Celebs you thought were dead.

[AndyC]

I didn't realize Andy Griffith was still alive until I saw him on a commercial recently.  He's only 83!

Unfortunately, when I found out Paul Naschy was still alive, he died a few weeks later .

I knew Andy Griffith was alive, but I assumed he was much older. I was kind of amazed when I looked up his age. He just has this reputation of being really old.

I was pleasantly surprised to read an interview with Ernest Borgnine a couple of weeks ago. In his case, I knew he was alive, but I'd greatly underestimated his age, probably because I haven't seen him in anything for quite a while. He's 93 and still working, most recently appearing in the Bruce Willis movie, Red.

That's what I love about the acting profession. As long as you're able to do it, retirement is entirely optional. Since characters come in all ages, there's no such thing as too young or too old.

One that kind of disappointed me a while ago was Arnold Stang. This was when I was toying with the idea of writing a b-movie book, and looking for people I could interview about the movies. Not only did I discover that Stang was alive and in his 80s, but I had his home phone number. It was in the phone book. Would have been worth calling it just to hear the voice, and say "I enjoy your work." Then he died within the next couple of weeks. Very disappointing.

[Leah]

I thought that Fats Domino was dead, turns out he's just 82.

[venomx]

I didn't think so, but so many people thought Ultimate Warrior (James Hellwig) was dead. Well he's not.
However Renegade from WCW (Warrior clone) did pass away in 1999. RIP.
The DVD - "The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior" tells all.

[JaseSF]

Given their past lifestyles, sometimes I'm amazed both Jake "The Snake" Roberts and the Iron Sheik are still alive (there's two guys pretty close to the final showdown in The Wrestler).

[AndyC]

I was sad to see Captain Lou go recently, but I was kind of amazed that he was over 70.

One celebrity who surprised me was Leon Askin, who played General Burkhalter on Hogan's Heroes. He died a few years ago at the age of 97, but a little while before that, I'd read that he was still alive and was genuinely amazed. The guy was around 60 years old and fat when he did Hogan's Heroes in the 60s, and he managed to outlive most of the cast.

And looking up the cast of Hogan's Heroes just now, I see that Richard Dawson is alive, and only 78. I was sure he was dead, and I'd assumed he was a lot older. Probably because he went grey so early.

[retrorussell]

Wow, I can't believe R.G. Armstrong is still around.  He looked old in numerous horror films he was in, in the 70s and 80s.  He's 93.

[TheDope]

Not a month goes by where I am utterly surprised that Henry Kissinger is still alive.  It's just one of those things; I'll think he's dead for awhile then - POP - there he is being interviewed on TV.  Weird.

[retrorussell]

Orson Bean.

[God the Worms]

Let me take this time to say, RIP Leslie Nielsen and RIP Irvin Kershner.

I was very glad to find out that Robert Crumb is still alive after hearing he died in 2006.

[RCMerchant]

James Arness. Hes 87! 
Micheal Gough is 93!!!!!! 
Julie Adams,of REVENGE OF THE CREATURE fame is 84!
And Ray Harryhausen is 90!!! Bless is soul!

Hers a clip of an interview on his 90th Birthday!
(Unfourtantly,I don't have any speakers yet....but enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9YMK_qp8RM

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

Wilford Brimley... But then I find out he's just a bit olde rthan my dad who is manifestly not dead.
Also not an actor...but C. Everett Koop is still kickinga nd he was born in 1916!

[AndyC]

Wilford Brimley... But then I find out he's just a bit olde rthan my dad who is manifestly not dead.
Also not an actor...but C. Everett Koop is still kickinga nd he was born in 1916!

Funny, I was just thinking about Wilford Brimley recently myself, and I'd meant to look him up, just to confirm that he is still alive. Taking a peek at Wikipedia, it turns out he is just a little over two weeks older than my dad.

Brimley is another guy people assume is a lot older than he is. I assumed he had to be in his late 80s by now (kept alive by all that oatmeal), but he's only 76. He just played much older characters. He was only about 50 when he made Cocoon.

[jimmybob]

Chevy Chase.

Where the hell is this guy?

-Jimmybob

[Trekkie313]

Chevy Chase.

Where the hell is this guy?

-Jimmybob

You don't get basic cable do you?

[Psycho Circus]

I thought B.B. King was dead, but then I found out he's playing a gig in Manchester in June. He's 85 years old and still putting out records too. Got two tickets for that concert, so I'm gonna take my old man.