Top 20 celebrities and public figures predicted to die in 2026

For the second year in a row, contestants at the dead pool website Stiffs.com have chosen actor Dick Van Dyke as the public figure most likely to die in 2026.
Other notables in the top 10 include former U.S. President Joe Biden and current President Donald Trump, though the inclusion of the latter is probably just wishful thinking.
The annual list contains the usual geriatrics and those suffering health problems.
Of the top 20 public figures marked for death in 2025 by Stiffs.com, only two met the grim reaper. They were actress June Lockhart and actor Gene Hackman.
What follows are the top 20 public figures (with their ages) predicted to die in 2026, according to Stiffs.com.

1. Dick Van Dyke, 100, actor
2. Mel Brooks, 99, comedian, writer, actor, director
3. Eva Marie Saint, 101, actress
4. Alan Greenspan. 99, former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve
5. David Attenborough, 99, broadcaster and naturalist
6. Clint Eastwood, 95, actor and director
7. Gene Shalit, 99, film critic for NBC's "The Today Show"
8. Joe Biden, 83, former U.S. president
9. Buzz Aldrin, 95, U.S. astronaut
10. Donald Trump, 79, current U.S. president
11. Noam Chomsky, 97, academic and social critic
12. Yoko Ono, 92, Japanese multimedia artist and peace activist
13. Bruce Willis, 70, actor
14. Joanne Woodward, 95, actress
15. Doc Severinsen, 98, jazz trumpeter and band leader
16. Marv Levy, 100, pro football coach
17. Willie Nelson, 92, singer and songwriter
18. Tippi Hedren, 95, actress
19. Harvey Weinstein, 73, film producer and convicted sex offender
20. Rupert Murdoch, 94, media mogul

Here are some notable younger public figures predicted to die this year by multiple Stiffs.com dead-pool players:

22. Eric Dane, 53, actor
46. Michael J. Fox, 64, actor
56. Andy Dick, 60, comedian and actor
74. Celine Dion, 57, singer
90. Randy Moss, 48, football player
92. Britney Spears, 44, singer
103. Christina Applegate, 54, actress
124. Charlie Sheen, 60, actor
139. Sean Combs, aka P. Diddy, 56, rapper, music producer and accused sex offender
155. Amanda Bynes, 39, actress

Photo: Donald Trump mugshot from Aug. 24, 2023, at the Fulton County jail in Georgia.

Top 20 celebrities and public figures predicted to die in 2025

Contestants at the dead pool website Stiffs.com have chosen actor Dick Van Dyke, 99, as the public figure most likely to croak in 2025.
The annual list contains the usual geriatrics and those suffering health problems.
But one younger person on the list is music mogul P. Diddy, aka Sean Combs, 55. Many folks on social media have speculated that Combs might get “suicided” like fellow accused sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, so he won’t be able to implicate other powerful people in his alleged misdeeds.
Of the top 20 public figures marked for death in 2024 by Stiffs.com, five bought the farm. They included former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, comedian Bob Newhart and actress Shannen Doherty.
That’s a weaker showing than recent dead pool contests. Nine of the top 20 died in 2020 and 2021. Eight died in 2022 and seven in 2023. I’ve been tracking the forecasting abilities of dead pool players in earnest since 2012.
What follows are the top 20 public figures (with their ages) predicted to die in 2025, according to Stiffs.com.

1. Dick Van Dyke, 99, actor
2. Mel Brooks, 98, comedian, writer, actor, director
3. Alan Greenspan, 98, former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve
4. Eva Marie Saint, 100, actress
5. David Attenborough, 98, broadcaster and naturalist
6. Gene Shalit, 98, film critic for NBC’s “The Today Show”
7. June Lockhart, 99, actress
8. Gene Hackman, 94, actor
9. Clint Eastwood, 94, actor and director
10. Joanne Woodward, 94, actress
11. Marv Levy, 99, pro football coach
12. Buzz Aldrin, 94, U.S. astronaut
13. Tippi Hedren, 94, actress
14. Harvey Weinstein, 72, film producer and accused sex offender
15. Doc Severinsen, 97, jazz trumpeter and band leader
16. Robert Duvall, 93, actor
17. Yoko Ono, 91, Japanese multimedia artist and peace activist
18. Bruce Willis, 69, actor
19. Robert Wagner, 94, actor
20. Noam Chomsky, 96, academic and social critic

Of note, President-elect Donald Trump, 78, who survived an assassination attempt on July 13, 2024, ranks No. 23 on the 2025 list.
And current President Joe Biden, 82, who is in failing health, ranks No. 26.

Here are some notable younger public figures predicted to die this year by multiple Stiffs.com dead-pool players:

52. P. Diddy, aka Sean Combs, 55, rapper, music producer and accused sex offender
67. Randy Moss, 47, football player
95. Britney Spears, 43, singer
141. Kate Middleton, 42, princess of Wales
153. Charlie Sheen, 59, actor
183. Christina Applegate, 53, actress
207. R. Kelly, 57, singer and convicted sex offender

Photo: Sean Combs performing in 2008 at the eTalk Festival Party. (Photo by Richard Burdett.)

