5 Celebs You Thought Were Dead But Aren't

[Zoneboy]

Betty White-Abe Vigoda Super Bowl Ad Shows Age Is Only A Number

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For some, the highlight of February's Super Bowl wasn't New Orleans slaughtering Indianapolis. Instead, it was seeing the ageless Betty White in that terrific Snickers commercial in the first quarter.

In the ad, White was tackled to the ground in a sandlot game between friends. Funny, funny stuff. The kicker was at the very end, however, when the also-ageless Abe Vigoda was included in the bit.

After seeing the former "Barney Miller" star (not to mention "The Godfather"), one refrain was heard from coast to coast in living rooms across America. You know what that phrase was. Say it with me now: "I didn't know he was still alive!"

With that phrase in mind, lets take a quick look at five celebrities who we simply didn't realize were still with us.

Up First: The Feisty Comedienne Lives On.

Celebs Who Are Still Alive - Phyllis Diller
Born On July 17, 1917, in Lima, Ohio


Phyllis Diller is still alive?

That may seem unbelievable, especially since Diller seemed to be old and cranky when she was a TV staple in the '60s and '70s. But that was her schtick, playing the harried housewife with a loser husband, ungrateful kids and always too much laundry to iron.

But what has she done for us lately?

How about playing an old flame of Denny's (William Shatner) in a 2007 episode of "Boston Legal"? They apparently had a romantic moment in a foxhole during World War II. Captain Kirk and Phyllis? Beam me to another planet.

Diller is also the current voice of Peter Griffin's mother, Thelma, on "Family Guy." Thelma is known for chain smoking and gambling, and even had a short June-December relationship with TV anchor Tom Tucker. Sounds like primo voice work, if you can get it. Diller did.

Phyllis Ada Driver. She was born on July 17, 1917, in Lima, Ohio, and she's still with us. Right now she's 92 years old, living in Brentwood, Calif.




Up Next: An 'Odd' Actor Is Still With Us


Celebs Who Are Still Alive - Jack Klugman
Born On April 27, 1922, in Philadelphia


Jack Klugman is still alive.

Some of you may know him as Quincy, M.E. (a late-'70s TV series ahead of its time considering all the CSI's and clones on the airwaves these days), but Mr. Klugman most-famously played the lovable Oscar Madison in the TV sitcom "The Odd Couple."

Tony Randall (who is not with us), played his neat-freak foil, Felix Unger. Both were perfect for their parts, made famous in the movies by Jack Lemmon (Felix) and Walter Matthau (Oscar).

While some may argue Klugman didn't have the acting chops of Matthau, he did play the convincing slob/sportswriter. When they showed shots of his sandwich-under-the-pillow-laundry-everywhere bedroom, you always wondered how many people said to themselves, "He lives like me."

In the '80s, Klugman was diagnosed with throat cancer, which left his great voice harsh and raspy. Oscar loved his cigarettes and cigars. Quincy would have told him to quit smoking.

Jack Klugman. He was born on April 27, 1922, in Philadelphia, and he's still with us. Right now he's 87 years old.




Up Next: You Can Call Me Al

Celebs Who Are Still Alive - Al Molinaro
Born On June 24, 1919, in Kenosha, Wis.

Al Molinaro is still with us.

Who is Al Molinaro? Didn't you ever watch "Happy Days"? Al owned Arnold's Drive-In, where Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard), Potsie Weber (Anson Williams), Arthur Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler) and the gang hung out.

OK, Mr. Molinaro wasn't the first Al to push milkshakes in the series. Can you guess the first? Tick. Tick. Tick.

OK, time's up. It was Pat Morita -- Mr. Miyagi from "The Karate Kid" movies -- who's no longer with us. Morita returned to the series after Molinaro bowed out.

After "Happy Days," Molinaro teamed up with Williams to open a string of Big Al's diners. Look close, and you can even spot him in the 1994 "Buddy Holly" video by Weezer.

He's now retired from acting, settling down in Glendale, Calif., where he lives today with his wife, Sidney.

Albert Francis Molinaro. He was born on June 24, 1919, in Kenosha, Wis., making him 91 years old.




Up Next: He Really Was Spartacus!!

Celebs Who Are Still Alive - Kirk Douglas
Born On Dec. 9, 1916, in Amsterdam, N.Y.

Kirk Douglas

Some believe Kirk Douglas will never die. Yep, the father of popular film actor Michael Douglas, is still with us.

He of extremely dimpled chin is in his 90s now, and is the current title holder of Oldest Celebrity Blogger!

You can catch his latest thoughts on his MySpace account. Although wouldn't it be great if Spartacus tweeted?

In addition to logging the blogs, Douglas has spent some time on the stage recently. In 2009, he starred in a one-man autobiographical show in Culver City, Calif., a four-performance stint that's been turned into a documentary, out this year.

No word if he was in his gladiator garb, however. But if someone could pull off that look at his age, it would be Kirk Douglas.

Kirk Douglas (birth name Issur Daneilovitch) was born on Dec. 9, 1916, in Amsterdam, N.Y.

He's 93 years old, and could probably still kick your butt.



Up Next: The Original Island Girl! >>


Celebs Who Are Still Alive - Dawn Wells
Born On Oct. 18, 1938, in Reno, Nev.

Wells charmed the world by playing Mary Ann in the '60s sitcom "Gilligan's Island," whipping up coconut cream pie after coconut cream pie.

She was Betty to Ginger's (Tina Louise) Veronica on that show. To this day, grown men ponder who they would rather be stuck with on a desert island for eternity: Mary Ann or Ginger.

Sure, Ginger had the goods -- but Mary Ann wasn't exactly a warthog, and most important -- she could cook! There. Settled that debate.

Besides, Wells was a real-life beauty queen. In 1960 she was Miss Nevada in the Miss America pageant.

Of the "Gilligan's Island" crew, only Wells, Louise and Russell Johnson (The Professor) are still here. Bob Denver (Gilligan), Alan Hale (The Skipper), Natalie Schafer (Lovie Howell) and Jim Backus (Mr. Howell) have all sailed to the other side.

Dawn Elberta Wells. She was born Oct. 18, 1938, in Reno, Nev. That makes her 71 years old, but no matter how old she gets -- she'll always be everyone's true island girl.

[Adamantium]

For years I thought Joe Cocker was dead. It wasn't until I saw "Across the Universe" that I learned he was still alive. In recent years, I thought Lee Meriweather had died, but she didn't. When I first started watching "The Odd Couple" on Nick at Nite back in, what, 1996, I too assumed Jack Klugman was dead. But he ended up outliving Tony Randall. As a kid, I believed all six of The Three Stooges to be dead. It wasn't until Curly-Joe DeRita actually died in 1993, that I learned he was alive all that time. My mom always assumes Abe Vigoda is dead. Every once in a while I have to remind her that he's alive.

[catlover79]

I remember last year that Abe Vigoda played the voice of Death in an H&R Block ad that aired during the Super Bowl. I casually mentioned it to my mom in passing and she said, "Abe Vigoda is still alive?"