2020 RIP-ers

Tradition is that on New Years I post those celebs who did not make it to Dec 31. This year I decided to do a ranking. I base this on magnitude of the loss and whether or not it was expected. For example a "10" is the unexpected loss of an icon. I can only think of 4 in the last few years. Princess Di, John Lennon, Micheal Jackson and JFK, so don't expect any 10's this year. I reserve the right to edit, move up and down..etc

10

9
Sean Connery-Might be a bit hi but Capt Remulus deserves a 7, and Bond kicks it up 2 notches.
Kobe Bryant-Some will want a 10 but I'm not feeling it. I'm not a fan of rapists.
Neil Peart-greatest drummer of all time!
Qasem Soleimani-Thumbs up on this one

8
Ruth Bader Ginsberg-some will want here higher but not me. IMO she is the main driver of turning the SCOTUS into a POLITICAL arm.
Eddie Van Halen-he would be higher were it not for the fact he had been battling cancer for years.

7
Kirk Douglas-the man with the iron jaw
Chuck Yeagar-the man with the iron will
Stirling Moss-some will think lower, others may not know who he is, but I loved the old racers
Alex Trabek-another there could be disagreement with, but his protracted battle takes away the shock factor.
John Lewis-I was not a Lewis fan but will give him his due here.
Regis Philbin-he and Alex Trebek are the greatest hosts of all time. Even better then Bill Cullen and Wink Martindale

6
Diego Maradona-were we Argentinians this would be higher. He wasn't Pele
Herman Cain-Think this is about right
John Prine-was not a Prine fan but many are so he moved up a bit over most musicians
Don Larsen-Perfect game...
David Stern
Don Schula

5
Dawn Wells-she will definitely be higher then Tina Louise
Charlis Daniels
Kenny Rogers-You will note lots of musicians here
Little Richard-great voice and founding father of R and R
Frankie Banali-he could play the drums like a mad man
Jerry Stiller-I wasn't a fan but fathered Ben Stiller
Brian Dennehy-was always the "other guy" in movies.
James Lipton-great journalist, very refined
David Owen Brooks :-) Mass Murder

4
Max von Sydow
Orson Bean
Phyllis George
Carl Reiner
Phil Neikro
Rafer Johnson
David Dinkins
Joe Morgan
Whitey Ford
Bob Gibson
Lou Brock
Jay Johnstone
Robert Conrad
Buck Henry
John Schlarman

3
Tarvaris Jackson
Charlie Pride
Kevin Green
Tiny Lister
Arnie Robinson
Conchata Ferrell
Tom Kennedy
Johnny Nash
Mac Davis
Jay Johnstone
Cliff Robinson
Al Kaline
Bill Withers
Reni Santoni
Kurt Thomas
Fred Willard
Chadwick Boseman
Kelly Preston
Olivia DE Havilland
Lyle Waggoner
Leslie West

2
Kamala
Roy Horn
Pierre Cardin
David Lander aka Squigy
Mary Higgins Clark
Bonnie Pointer

1
Rocky Johnson
Jackie Stallone
Honor Blackman
Steve Bing
Roger Scruton
Ernesto Cardenal
Benjamin Keough (elvis grandson)
Philip Warren Anderson
Josie Harris
Logan Williams
Nick Cordero
Rhonda Fleming
Terry Jones
Justin Townes Earle
Grim Sleeper
Hugh Downs
Fred the Godson
Tony Fernandez
Jerry Jeff Walker


NOTE: I did not include George Floyd, Breanna Taylor etc for 2 reasons. 1) none were celeb or known prior to their deaths (IE, it was the death itself that garnered notority/celebrity. 2) don't want this to get "political"

Dawn wells for me is at least a 9. First b/c Gilligan's ISland is one of those childhood touchstones, I've seen every episode many times (though not in many years), and second b/c it's Mary Ann, and I'm a girl next door kind of guy and she had it all going on. Easily my first boyhood star crush.

Also she was renowned for her graciousness to her fans and fans of the show, as Darrell mentioned on her thread. Sure it was a campy short lived and silly show, but it ended up being one of those shows in rerun that reached vast audiences, and though it typecast her she never was anything but kind about it.

Objectively let's say a 7. :)


Certainly RBG is a major death, a 10 in terms of impact and maybe a 20, I don't think you can overstate the implications whether you see them as good or bad. Second in terms of impact is Soleimani, and good riddance from me as well.

You have to have Sir Sean Connery at the top simply for his lifelong impact on film and male role models. I mean come on, this guy has been a defining male lead since the 1960s.

IMO you have Max Von Sydow too low. Though a mostly character actor, he was arguably one of the most respected actors in the world. He could have had a much bigger career but early on he avoided international roles. Given the just discussed Connery, he was actually offered the role of Dr. No and turned it down. Despite his own limitations on his career, he was highly respected throughout the industry and did have numerous nominations and awards.

Of course I have some bias, as he also was willing to take on roles in more campy movies and give them some depth, two of my favorites being Conan the Barbarian and Flash Gordon. He was also great in De Laurentis' Dune. While he got nominations for other films, I thought he was completely brilliant in "Victory" as the German officer.


I didn't know Jerry Jeff Walker had died. I'm not a huge fan but I am a passing fan. My ex BIL loves him, from Texas. I may cue him up tonight. I have his greatest hits compilation, and I do enjoy them from time to time. Shares some roots with Jimmy Buffet, in fact Walker is the one who first took Buffet to the Keys, so in that way he's partly responsible for the entire Parrot Head thing.

On RBG, her long protacted illness made her death not a shocking experience like Di, Lennon, etc. That is my standard. Most list of "celebs that died in 2020" don't include her (which I found shocking...I had to add after copying 2 list). Still, I can see a 9.

As for Mary Ann...a side character on a low budget campy show that lasted just 3 seasons. I get the emotional attachment but as far as achievements, I can't put her ahead of Larsen, Cain, etc.

Probably have MvS low. Loved him in Flash Gordon. He did eventually make a bond villian though, as Blofeld in Never Say Never Again. Of course some small roles in one of the Star Wars and GoT

David Stern, Robert Conrad, Charlie Daniels, and Don Shula should be mentioned...


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Originally Posted by blueboss

David Stern, Robert Conrad, Charlie Daniels, and Don Shula should be mentioned...


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Will add.....along with John Schlarman

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Originally Posted by Doc

Will add.....along woth John Schlarman

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Don’t forget Bilbo Baggins...


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John Pine-was not a Pine fan but many are so he moved up a bit over most musicians

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Did you mean John Prine song writer and performer of "Paradise"?

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Originally Posted by dan_bgblue

Did you mean John Prine song writer and performer of "Paradise"?

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Typo....fixed

Figured that was the case. I am a huge fan of that song.

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Originally Posted by dan_bgblue

Did you mean John Prine song writer and performer of "Paradise"?

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I think the way you decide to rank musicians is to look at the impact they had on other musicians. In the case with Prine, he was the musicians' musician. All the good guitarists and vocalists wanted to be on stage with him. To me he stands out from other musicians.