Top 20 celebrities and public figures predicted to die in 2024

With the death of game show host Bob Barker last year, former President Jimmy Carter moves up a notch in the dead pool rankings at Stiffs.com to become the public figure most likely to die in 2024.
Carter has been in the top five of the Stiffs.com dead pool competition for the last five years. Will this be the year the grim reaper finally catches up with him?
Of the top 20 public figures marked for death in 2023 by Stiffs.com, seven bought the farm. They included Barker, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, singer Tony Bennett, cartoonist Al Jaffee, sitcom writer and producer Norman Lear, singer and actor Harry Belafonte and former first lady Rosalyn Carter.
In last year’s Stiffs.com competition, two people correctly picked actor Matthew Perry, 54, to die in 2023. Also, two people correctly forecast the death of singer Sinead O’Connor, 56.
What follows are the top 20 public figures (with their ages) predicted to die in 2024, according to Stiffs.com.

1. Jimmy Carter, 99, former U.S. president
2. Dick Van Dyke, 98, actor
3. Mel Brooks, 97, comedian, writer, actor, director
4. Glynis Johns, 100, British actress
5. Eva Marie Saint, 99, actress
6. Shannen Doherty, 52, actress
7. Bob Newhart, 94, actor and comedian
8. Alan Greenspan, 97, former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve
9. Gene Shalit, 97, film critic for NBC’s “The Today Show”
10. June Lockhart, 98, actress
11. David Attenborough, 97, broadcaster and naturalist
12. Ethel Kennedy, 95, widow of U.S. senator Robert F. Kennedy
13. Joanne Woodward, 93, actress
14. Marv Levy, 98, pro football coach
15. Buzz Aldrin, 93, U.S. astronaut
16. Clint Eastwood, 93, actor and director
17. Gene Hackman, 93, actor
18. Yoko Ono, 90, Japanese multimedia artist and peace activist
19. Willie Nelson, 90, country music singer and songwriter
20. Doc Severinsen, 96, jazz trumpeter and band leader

Here are some notable younger public figures predicted to die this year by multiple Stiffs.com dead-pool players:

25. Celine Dion, 55, singer
26. Val Kilmer, 64, actor
63. Michael J. Fox, 62, actor
96. Toby Keith, 62, country music singer and songwriter
116. Britney Spears, 42, singer
128. Michael Schumacher, 54, Formula One racecar driver
137. William “The Refrigerator” Perry, 61, former football player
141. Charlie Sheen, 58, actor
149. Artie Lange, 56, comedian
150. Bam Margera, 44, skateboarder, “Jackass” stuntman
164. Madonna, 65, singer
167. Sir Mix-a-Lot, 60, rapper
174. Amanda Bynes, 37, actress

Photo: Britney Spears dancing with knives in social media video (TMZ)

Top 20 celebrities and public figures predicted to die in 2023

The Grim Reaper was busy at the end of 2022, taking the lives of soccer great Pelé, retired Pope Benedict XVI and TV journalist Barbara Walters.
Of the top 20 public figures marked for death in 2022 by players on dead-pool website Stiffs.com, eight died last year. They included Queen Elizabeth II, Pope Benedict XVI, Barbara Walters, American essayist Roger Angell, actress Angela Lansbury, actor Larry Storch, singer and actress Olivia Newton-John, and actor Sidney Poitier.
And death won’t take a holiday in 2023.
What follows are the top 20 public figures (with their ages) predicted to die in 2023, according to Stiffs.com.

1. Bob Barker, 99, game show host
2. Jimmy Carter, 98, former U.S. president
3. Henry Kissinger, 99, former U.S. secretary of state
4. Tony Bennett, 96, singer
5. Al Jaffee, 101, cartoonist known for Mad magazine work
6. Dick Van Dyke, 97, actor
7. Norman Lear, 100, television writer and producer
8. Mel Brooks, 96, director, writer, actor, comedian
9. Glynis Johns, 99, British actress
10. Bob Newhart, 93, actor and comedian
11. Alan Greenspan, 96, former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve
12. Harry Belafonte, 95, singer and actor
13. Eva Marie Saint, 98, actress
14. Rosalyn Carter, 95, former U.S. first lady
15. Shannen Doherty, 51, actress
16. June Lockhart, 97, actress
17. Gene Shalit, 96, film critic for NBC’s “The Today Show”
18. David Attenborough, 96, broadcaster and naturalist
19. Joanne Woodward, 92, actress
20. Vladimir Putin, 70, Russian president

Here are some notable younger public figures predicted to die this year by multiple Stiffs.com dead-pool players:

63. Toby Keith, 61, country music singer and songwriter
67. Michael J. Fox, 61, actor
75. Kanye West, aka Ye, 45, rapper
80. Celine Dion, 54, singer
110. Britney Spears, 41, singer
126. Christina Applegate, 51, actress
132. Bam Margera, 43, “Jackass” stuntman
135. Charlie Sheen, 57, actor
142. Artie Lange, 55, comedian
165. John Daly, 56, golfer
166. Kim Jong-un, 40, supreme leader of North Korea
184. Andy Dick, 57, actor and comedian
194. Demi Lovato, 30, singer

Photo: Vladimir Putin (Kremlin photo via Creative Commons)

Top 20 celebrities predicted to die in 2022

With the death of Britain’s Prince Philip, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter moves up to the top spot among public figures most likely to die in the year ahead. That’s according to the Stiffs.com dead pool contest.
Carter narrowly edged out retired game show host Bob Barker for the “honor.”
Of the top 20 public figures marked for death in 2021 by players on Stiffs.com, nine died last year. They included Bob Dole, Rush Limbaugh, Tommy Lasorda, Cloris Leachman and Betty White.
What follows are the top 20 public figures (with their ages) predicted to die in 2022, according to Stiffs.com.

