bad. But when a celebrity dies, there's a lot of 'tragedy' and 'brave struggle against odds' stories and in the media, no matter how irrelevant the celebrity. I mean, Zsa Zsa? Who really cares? Anyway, that someone has made a horse race out of it seems to be just part of the circus.
However they come, little reminders of life's temporariness are kind of important.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 5:30 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
However they come, little reminders of life's temporariness are kind of important.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 5:30 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
The little skull & crossbones icon next to those who have passed on is a little... uh....
I don't know. I think the above, along with "Tramp," "Eyebrowed politican," "Milk Snatcher," and "Death List Favourite" all combine into a tight little snarky gestalt.
posted by The Potate at 5:40 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I don't know. I think the above, along with "Tramp," "Eyebrowed politican," "Milk Snatcher," and "Death List Favourite" all combine into a tight little snarky gestalt.
posted by The Potate at 5:40 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Is Gen. Francisco Franco on there?
posted by indubitable at 6:06 AM on April 14, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by indubitable at 6:06 AM on April 14, 2010 [4 favorites]
OK, for the folks who realized that people were alive that you thought were dead, you should know about this site. It can come in mighty handy, although I was ticked at them a few months ago for not including Howard Zinn.
posted by dlugoczaj at 6:18 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by dlugoczaj at 6:18 AM on April 14, 2010
I'm surprised Chuck Berry isn't on the list. He's still alive!
posted by LSK at 6:23 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by LSK at 6:23 AM on April 14, 2010
Surpised Dennis Hopper isn't #1.
posted by stormpooper at 6:23 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by stormpooper at 6:23 AM on April 14, 2010
I just checked Dennis Hopper's wiki because of the talk in this thread. I had no idea about the cancer or the down-to-100-lbs things. Fuck.
posted by shakespeherian at 6:31 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 6:31 AM on April 14, 2010
OK, for the folks who realized that people were alive that you thought were dead, you should know about this site.
Also, the same people might be interested in this question that I asked AskMeFi.
posted by The Potate at 6:32 AM on April 14, 2010
Also, the same people might be interested in this question that I asked AskMeFi.
posted by The Potate at 6:32 AM on April 14, 2010
You would think there would be a few out-of-control young musician/actors/heiresses on that list.
posted by R. Mutt at 6:43 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by R. Mutt at 6:43 AM on April 14, 2010
Instant loss of credibility for me in the fact that Olivia de Havilland's sister (and only a year and a half younger than her), Joan Fontaine, is not even on the list, while Olivia is.
posted by blucevalo at 6:45 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by blucevalo at 6:45 AM on April 14, 2010
I didn't realize that a lot of those people were either a) still alive, or b) that freaking old. Damn.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:49 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by Ghidorah at 6:49 AM on April 14, 2010
In related news: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
posted by schmod at 6:53 AM on April 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by schmod at 6:53 AM on April 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
I think the above, along with "Tramp," "Eyebrowed politican," "Milk Snatcher," and "Death List Favourite" all combine into a tight little snarky gestalt.
Except it's not that "tight" (most of the entries don't have jokes), and it's not as funny as they seem to think. I'm also not sure what the need is to be "snarky" about people just because they're old and/or sick (except with the likes of Castro and Kim Jong-Il).
posted by Jaltcoh at 7:01 AM on April 14, 2010
Except it's not that "tight" (most of the entries don't have jokes), and it's not as funny as they seem to think. I'm also not sure what the need is to be "snarky" about people just because they're old and/or sick (except with the likes of Castro and Kim Jong-Il).
posted by Jaltcoh at 7:01 AM on April 14, 2010
Nooooooo! Not Peter Tork! He's my favorite!
damn, that sucks.
posted by lysdexic at 7:07 AM on April 14, 2010
damn, that sucks.
posted by lysdexic at 7:07 AM on April 14, 2010
Eli Wallach always finds a way to survive.
posted by bwg at 7:23 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by bwg at 7:23 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
In '95-'96 I had a dead pool going with my housemates; everyone was tied at zero when we went home for the Christmas holidays. On Boxing Day I was eating breakfast with my mom, who was reading the paper, when she told me that Dean Martin had passed away. Explaining why my reaction to this news was a "Really? ALL RIIIIGHT!"/fistpump combo was a bit awkward.
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:44 AM on April 14, 2010 [6 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:44 AM on April 14, 2010 [6 favorites]
However they come, little reminders of life's temporariness are kind of important.
That's very true and it makes ranking humans like race horses even more distasteful.
posted by HumanComplex at 8:00 AM on April 14, 2010
That's very true and it makes ranking humans like race horses even more distasteful.
posted by HumanComplex at 8:00 AM on April 14, 2010
Only if you think humans are fundamentally different from race horses.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 8:03 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by kuujjuarapik at 8:03 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
a bit fancier than The Old Blue Eyes Memorial Celebrity Death Watch, but where's the fun without being a contestant?
tied for seventh place so far, scoring 2 worth 2 points, but the year's not over yet!
posted by Primofex at 8:06 AM on April 14, 2010
tied for seventh place so far, scoring 2 worth 2 points, but the year's not over yet!
posted by Primofex at 8:06 AM on April 14, 2010
Any self-respecting dead list would have Elvis on it. He's somewhere out there enjoying his 75th year.
posted by blucevalo at 8:07 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by blucevalo at 8:07 AM on April 14, 2010
In related news: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
In sign language:
GENERALISSIMO FRANCISCO FRANCO IS STILL DEAD!
posted by shmegegge at 8:12 AM on April 14, 2010
In sign language:
GENERALISSIMO FRANCISCO FRANCO IS STILL DEAD!
posted by shmegegge at 8:12 AM on April 14, 2010
Also see stiffs.com.
