The DeathList 2008

14 / 50 dead

DeathList is a carefully selected list of 50 celebrities chosen by the DeathList Committee before the start of each calendar year for their likelihood to die during that year. Candidates must have be famous in their own right such that their death is expected to be reported by the UK media. Candidates are not eligible if their only claim to fame is their imminent demise and no more than 25 celebrities that appeared on the previous year’s list can be selected. With those rules in mind, DeathList 2008 has been drawn up and is presented below. 2007 was a disappointing year with ten successes so we will be looking to the 2008 list to give a better showing.

The 2008 List

Rank	Prev Year	Appear	Name	Age	Description
1		2	Charlton Heston	84	Actor
2		1	Sydney Pollack	74	Actor / Film Director
3	5	7	Albert Hofmann	102	Creator of LSD
4	10	8	Ronnie Biggs	79	Ambassador
5	6	5	Oscar Niemeyer	101	Architect
6	14	6	Claude Levi-Strauss	100	Scientist
7		5	Norman Wisdom	93	Comedian
8	7	9	Michael Foot	95	Tramp
9	1	6	Fidel Castro	82	Dictator
10		2	Chapman Pincher	94	Journalist / Investigator
11	20	6	Karl Malden	96	Actor
12	21	6	Eli Wallach	93	Actor
13	23	5	Yitzhak Shamir	93	Ex PM Israel
14	29	7	Alexander Solzhenitsyn	90	Author
15	18	2	Mark Felt	95	Deep Throat
16	25	6	Kirk Douglas	92	Actor
17		4	Arthur C Clarke	91	Scientist / Author
18		3	Fats Domino	80	Singer
19	27	4	Herbert Lom	91	Actor
20		3	Zsa Zsa Gabor	91	Actress
21	28	3	Vera Lynn	91	Singer
22	31	3	Betty Ford	90	Clinic owner
23	2	2	Ariel Sharon	80	Ex-Israeli Prime Minister
24	9	3	Billy Graham	90	Evangelist
25	32	3	Dino de Laurentiis	90	Film Producer
26		1	Russell Watson	42	Tenor
27		2	Edmund Hillary	89	Mountaineer
28		1	Richard Widmark	94	Actor
29	37	3	JD Salinger	89	Author
30		1	Elizabeth Edwards	59	Senators wife
31	38	4	Jake LaMotta	87	Boxer
32		2	Hamed Karzai	51	Afghan President
33	39	6	John Demjanjuk	88	Nazi Collaborator
34		1	Jesse Helms	87	Ex-Senator
35	42	5	Suharto	87	Ex President of Indonesia
36		1	Blake Edwards	86	Movie director
37		1	Francis Pym	86	Former UK Politician
38		1	Jack Klugman	86	Quincy
39		4	Eric Sykes	85	Comedian
40	43	7	Patrick Moore	85	Astronomer
41		1	Bo Diddley	80	Bluesman
42		4	Cyril Smith	80	Former UK Politician
43	48	3	Harold Pinter	78	Playwright
44		1	Basil D'Oliveira	77	Cricketer
45		3	Elizabeth Taylor	76	Wife
46		2	Bobby Robson	75	Football Manager
47		1	Levi Stubbs	72	Four Top
48		1	Captain Beefheart	67	Musician
49		1	Charles Taylor	60	Ex Liberian president
50	50	12	Clive Dunn	88	DeathList Favourite

Latest News

31st December 2008

Record tied

DeathList 2008 ends with a record-equalling haul of 14 sucesses.
24th December 2008

Walking in a Pinter Wonderland...

English playwright and poet, Harold Pinter, has given DeathList 2008 its 14th success. Pinter had been suffering from cancer for some years and had become a regular fixture on DeathList since his first appearance in 2006. He was 78 when he died and was selected in the number 43 position in 2008. Pinter received the Noble Prize for Literature in 2005 as well as numerous honorary degrees. Now he can add his DeathList success to his list of achievements.

3 appearances: 2008 (43), 2007 (48), 2006 (10)

14th Death
Age: 78, Playwright, Cause of death: Cancer
18th December 2008

Mark Felt No More

W. Mark Felt, better known as Deep Throat, has passed away aged 95, to give DeathList 2008 its 13th success. Felt had been suffering from a heart condition for some time and was making his second appearance on DeathList, this year at the number 15 slot. The former FBI agent was revealed as Deep Throat in 2005 putting him nicely on the DeathList radar and ultimately helping this year’s list to the very respectable score.

