2008 is shaping up to be the bloodiest year in recent memory and no, I'm not talking about the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. How about someone looking into who is killing so many of our celebrities?
We're only three weeks in and here who's already gone.
"Suzanne Pleshette, the beautiful, husky-voiced film and theater star best known for her role as Bob Newhart's sardonic wife on television's long-running "The Bob Newhart Show," has died, said her attorney Robert Finkelstein. She was 70."
"Bobby Fischer, the reclusive American chess master who became a Cold War icon when he dethroned the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky as world champion in 1972, has died. He was 64."
"Maila Nurmi, who became synonymous with her character Vampira, the television hostess who presented horror movies in the 1950s has died at 86."
"Brad Renfro, the troubled young actor whose film career began at age 12 with "The Client," has died. He was 25."
"Christopher Bowman, the former U.S. figure skating champion dubbed "Bowman the Showman" for his flair on the ice, died Thursday. He was 40."
"Sir Edmund Hillary, the unassuming beekeeper who conquered Mount Everest to win renown as one of the 20th century's greatest adventurers, has died, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced Friday. He was 88."
"Hollywood's honorary mayor Johnny Grant, best-known for unveiling stars on Tinseltown's 'Walk of Fame,' has died aged 84, city officials said Thursday."
"Allan Melvin, a character actor best known for playing Sam the Butcher on "The Brady Bunch," has died. He was 84."
"Singer John Stewart, who came to prominence in the 1960s as a member of the Kingston Trio, but was best known for writing the Monkees' enduring hit "Daydream Believer," died Saturday. He was 68."
You sometimes hear celebrities die in threes - how about tens, the way we're going? Do you, like me, wonder who's next? One site, Deathlist.com makes predictions at the start of each year as to who is most likely to go next but I am not that impressed by the breadth of their selections.
They seem to be just playing the age odds by picking mostly celebrities in their eighties (Charlton Heston, Fidel Castro, Fats Domino) and nineties (Karl Malden, Eli Wallach, Kirk Douglas).
I'd like to see some daring out of....er....into the box strategy with some picks like Keanu Reeves (43), Dane Cook (35), or best of all, Hallie Eisenberg (15), who used to be that ugly annoying kid in all the Pepsi commercials.
Dude. This is such an apropos topic. Heath Ledger bit the big one today! I hope for some speecy-spicy jokes tomorrow. Don't disappoint me!
Posted by: Notorious B.R.O. | January 22, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Bean, look what you did! It's not Keanu Reeves or Dane Cook, but Heath Ledger... I certianly didn't see that coming, did you?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/22/heath.ledger.dead/index.html
Posted by: Athena | January 22, 2008 at 03:30 PM
You need to add Heath Ledger to the list.
Posted by: flamineyeball | January 22, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Well, is Heath Ledger young enough for you?
He died today.
But you're right, its a bloody year!
Posted by: Gina | January 22, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Bean, I'm sure you have heard by now, but as I read this post I have just heard the news about Heith Ledger.....What the hell is going on?
Posted by: Ralph | January 22, 2008 at 03:46 PM
well you can add Heath Ledger to that list. he died earlier today, probably because of his role in brokeback mountain since we all know God hates the gays.
Posted by: Mike | January 22, 2008 at 03:48 PM
Damn Bean, you jinxed Heath Ledger too! Por Que!!
Posted by: Robert | January 22, 2008 at 03:49 PM
Bean! you sooth sayer.
Heath Ledger!
Wow, the celebrity carnage continues. I just read an article that said that Ledger starred in two other productions where he played a gay guy prior to "Broke Back Mountain." Maybe he offed himself because he was confused about his sexuality? I'm just saying.
Posted by: Frankie5Angels | January 22, 2008 at 04:01 PM
This turned out to be a pretty prophetic posting what with the news about Heath Ledger today. I give this a creepiness factor of 10.
Posted by: magnus | January 22, 2008 at 04:08 PM
I bet not to many people had Heath on their
list.
Posted by: Geo | January 22, 2008 at 04:12 PM
You can add another one to the list - Heath Ledger.
Posted by: xtine | January 22, 2008 at 04:18 PM
This post is eerie in that I see Heath Ledger is not on your list but was found today, dead in his apartment. It's terribly sad, he was only 28. Bean, you've officially creeped me out a little.
Posted by: Jane | January 22, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Heath Ledger? One less pretty-boy to envy.
Posted by: Stan Hoskins | January 22, 2008 at 04:21 PM
This blog is responsible for Heath Ledger.
Posted by: Gianni | January 22, 2008 at 04:44 PM
Bean, did you post this before the news of Heath Ledger's death broke? If yes, that is straight up EERIE! By the way, Britney wont see the end of 2008.
Posted by: Brian | January 22, 2008 at 04:49 PM
And now you can add to the list:
Heath Ledger - Oscar nominated actor. He was 28.
I think this list may have precipitated his early demise. I hope you're happy, Bean.
Posted by: Jake Gyllenhaal's speecy spicy sausage | January 22, 2008 at 04:56 PM
add to that heath ledger today...what a coincidence
Posted by: tiff | January 22, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Nice Bean! You talk about this and suddenly Heath Ledger turns up dead. Coincidence?!?
Posted by: Jerkface | January 22, 2008 at 05:37 PM
Anything happen in celebrity news today?
Posted by: Vic Rattler | January 22, 2008 at 07:18 PM
Little did I know when I read your blog this morning, how sad the day would turn out to be.
Posted by: IHeartBean | January 22, 2008 at 07:56 PM
That Batman movie is going to have a lot of irony.
Posted by: kate | January 22, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Bean!!!
Please stop the killing! After Amy Winehouse, please just stop!
Posted by: Jim from Columbus | January 23, 2008 at 05:54 AM
You post this and Heath dies? Is there a connection?
Posted by: LP | January 23, 2008 at 09:45 AM
OMG, Actors dieing.....
Must be the new Actors having babies, that one is so last year......
Posted by: Lynne_T | January 23, 2008 at 09:59 AM
The one I play is at www.flymetothetomb.com. Suzanne Pleshette was an early score for me this year.
Posted by: LA | January 23, 2008 at 09:58 PM
WOW, not add Christian Brando to the list...
They just keep coming!!!
Posted by: lynne_t | January 26, 2008 at 07:08 PM