1. Jimmy Carter, 97, former U.S. president
2. Bob Barker, 98, game show host
3. Henry Kissinger, 98, former U.S. secretary of state
4. Queen Elizabeth II, 95, queen of the United Kingdom
5. Al Jaffee, 100, cartoonist known for Mad magazine work
6. Dick Van Dyke, 96, actor
7. Roger Angell, 101, American essayist known for writing on sports
8. Norman Lear, 99, television writer and producer
9. Angela Lansbury, 96, actress
10. Tony Bennett, 95, singer
11. Mel Brooks, 95, director, writer, actor, comedian
12. Larry Storch, 98, actor
13. Pope Benedict XVI, 94, retired prelate of the Catholic church
14. Glynis Johns, 98, British actress
15. Shannen Doherty, 50, actress
16. Barbara Walters, 92, broadcast journalist
17. Olivia Newton-John, 73, singer and actress
18. Bob Newhart, 92, actor and comedian
19. Sidney Poitier, 94, actor
20. Harry Belafonte, 94, singer and actor

Here are some notable younger public figures predicted to die this year by multiple Stiffs.com dead-pool players:

145. Britney Spears, 40, pop singer
152. Kanye West, 44, rapper, record producer, fashion designer
170. Bret Michaels, 58, singer for rock band Poison
173. Charlie Sheen, 56, actor
175. Demi Lovato, 29, singer
181. Jack Osbourne, 36, media personality
195. Prince Andrew, 61, member of British royal family
264. Bam Margera, 42, “Jackass” stunt performer
279. Christina Applegate, 50, actress
280. Corey Feldman, 50, actor
325. Matthew Perry, 52, actor
332. Owen Wilson, 53, actor

Photo: President Jimmy Carter. (Public domain)

Top 20 celebrities predicted to die in 2021

Death didn’t take a holiday in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic swept the globe.
To date, the coronavirus has killed over 1.8 million people worldwide, including over 350,000 in the U.S., according to Worldometer. It has claimed the lives of such celebrities as singers John Prine and Charley Pride, Broadway actor Nick Cordero and “Gilligan’s Island” actress Dawn Wells. (See article by the Wrap.)
Some of the more shocking deaths by other causes in 2020 included actor Chadwick Boseman, actress Kelly Preston, actress Naya Rivera and basketball great Kobe Bryant.
Likely no one participating in the Stiffs.com dead pool contest predicted those deaths. Contestants tend to choose the old and infirm when picking celebrities most likely to die in the year ahead.
Of the top 20 public figures marked for death in 2020 by players on Stiffs.com, nine died last year. They included actor Kirk Douglas, actress Olivia de Havilland, “Jeopardy” host Alex Trebek and comedian Carl Reiner. The others were political matriarch Roberta McCain, English singer Vera Lynn, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, TV news anchor Hugh Downs and media magnate Sumner Redstone.
Who’s likely to croak in 2021?
What follows are the top 20 public figures (with their ages) predicted to die in 2021, according to Stiffs.com.

1. Prince Philip, 99, husband of Queen Elizabeth II
2. Jimmy Carter, 96, former U.S. president
3. Beverly Cleary, 104, children’s book writer
4. Bob Dole, 97, retired U.S. senator
5. Bob Barker, 97, game show host
6. Rush Limbaugh, 69, conservative talk-radio host
7. Henry Kissinger, 97, former U.S. secretary of state
8. Betty White, 98, actress
9. George Shultz, 100, former U.S. secretary of state
10. Tommy Lasorda, 93, Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team manager
11. Dick Van Dyke, 95, actor
12. Lawrence Ferlinghetti, 101, American poet, painter, social activist
13. Queen Elizabeth II, 94, queen of the United Kingdom
14. Roger Angell, 100, American essayist known for writing on sports
15. Mel Brooks, 94, director, writer, actor, comedian
16. Cloris Leachman, 94, actress
17. Olivia Newton-John, 72, singer
18. Norman Lear, 98, television writer and producer
19. Angela Lansbury, 95, actress
20. Barbara Walters, 91, broadcast journalist

Here are some notable younger public figures predicted to die this year by multiple Stiffs.com dead-pool players:

22. Shannen Doherty, 49, actress
70. Michael J. Fox, 59, actor
77. Kim Jong-un, 36, supreme leader of North Korea
87. Val Kilmer, 61, actor
107. Michael Schumacher, 51, racecar driver
146. Artie Lange, 53, comedian
159. Lindsay Lohan, 34, actress
180. Charlie Sheen, 55, actor
204. Amanda Bynes, 34, actress
209. Britney Spears, 39, singer
224. Kanye West, 43, rapper, fashion designer

Photo: Actress Lindsay Lohan in 2013 (Wikipedia Commons)

Top 20 celebrities predicted to die in 2020

Actor Kirk Douglas is one tough SOB. At age 103, Douglas has topped the Stiffs.com annual dead pool for four straight years.
Of the top 20 public figures marked for death in 2019 by players on Stiffs.com, five died last year. They were author Herman Wouk, 103; actress Carol Channing, 97; architect I.M. Pei, 102; actress, singer, and animal welfare activist Doris Day, 97; and actress Valerie Harper, 80.
Who’s likely to bite the dust in 2020?
What follows are the top 20 public figures (with their ages) predicted to die in 2020, according to Stiffs.com.