2 appearances: 2008 (15), 2007 (18)

13th Death
Age: 95, Deep Throat, Cause of death: Unknown
16th October 2008

Levi Stubbs Tears

Four Tops lead singer, Levi Stubbs, has passed away, aged 72, to give DeathList 2008 another success. Stubbs had been ill for several years but was making his first appearance on DeathList, securing 47th position. His death brings to an end a short barren spell for DeathList 2008 and marks the twelfth success of the year.

1 appearance: 2008 (47)

12th Death
Age: 72, Four Top, Cause of death: Undisclosed
2nd August 2008

One Day in the Death of Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Russian author, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, has passed away, aged 89, to add to DeathList 2008’s impressive total. Solzhenitsyn spent many years in Soviet labour camps but went on to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970. In 1974 he was forced into exile, finally returning to Russia in 1994. 1998 saw Solzhenitsyn making his first appearance on DeathList and, by 2008, he had chalked up seven appearances, this year at number 14 position. With 11 successes and not even midway through the third quarter, there’s no sign of the credit crunch affecting DeathList 2008.

7 appearances: 2008 (14), 2007 (29), 2006 (32), 2005 (21), 2004 (30), 2000 (46), 1998 (41)

11th Death
Age: 90, Author, Cause of death: Stroke
4th July 2008

Helms Freezes Overs

It always sad to report the passing of a person who campaigned tirelessly to eradicate narrow minded thinking, bigotry, prejudice and generally fought to make the world a better place. Conversely, it is pleasing to report that Jesse Helms, former US right wing senator, has provided DeathList 2008 with its tenth success. 86 year old Helms passed away of natural causes following numerous illnesses having been selected in the number 34 slot in his first appearance on DeathList. Helms' extreme right stance on multiculturalism, civil rights, abortion, social welfare and gun control to name but a few topics might leave many believing his demise is a step forward for mankind. It’s certainly a further step forward for DeathList 2008. With ten successes in little more than the first half of the year leaves us wondering just how long it’ll be before the record of 14 deaths in one year is consigned to history.

1 appearance: 2008 (34)

10th Death
Age: 87, Ex-Senator, Cause of death: Natural Causes
1st June 2008

Bo Deaddley!

Influential blues rocker, Bo Diddley, has struck his last chord to give DeathList 2008 yet another success. 79 year old Diddley suffered a stroke leading to heart failure following which the “Bo Diddley beat” finally ceased. Probably one of those artists considered to be a musician’s musician, Diddley was perhaps as famous for his square guitars rather than any one track. This was Diddley's first appearance on DeathList, checking out from the number 41 slot. Sadly it now seems Diddley’s UK tour planned for June is unlikely to go ahead – refunds available from point of purchase. No “money back” requests for DeathList 2008 though – nine down and not even at the halfway point. Encore!

1 appearance: 2008 (41)

9th Death
Age: 80, Bluesman, Cause of death: Heart Failure
26th May 2008

They Shout for Hearses, Don't They?

Sydney Pollack, US actor and film director, has succumbed to cancer aged 73 to push DeathList 2008’s total further forward. Pollack was a popular personality whose famous output included Tootsie, The Way We Were, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? and Out of Africa, which won seven Oscars in 1986. Rumours of ill health had been circulating for some time, enough so for Pollack to receive this year’s number two spot on his first appearance on DeathList. The 2008 list continues its unrelenting onslaught. With eight deaths before the end of May, it remains well ahead of record pace and still contains plenty of quality selections who can make that ultimate contribution.

1 appearance: 2008 (2)

8th Death
Age: 74, Actor/Film Director, Cause of death: Cancer
28th April 2008

Albert Hofmann - Legend Sadly Deceased

After a few hours of rumours, it now looks to be confirmed that Albert Hofmann, creator of LSD, has had his final doors of perception opened by dying to give DeathList 2008 its seventh success. The 102 year old Hofmann had become a Deathlist favourite, making seven appearances on the list, being in the top ten since 2005 and selected at a career-high number three this year. Hofmann first created LSD in 1938, took his infamous bike ride in 1943 and published his book “My Problem Child” in 1980. It’s sad to see a DeathList favourite go but, with the scoreboard showing seven before the end of April, it’s onwards and upwards!

