There are some celebrities in this world that I’m convinced will never die. They’ve always been old, they’ve always been around, and I’m pretty sure they’re never going anywhere. There are two people I place firmly in that category:
Wilford Brimley. The guy is an amazing 173 years old and is known well recently for his Quaker Oats and Liberty Medical commercials (and being parodied on The Colbert Report). Of course, he was also in The Thing and played the grandfather on Our House. His first acting, job, though, was in 1843 when he played the baby Jesus in a play in his one room schoolhouse. Weird, since he was 10 at the time.
I will always love Mr. Brimley for the way he says “diabetes.”
Phyllis Diller. I first grew to love Ms. Diller’s likeness on the Scooby Doo Mysteries. She was a recurring guest and was never afraid of the ghosts in her mansion. If I remember correctly, her dead husband was in one of the episodes. Even though she was ancient in the 1960s, she’s still alive today and quite sharp. She was a guest judge on Last Comic Standing and proved she still has a great sense of ribald humor. Plus, she was on Blossom, so you have to respect her.
Posted in Pop Culture
Dave Walls December 21, 2006, 1:05 pm
Wilford Brimley always looks like he’s one bad day away from needing Liberty Medical. Or a tombstone. One of those.
If it wasn’t for Wilford Brimley, “The Price is Right” would be almost commercial free. 😉
mel December 21, 2006, 2:50 pm
What about Dick Clark? He has to make it on your list. And Bob Barker? He should get an honorable mention.
I thought I was the only one who noticed the “diabeetis” pronunciation…
Michelle December 21, 2006, 2:52 pm
It’s too bad he represents a company like Liberty medical who is one of the biggest ripoffs ever and also one of the reasons health insurance costs so much. They charge the insurance companies almost 10 times what diabetic supplies cost at retail prices. Something is not right about that.
Ryan December 21, 2006, 2:59 pm
Dick Clark and Bob Barker. Good call. Though neither seem *quite* as hardy as Wilford or Phyllis.
jk December 21, 2006, 7:17 pm
Joe Paterno! Today is his 80th birthday. Wait, that’s “People who will never retire.”
Merle December 22, 2006, 1:31 am
That guy from the Mutual of Omaha commercials during National Geographic. He looked about ninety, but kept going. He must have been a revenant.
But these days, my philosophy has shifted to “if I have not heard about X in five years, X must be dead”. It is actually a nice way to think, because you are occasionally pleasantly surprised to discover someone you used to like is actually still alive.
Greg December 22, 2006, 5:05 pm
We’re all going to feel bad when these people do die but I’ll chime in…
Fidel Castro and Queen Elizabeth
Joseph December 22, 2006, 6:49 pm
I keep waiting for George Burns to appear in a new movie.
Adam December 23, 2006, 9:03 pm
Keith Richards. He’s looked like the walking dead for as long as I can recall.