1. Kirk Douglas, 103, actor 
2. Olivia de Havilland, 103, actress 
3. Jimmy Carter, 95, former U.S. president 
4. Prince Philip, 98, husband of Queen Elizabeth II 
5. Alex Trebek, 79, “Jeopardy” game show host 
6. Roberta McCain, 107, political matriarch 
7. Bob Dole, 96, retired U.S. senator 
8. Beverly Cleary, 103, children’s book writer 
9. Vera Lynn, 102, singer 
10. Bob Barker, 96, game show host 
11. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 86, U.S. Supreme Court justice 
12. Betty White, 97, actress 
13. Henry Kissinger, 96, former U.S. secretary of state 
14. Hugh Downs, 98, TV news anchor 
15. Olivia Newton-John, 71, singer 
16. Carl Reiner, 97, comedian, actor, writer and director 
17. Sumner Redstone, 96, media magnate 
18. Queen Elizabeth II, 93, queen of the United Kingdom 
19. Ed Asner, 90, actor 
20. Dick Van Dyke, 94, actor 

Here are some notable younger public figures predicted to die this year by multiple Stiffs.com dead-pool players:

65. Val Kilmer, 60, actor
67. Eddie Van Halen, 64, rocker
105. Michael J. Fox, 58, actor
112. William “The Refrigerator” Perry, 57, football player
123. Charlie Sheen, 54, actor
135. Artie Lange, 52, comedian
142. Kim Jong-un, 36, supreme leader of North Korea
149. Shannen Doherty, 48, actress
168. Julian Assange, 48, WikiLeaks founder
177. Demi Lovato, 27, singer
183. Johnny Depp, 56, actor
184. Lindsay Lohan, 33, actress
230. Lamar Odom, 40, basketball player
236. Matthew Perry, 50, actor
242. R. Kelly, 52, singer

Photo: Movie poster for “Spartacus” (1960), starring Kirk Douglas. 

Top 20 celebrities predicted to die in 2019

For the third straight year, actor Kirk Douglas leads the list of celebrities and public figures predicted to die in the year ahead, according to the Stiffs.com dead pool.
Douglas is 102 years old, so the odds of him surviving another year are increasingly against him. Four of the top five are centenarians.
Of the top 20 public figures marked for death in 2018 by Stiffs.com, just four died: former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, Christian evangelist Billy Graham, U.S. Senator John McCain and Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee.
Who’s getting a tombstone in 2019?
What follows are the top 20 public figures (with their ages) predicted to die in 2019, according to Stiffs.com.

1. Kirk Douglas, 102, actor
2. Olivia de Havilland, 102, actress
3. Herman Wouk, 103, author
4. Bob Dole, 95, retired U.S. senator
5. Roberta McCain, 106, political matriarch
6. Prince Philip, 97, husband of Queen Elizabeth II
7. Beverly Cleary, 102, children’s book writer
8. Bob Barker, 95, game show host
9. Carol Channing, 97, actress
10. Jimmy Carter, 94, former U.S. president
11. I.M. Pei, 101, architect
12. Vera Lynn, 101, singer
13. Doris Day, 96, actress
14. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 85, U.S. Supreme Court justice
15. Betty White, 96, actress
16. Henry Kissinger, 95, former U.S. secretary of state
17. Hugh Downs, 97, TV news anchor
18. Sumner Redstone, 95, media magnate
19. Olivia Newton-John, 70, singer
20. Valerie Harper, 79, actress

Here are some notable younger public figures predicted to die this year by multiple Stiffs.com dead-pool players:

52. Artie Lange, 51, comedian
75. Val Kilmer, 59, actor
94. Shannen Doherty, 47, actress
119. Charlie Sheen, 53, actor
130. Heather Locklear, 57, actress
153. Harvey Weinstein, 66, movie producer
165. Demi Lovato, 26, singer
174. Michael J. Fox, 57, actor
202. Lindsay Lohan, 32, actress
225. Johnny Depp, 55, actor
240. Sinead O’Connor, 52, singer
244. Andy Dick, 53, comedian
246. Bashar al-Assad, 53, Syrian president

Photo: Demi Lovato

Top 20 celebrities predicted to die in 2018

A number of notable celebrities died in 2017, including Mary Tyler Moore, Jerry Lewis, Don Rickles, Hugh Hefner, Adam West, David Cassidy, Glenn Campbell, Chuck Berry and Tom Petty.
But predicting who’s going to kick the bucket in any given year is tough.
Of the top 20 public figures marked for death in 2017 by Stiffs.com, just three died: comedian Irwin Corey, billionaire banker David Rockefeller and singer-songwriter Glen Campbell.
Who will the Grim Reaper take this year?
What follows are the top 20 public figures (with their ages) predicted to die in 2018, according to Stiffs.com.

1. Kirk Douglas, 101, actor 
2. Olivia de Havilland, 101, actress 
3. George H.W. Bush, 93, former U.S. president 
4. Billy Graham, 99, Christian evangelist 
5. John McCain, 81, U.S. senator 
6. Herman Wouk, 102, author 
7. Prince Philip, 96, husband of Queen Elizabeth II 
8. Roberta McCain, 105, political matriarch 
9. Vera Lynn, 100, singer 
10. Jimmy Carter, 93, former U.S. president 
11. Beverly Cleary, 101, children’s book writer 
12. Bob Barker, 94, game show host 
13. I.M. Pei, 100, architect 
14. Carol Channing, 96, actress 
15. Doris Day, 95, actress 
16. Bob Dole, 94, retired U.S. senator 
17. Valerie Harper, 78, actress 
18. Betty White, 95, actress 
19. Henry Kissinger, 94, former U.S. secretary of state 
20. Stan Lee, 95, Marvel Comics creator 