7 appearances: 2008 (3), 2007 (5), 2006 (7), 2005 (8), 2004 (12), 2003 (9), 2002 (12)

7th Death
Age: 102, Creator of LSD, Cause of death: Heart Attack
5th April 2008

Ben Hearse

Hollywood Legend and the top selection on DeathList 2008, Charlton Heston, has died aged 84. Heston was famous for his portrayals of Ben Hur, Moses and an astronaut lost on the Planet of The Apes. In the 60’s Heston was a strong supporter of gun controls, but he was later to become a very vocal president of the NRA and produced his obituary-ready quote that gun control campaigners could have his gun when they pry it from “his cold, dead hands”. No doubt the prying is already well underway. Heston’s demise marks the sixth success for Deathlist 2008, continuing its phenomenal early year pace.

2 appearances: 2008 (1), 2006 (42)

6th Death
Age: 84, Actor, Cause of death: Alzheimer's Disease
26th March 2008

Not wide of the mark with Widmark

Richard Widmark, iconic American actor, has died to give DeathList 2008 its fifth success. 93 year old Widmark’s most famous movie was his first, the appropriately named “Kiss of Death”. This was Widmark’s first appearance on DeathList being nominated in the number 28 slot. With five deaths in the first three months DeathList 2008 is setting a ferocious pace.

1 appearance: 2008 (28)

5th Death
Age: 94, Actor, Cause of death: "Long illness"
18th March 2008

No More Mr Sci-Fi

Arthur C Clarke, science fiction author, has joined the communications satellites in the sky to give DeathList 2008 its fourth success. Clarke was most well-known for his book “2001: A Space Odyssey” in which a computer famously malfunctions and pretty much destroys all that come in contact with it – a visionary piece of work and the blueprint for Microsoft software for decades afterwards. The “nonagenarian” (no, that’s not Sri Lankan for “one who is friendly with young boys”) was selected at number 17 on this year’s list, with this being his fourth appearance. With four deaths before the end of the first quarter, DeathList 2008 is setting a very hot pace.

4 appearances: 2008 (17), 2004 (45), 1997 (38), 1995 (40)

4th Death
Age: 91, Scientist/Author, Cause of death: Breathing difficulties
7th March 2008

It's Pyms O'Clock!

Francis Pym aka Lord Pym of Sandy, Tory politician from the Thatcher years, has died aged 86 to give DeathList 2008 its third success. Pym held the post of Defence Secretary and then was Foreign Secretary during the Falklands war, but was perhaps most famous for being one of the so-called “wets”. Pym passed away after a prolonged illness, which led to his first appearance on DeathList, being selected at No. 37. So with just over two months of 2008 gone, it’s the lower order selections that have set the pace. This should, of course, leave the more fancied candidates with plenty of time to deliver results as the year progresses.

1 appearance: 2008 (37)

3rd Death
Age: 86, Former UK Politician, Cause of death: Unknown
27th January 2008

Suharto finally off the critical list

After several nerve-wracking weeks of “will he, wont he?”, the former dictator of Indonesia, Suharto, has gone with the popular vote and joined the great democracy in the sky. Suharto chalked up some impressive stats during his time on earth, being responsible for the deaths of upwards of half a million people (many more by some estimates) and also embezzling upwards of 15 million US dollars (much more by many estimates). His DeathList stats are also respectable, appearing on the list five times, this year in the number thirty five slot and being the second success of the year for DeathList 2008.

5 appearances: 2008 (35), 2007 (42), 2006 (11), 2003 (44), 2002 (48)

2nd Death
Age: 87, Ex President of Indonesia, Cause of death: Unknown
10th January 2008

Peaked too soon?

Edmund Hillary has planted the first New Zealand flag firmly on DeathList by clocking up 2008’s first success. The 88 year old mountaineer/adventurer was the first man to conquer Everest when he arrived at the summit in 1953, although this achievement is only just overshadows his DeathList performance in checking out just ten days into the year in what is the first time he has appeared on the list in over a decade. Hillary was the year’s number 27 selection. Onwards and upwards!

2 appearances: 2008 (27), 1995 (21)

1st Death
Age: 89, Mountaineer, Cause of death: Unknown
1st January 2008

2008 list is in play

Here's to a successful DeathList 2008