Death pools are the worst form of schadenfreude.
posted by zarq at 8:24 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Death pools are the worst form of schadenfreude.
posted by zarq at 8:24 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Not only is Eli Wallach still alive, he's still working! I was delighted to see him pop up (briefly) in Polanski's The Ghost Writer.
posted by brundlefly at 8:28 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by brundlefly at 8:28 AM on April 14, 2010
Only if you think humans are fundamentally different from race horses.
We have pornography for blind people!
posted by HumanComplex at 8:40 AM on April 14, 2010 [3 favorites]
We have pornography for blind people!
posted by HumanComplex at 8:40 AM on April 14, 2010 [3 favorites]
Except it's not that "tight" (most of the entries don't have jokes), and it's not as funny as they seem to think. I'm also not sure what the need is to be "snarky" about people just because they're old and/or sick (except with the likes of Castro and Kim Jong-Il).
I should have hamburgered my comment.
posted by The Potate at 9:11 AM on April 14, 2010
I should have hamburgered my comment.
posted by The Potate at 9:11 AM on April 14, 2010
I should have hamburgered my comment.
Oh, it was supposed to be sarcastic? I just thought it was the general verbose/erudite Metafilter writing syle + different senses of humor/taste. In that case, I obviously withdraw my comment.
posted by Jaltcoh at 9:32 AM on April 14, 2010
Oh, it was supposed to be sarcastic? I just thought it was the general verbose/erudite Metafilter writing syle + different senses of humor/taste. In that case, I obviously withdraw my comment.
posted by Jaltcoh at 9:32 AM on April 14, 2010
Reclusive author, JD Salinger, has passed away to give DeathList 2010 its first success.
Oh, how lovely for them.
There's clearly no money riding on this or they'd have gone out of business ages ago. This is where they start stocking really unexpected pics, young healthy types, to bring the wagers in, and then BAM! They kill them.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 9:36 AM on April 14, 2010
Oh, how lovely for them.
There's clearly no money riding on this or they'd have gone out of business ages ago. This is where they start stocking really unexpected pics, young healthy types, to bring the wagers in, and then BAM! They kill them.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 9:36 AM on April 14, 2010
God I can't wait for that smug asshole B.B. King to finally kick the bucket.
posted by swift at 9:52 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by swift at 9:52 AM on April 14, 2010
Oh well. At least Foot finally beat Thatcher at something.
posted by norm at 10:11 AM on April 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by norm at 10:11 AM on April 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
I suspect you're being funny, swift, but man it sure doesn't sound like it at first glance.
posted by ardgedee at 11:36 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by ardgedee at 11:36 AM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Eli Wallach may or may not die this year
That's ugly.
posted by VikingSword at 12:45 PM on April 14, 2010
That's ugly.
posted by VikingSword at 12:45 PM on April 14, 2010
Many major news organizations keep a "death list" like this in their obit departments. When someone important kicks it, you don't always have time to write an elegant, well-researched, backgrounded, and proofed 15,000-worder before the presses start rolling; you want to have that info done and dusted well in advance, including memorable quotes from various talking heads* paying tribute to the (at that point not-yet-deceased) individual in question. There are literally hundreds of these on file at any given time. It's always amusing to me when these go to press/on air with some horrible gaffe included despite all precautions anyway, knowing how far in advance they're done.
[*no David/Tina/Jerry/Chris jokes pls]
posted by mykescipark at 2:03 PM on April 14, 2010
[*no David/Tina/Jerry/Chris jokes pls]
posted by mykescipark at 2:03 PM on April 14, 2010
Geez, I don't want to make #1 on the Death List.
You will.
posted by Xezlec at 9:59 PM on April 14, 2010
You will.
posted by Xezlec at 9:59 PM on April 14, 2010
Those are people who might die, die.
They are all my friends, and they might die.
posted by bwg at 5:23 AM on April 15, 2010
They are all my friends, and they might die.
posted by bwg at 5:23 AM on April 15, 2010
I had no idea most of these people were still alive. Olivia De Havilland? Zsa Zsa? And I thought Billy Graham died last year. Musta been a different evangelist. They all sort of look the same to me.
But some people on the list are surprising: members of the Monkees? (Who knew they were almost 70? Good god.) But no members of the Stones or any of the other creaky old rock stars that have to be nursemaided into their spandex? (Except Keith...Keith is an antediluvian life form that will outlive the planet.)
posted by dejah420 at 7:35 AM on April 15, 2010
But some people on the list are surprising: members of the Monkees? (Who knew they were almost 70? Good god.) But no members of the Stones or any of the other creaky old rock stars that have to be nursemaided into their spandex? (Except Keith...Keith is an antediluvian life form that will outlive the planet.)
posted by dejah420 at 7:35 AM on April 15, 2010
Bookmarked!
posted by harold_dumbacher at 12:39 AM on April 18, 2010
posted by harold_dumbacher at 12:39 AM on April 18, 2010
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posted by Hartster at 3:24 AM on April 14, 2010 [6 favorites]