Here are some notable younger public figures predicted to die this year by multiple Stiffs.com dead-pool players:

33. Val Kilmer, 58, actor
71. Shannen Doherty, 46, actress
80. Artie Lange, 50, comedian
91. Charlie Sheen, 52, actor
141. Lamar Odom, 38, basketball player
142. Randy Travis, 58 , country music singer
160. Steven Morrissey, 58, singer
161. William “The Refrigerator” Perry, 55, football player
197. Lindsay Lohan, 31, actress
234. Lil Wayne, 35, rapper
236. Macaulay Culkin, 37, actor
252. Andy Dick, 52, actor
254. Avril Lavigne, 33, singer
288. Justin Bieber, 23, singer
289. Kim Kardashian, 37, reality TV star

Photo: Singer Avril Lavigne 

Top 20 celebrities predicted to die in 2017

Last year a lot of notable celebrities died, including Prince, David Bowie, George Michael, Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds and Gene Wilder.
Of the top 20 public figures marked for death in 2016 by Stiffs.com, five died: actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, former First Lady Nancy Reagan, Cuban leader Fidel Castro, actor Abe Vigoda, and football coach Buddy Ryan.
Who will the Grim Reaper take this year?
Players in several online dead pool competitions have made their picks for celebrities and public figures most likely to die in 2017.
Here are the top 20 public figures (with their ages) predicted to die in 2017, according to Stiffs.com:

1. Kirk Douglas, 100, actor
2. Olivia de Havilland, 100, actress
3. Billy Graham, 98, Christian evangelist
4. George H.W. Bush, 92, former U.S. president
5. Herman Wouk, 101, author
6. Irwin Corey, 102, comedian
7. Roberta McCain, 104, political matriarch
8. David Rockefeller, 101, American banker and philanthropist
9. Prince Philip, 95, husband of Queen Elizabeth II
10. Jimmy Carter, 92, former U.S. president
11. Carol Channing, 95, actress
12. Glen Campbell, 80, country music star
13. Valerie Harper, 77, actress
14. Beverly Cleary, 100, children’s book writer
15. Doris Day, 94, actress and singer
16. Queen Elizabeth II, 90, monarch
17. I.M. Pei, 99, architect
18. Vera Lynn, 99, singer
19. Bob Dole, 93, retired U.S. senator
20. Betty White, 94, actress

Here are some notable younger public figures predicted to die this year by multiple Stiffs.com dead-pool players:

29. Val Kilmer, 57, actor
36. Shannen Doherty, 45, actress
75. Charlie Sheen, 51, actor
86. Kanye West, 39, rapper and music producer
100. Lamar Odom, 37, basketball player
110. Michael J. Fox, 55, actor
131. Justin Bieber, 22, singer
132. Lindsay Lohan, 30, actress

Photo: Kanye West performing at Lollapalooza Chile on April 3, 2011, in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Flickr user rodrigoferrari.)

Top 20 celebrities predicted to die in 2016

Zsa Zsa Gabor refuses to give up the ghost. The 98-year-old actress leads the list of public figures predicted to die in the coming year for the sixth straight year, according to the Stiffs.com dead pool.
Of the top 20 celebrities marked for death in 2015 by Stiffs.com, only two died: Sam Simon, co-creator of the TV series “The Simpsons”; and ESPN sportscaster Stuart Scott. (That compares with five in 2014, seven in 2013, five in 2012 and seven in 2011.)
New to the top 20 list this year are former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, country music star Glen Campbell, football coach Buddy Ryan, children’s book writer Beverly Cleary, and actress Carol Channing.
Here are the top 20 public figures (with their ages) predicted to die in 2016, according to Stiffs.com:

1. Zsa Zsa Gabor, 98, actress
2. Kirk Douglas, 99, actor
3. Billy Graham, 97, Christian evangelist
4. George H.W. Bush, 91, former U.S. president
5. Olivia de Havilland, 99, actress
6. Nancy Reagan, 94, former First Lady
7. Jimmy Carter, 91, former U.S. president
8. Herman Wouk, 100, author
9. Irwin Corey, 101, comedian
10. Valerie Harper, 76, actress
11. Fidel Castro, 89, Cuban leader
12. Roberta McCain, 103, political matriarch
13. Abe Vigoda, 94, actor
14. David Rockefeller, 100, American banker and philanthropist
15. Prince Philip, 94, husband of Queen Elizabeth II
16. Glen Campbell, 79, country music star
17. Clive James, 76, author and journalist
18. Buddy Ryan, 84, football coach
19. Beverly Cleary, 99, children’s book writer
20. Carol Channing, 94, actress

Here are some notable younger public figures predicted to die this year by Stiffs.com dead-pool players:

41. Val Kilmer, 56, actor
55. Rob Ford, 46, Canadian politician
69. Charlie Sheen, 50, actor
74. Lamar Odom, 36, basketball player
127. Lindsay Lohan, 29, actress
133. Steven Morrissey, 56, singer
178. Macaulay Culkin, 35, actor
186. Andy Dick, 50, actor
233. Miley Cyrus, 23, singer
242. Sinead O’Connor, 49, singer
251. Amanda Bynes, 29, actress
254. Axl Rose, 53, rock star
260. Darryl Strawberry, 53, baseball player
281. Justin Bieber, 21, singer
282. Kim Kardashian, 35, reality-TV star

Photo: Actress Lindsay Lohan.

Top 20 celebrities predicted to die in 2015

Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor continues to elude the grim reaper. For the fifth year in a row, Gabor, 97, has been picked as the celebrity most likely to die in the coming year, according to the Stiffs.com dead pool.
Of the top 20 celebrities marked for death in 2014 by Stiffs.com, only five died last year. (That compares with seven in 2013, five in 2012 and seven in 2011.)
The deceased public figures included actor Eli Wallach, actress Luise Rainer, actor Mickey Rooney, Hong Kong entertainment mogul Run Run Shaw and singer Maria Franziska von Trapp.
Here’s the list of public figures (with ages) predicted to die in 2015, according to Stiffs.com:

1. Zsa Zsa Gabor, 97, actress
2. Billy Graham, 96, Christian evangelist
3. George H.W. Bush, 90, former U.S. president
4. Kirk Douglas, 98, actor
5. Sam Simon, 59, director, producer, writer
6. Olivia de Havilland, 98, actress
7. Nancy Reagan, 93, former First Lady
8. Fidel Castro, 88, Cuban leader
9. Irwin Corey, 100, comedian
10. Valerie Harper, 75, actress
11. Herman Wouk, 99, author
12. David Rockefeller, 99, American banker and philanthropist
13. Muhammad Ali, 72, boxer
14. Roberta McCain, 102, political matriarch
15. Prince Philip, 93, husband of Queen Elizabeth II
16. Abe Vigoda, 93, actor
17. Stuart Scott, 49, sportscaster
18. Clive James, 75, author, journalist
19. Gordie Howe, 86, professional hockey player
20. Bob Dole, 91, former U.S. senator

Here are some notable younger public figures (with ages) predicted to die this year by Stiffs.com dead-pool players:

80. Lindsay Lohan, 28 (up from No. 86 last year)
82. Amanda Bynes, 28 (up from No. 135 last year)
91. Justin Bieber, 20
125. Kim Jong-un, 31
193. Miley Cyrus, 22 (down from No. 177 last year)

For other dead pools, check out The Death List and The Dead Pool.

Photo: Actress and reality-TV star Lindsay Lohan ranks No. 80 on the list of celebrities predicted to die in 2015 by Stiffs.com.
People magazine reported Dec. 31 that Lohan contracted chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness, while vacationing in French Polynesia.

Top 20 celebrities predicted to die in 2014

If you listen to people who play dead pools, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor has been at death’s door for three years. For the fourth year in a row, Gabor has been picked as the celebrity most likely to die in the coming year, according to the Stiffs.com dead pool.
Gabor, 96, continued to breathe as 2013 ended, defying the odds makers.
Of the top 20 celebrities marked for death in 2013 by Stiffs.com, seven croaked last year. (That compares with five in 2012 and seven in 2011.)
The deceased public figures included Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, South African President Nelson Mandela and U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
The winner of the 2013 Stiffs.com contest, DePressED, correctly guessed seven deaths from a list of 10 names.
Of course, most picks are public figures in ill health or at an advanced age. Few players dare to make a wild card guess of a young celebrity based on a risky lifestyle. (For instance, no one guessed that actor and race-car driver Paul Walker, 40, would die in 2013.)
Here’s the list of public figures (with ages) predicted to die in 2014:

1. Zsa Zsa Gabor, 96
2. Billy Graham, 95
3. Kirk Douglas, 97
4. Fidel Castro, 87
5. Olivia de Havilland, 97
6. George H.W. Bush, 89
7. Luise Rainer, 103
8. Run Run Shaw, 106
9. Eli Wallach, 98
10. Herman Wouk, 98
11. Nancy Reagan, 92
12. Bob Dole, 90
13. Valerie Harper, 74
14. Prince Philip, 92
15. Maria Franziska von Trapp, 99
16. Roberta McCain, 101
17. Abe Vigoda, 92
18. Hosni Mubarak, 85
19. Irwin Corey, 99
20. Mickey Rooney, 93

Here are some notable younger public figures predicted to die this year:

80.  Bashar al-Assad, 48 (down from No. 57 in 2013)
86.  Lindsay Lohan, 27 (down from No. 34 in 2013)
135.  Amanda Bynes, 27 (up from No. 239 in 2013)
136.  Andy Dick, 48
143.  Brock Lesnar, 36
145.  Charlie Sheen, 48
153.  Edward Furlong, 36
157.  George Zimmerman, 30
169.  Lance Armstrong, 42
177.  Miley Cyrus, 21

Photos: Actress-singer Miley Cyrus (top) is predicted to die in 2014 by two players in the Stiffs.com dead pool. Also, cover of the Dec. 16, 2013, issue of the Globe tabloid.

Top 20 celebrities predicted to die in 2013

For the third year in a row, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor has been picked as the celebrity most likely to die in the coming year, according to the Stiffs.com dead pool.
Gabor, 95, continues to hang in there, much to the chagrin of dead pool players.
Of the top 20 celebrities marked for death in 2012 by Stiffs.com, only five kicked the bucket last year. (That’s down from seven out of the top 20 in 2011.) The deceased public figures included singer Etta James, Libyan airline bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb, baseball hall of famer Gary Carter and college football coach Joe Paterno.
The winner of the 2012 Stiffs.com contest, “Ghosts of Stiffs Past,” correctly guessed nine deaths out of 10. Only baseball great Stan Musial eluded him.
Two contestants correctly predicted the shocking death of singer Whitney Houston.

Here’s the list of public figures predicted to die in 2013:

1. Zsa Zsa Gabor, 95 
2. Hugo Chavez, 58 
3. George H.W. Bush, 88 
4. Nelson Mandela, 94 
5. Billy Graham, 94 
6. Kirk Douglas, 96 
7. Run Run Shaw, 105 
8. Bonnie Franklin, 68 
9. Fidel Castro, 86 
10. Nancy Reagan, 91 
11. Van Cliburn, 78 
12. Hosni Mubarak, 84 
13. Luise Rainer, 102 
14. Eli Wallach, 97 
15. Penny Marshall, 69 
16. Margaret Thatcher, 87 
17. Bob Dole, 89 
18. Olivia de Havilland, 96 
19. Ronnie Biggs, 83 
20. Stan Musial, 92 

Here are some notable younger celebrities predicted to die this year:

34. Lindsay Lohan, 26 (she was ranked No. 69 last year)
57. Bashar al-Assad, 47
75. Robin Roberts, 52
106. Macaulay Culkin, 32
120. Charlie Sheen, 47 (he was ranked No. 112 last year)
127. Courtney Love, 48 (she was ranked No. 118 last year)
144. William “The Refrigerator” Perry, 50
210. Andy Dick, 47
224. Lance Armstrong, 41
239. Amanda Bynes, 26
246. Demi Moore, 50
249. Edward Furlong, 35

Photo: Actress Amanda Bynes was selected by five contestants in this year’s Stiffs.com dead pool. Photo by IDontLikeYouInThatWay.com. 

Top 20 celebrities predicted to die in 2012

For the second year in a row, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor has been selected as the celebrity most likely to die in the coming year, according to contestants playing in the Stiffs.com dead pool.
Gabor, 94, has been in failing health for some time. Stiffs.com entrants picked her as the No. 4 public figure most likely to die in 2010, but she moved up to No. 1 in 2011 and 2012.
Of the top 20 celebrities marked for death in 2011 by Stiffs.com, only seven kicked the bucket last year. They included Bob Hope’s widow, Dolores Hope; former first lady Betty Ford; actor Harry Morgan; golfer Seve Ballesteros; baseball great Harmon Killebrew; journalist and author Christopher Hitchens; and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
Here’s the full list of public figures predicted to die in 2012:

1. Zsa Zsa Gabor, 94
2. Etta James, 73
3. Billy Graham, 93
4. Abdelbaset Al Megrahi, 59
5. Kirk Douglas, 95
6. Robin Gibb, 62
7. Ronnie Biggs, 82
8. Gary Carter, 57
9. Penny Marshall, 68
10. Fidel Castro, 85
11. Nancy Reagan, 90
12. Run Run Shaw, 104
13. Margaret Thatcher, 86
14. Luise Rainer, 101
15. Joe Paterno, 85
16. Olivia de Havilland, 95
17. Eli Wallach, 96
18. Nelson Mandela, 93
19. Prince Philip, 90
20. Aretha Franklin, 69

The top of the Stiffs.com list usually includes the elderly and the infirm. Here are some notable younger celebrities predicted to die this year:

69. Lindsay Lohan, 25
112. Charlie Sheen, 46
118. Courtney Love, 47
245. Mindy McCready, 36

Photo: Troubled actress Lindsay Lohan is No. 69 on the list of celebrities most likely to die in 2012. Playboy photo from I Don’t Like You In That Way.

Top 20 celebrities predicted to die in 2011

Contestants in the Stiffs.com dead pool have picked actress Zsa Zsa Gabor as the celebrity most likely to die in 2011.
The 93-year-old actress was No. 4 on the 2010 list of public figures thought most likely to die in the year. But she survived.
Of the top 10 celebrities marked for death in 2010 in the Stiffs.com dead pool, five died during the year: basketball coach John Wooden, Iraqi war criminal Chemical Ali, sportscaster Ernie Harwell, U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd and radio and TV personality Art Linkletter.

Top 20 picks in the 2011 Stiffs.com dead pool

1. Zsa Zsa Gabor, 93, actress
2. Aretha Franklin, 68, singer
3. Michael Douglas, 66, actor
4. Billy Graham, 92, Christian evangelist
5. Dolores Hope, 101, singer and widow of actor Bob Hope
6. Kirk Douglas, 94, actor
7. Ronnie Biggs, 81, British criminal famous for role in the Great Train Robbery of 1963
8. Fidel Castro, 84, Cuban leader
9. Betty Ford, 92, widow of former U.S. President Gerald Ford
10. Run Run Shaw, 103, Hong Kong media mogul
11. Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, 58, Libyan terrorist convicted in bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988
12. Nancy Reagan, 89, widow of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan
13. Penny Marshall, 67, actress and director
14. Luise Rainer, 100, actress
15. Harry Morgan, 95, actor
16. Seve Ballesteros, 53, professional golfer
17. Christopher Hitchens, 61, author, journalist and pundit
18. Harmon Killebrew, 74, baseball player
19. Kim Jong-il, 69, North Korean leader
20. Maggie Thatcher, 85, former prime minister of the United Kingdom

10 people who are predicted to die in 2010

The wagers are in and Billy Graham is the odds-on favorite to die this year.
The 91-year-old Christian evangelist ranks No. 1 with players in this year’s Stiffs.com dead pool contest. Following close behind is Cuban leader Fidel Castro, 83.
Both men were on last year’s Stiffs.com top 10 picks list, but have moved up. Graham was ranked No. 6 last year and Castro No. 4. Graham has been on the top 10 most likely to die list for five straight years. Castro has made the list four years in a row. Eventually the dead pool players will be right.
Five of last year's top 10 picks croaked, including U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, actor Patrick Swayze, anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, politico Eunice Shriver and columnist Bob Novak.
Contestants in the Stiffs.com dead pool pick 10 public figures they think are likely to die in the year ahead. Players list the people in order of certainty, with the one they think is most likely to die in the No. 1 position. Points are awarded according to position.

Top 10 picks in the 2010 Stiffs.com dead pool

1. Billy Graham, 91, Christian evangelist


2. Fidel Castro, 83, Cuban leader


3. John Wooden, 99, basketball coach


4. Zsa Zsa Gabor, 92, actress


5. Chemical Ali, 68, former Iraqi minister awaiting death sentence for war crimes


6. Ronnie Biggs, 80, British criminal famous for his role in the Great Train Robbery of 1963


7. Ernie Harwell, 91, American sportscaster


8. Seve Ballesteros, 52, professional golfer


9. Robert Byrd, 92, U.S. senator from West Virginia


10. Art Linkletter, 97, radio and TV personality

Dead pool activity heating up as celebrities start dropping

The death of pop singer Michael Jackson on Thursday was the latest in a bunch of big-name celebrity deaths in recent weeks.
First, actor David Carradine (“Kung Fu” and “Kill Bill”) died in Thailand on June 4 of an accidental hanging or suicide. Then, TV host Ed McMahon passed away on June 23. Actress and 1970s sex symbol Farrah Fawcett died after a long battle with cancer June 25. Later that same day, Jackson died.
Until this month, 2009 had been rather uneventful for celebrity deaths. Mostly B-listers passed on (Dom DeLuise, Bea Arthur), but few big household names.
Some lucky contestants in online dead pools benefitted from the untimely demise of these celebrities and other public figures. With 2009 nearly at the midpoint, it’s time to check in on the most prominent dead pools to see how prescient their contestants were.
Let’s start with Stiffs.com, which is known for making light of celebrity deaths. (Ed McMahon: “Heeeeeeeeeeere’s Eternity!” and King of Pop Michael Jackson: “He touched so many ...”)
Two contestants are tied for first place. Both picked Fawcett and one picked Jackson among their selections.
At TheDeadpool.com, a player known as the Grim Reaper is leading with a score of 128 and three deaths (Fawcett, basketball player Wayman Tisdale, and North Carolina State University women’s basketball coach Kay Yow).

News media decline creates cottage industry

The troubles of the newspaper industry and journalism trade overall have created a cottage industry for Web sites that track their decline.
The Web site Paper Cuts tracks U.S. newspaper closings and job cuts. It counts 56 newspapers that have closed so far this year. That’s on top of 40 that closed last year.
Paper Cuts also counts more than 3,555 newspaper jobs lost this year to date, which is on pace to beat last year’s total of 15,333-plus job cuts.
Another Web site is Newspaper Death Watch. As you’d expect the postings are mostly gloom and doom for the newspaper industry.
It also evaluates some of the solutions proposed for rescuing the industry, including subscriptions for online content, charging for premium content, turning newspapers into non-profits, government subsidies, and bundling with cable service.
A Twitter site called The Media Is Dying provides quick updates on layoffs, closures and rumors.

The Web site Magazine Death Pool tracks the demise of magazines. It’s reported on the recent deaths of Movieline’s Hollywood Life, The American, Computer Shopper and Hallmark Magazine. It’s also put slick business magazine, Portfolio, on death watch. Noting a 60% drop in ad pages in the first quarter alone, the site calls the publication “Conde Nast’s charity case.”
Magazine Death Pool also reports that more than 525 U.S. magazines folded last year. This year, as of mid-February, 40 have closed.
Newspapers and magazines have been hit hard by the recession, but other industries are suffering as much or more. There are a host of Web sites that track closures and job cuts in vertical markets, such as retail (Timely Demise), law firms (American Lawyer’s The Layoff List), and tech companies (FuckedStartups and Screwdd).
Another Web site, It Died, tracks not only shuttered tech firms, but also Web services that have been discontinued.

Dead pool Web site has the nerve to lay odds on assassination for President Barack Obama

While one major celebrity dead pool (Stiffs.com) is like a vigil, waiting for the old and the infirm to die, another is more ghoulish (TheDeadPool.com), giving bigger scores to people who can accurately predict the deaths of young public figures.
At TheDeadPool.com, there’s less of an emphasis on senior citizens with cancer and more on young celebs in the fast lane who might die of drug overdoses, high-speed car wrecks or murder.
In the Web site’s dead pool game, scoring is based on 100 minus age, with a minimum of 1 point.
An article at TheDeadPool.com lists “The 100 Most Likely People To Die In 2009.” The author, Mack Rawden, rightfully calls his article a “bulletin of blasphemy.”
At No. 10, he lists our newly minted 44th president, Barack Obama. He puts the chances of seeing his obituary this year at 25%. “Cause: Foul play,” he writes. “Barack Obama has, as a sitting President Of The United States, a nineteen percent chance of dying in office. Four former Presidents have died of natural causes and four have perished by sniper. I wish I could say Barack’s odds of survival were roughly the same as his white predecessors, but there are a lot of stupid, hateful douche bags out there.”

Here’s to hoping he’s dead wrong on that one.

He mentions several celebrities likely to die of overdoses this year: Tom Sizemore (percentage odds of dying this year: 65%), Amy Winehouse (60%), Pete Doherty (50%), Artie Lange (40%), Joaquin Phoenix (10%) and Andy Dick (5%).