The DeathList 2003

14 / 50 dead

Deathlist 2003 is an expertly compiled list of 50 celebrities selected for their likelihood to die during 2003. The first Deathlist was drawn up in 1987 and each year since then has achieved various degrees of success. Deathlist 2002 had 10 successes - equalling the record performance for the fourth year in a row. The only main rules in compiling the Deathlist is that no more than 25 of the candidates must have appeared on the previous year's list and that the candidates must be famous enough to ensure that their deaths are newsworthy (in the UK at least). Email us with your comments and suggestions for next years list at comments@deathlist.net

The 2003 List

Rank	Appear	Name	Age	Description
1	1	Warren Zevon	56	Singer / songwriter
2	13	Bob Hope	100	Entertainer
3	10	Pope John Paul II	83	Pope
4	2	Gregory Peck	87	Actor
5	5	Max Schmeling	98	Hitler's Boxer (or maybe not)
6	4	Leni Riefenstahl	101	Hitler's Film Director
7	8	Princess Alice	102	Queen Mum's sister-in-law
8	1	Strom Thurmond	101	US Senator
9	2	Albert Hofmann	97	Creator of LSD
10	3	Ronnie Biggs	74	Ambassador
11	6	Fay Wray	96	King Kong's squeeze
12	11	Katharine Hepburn	96	Actress
13	9	Alistair Cooke	95	Broadcaster
14	2	Edward Teller	95	Hydrogen bomb inventor
15	3	Estée Lauder	97	Fashion leader
16	8	John Mills	95	Actor
17	6	Simon Wiesenthal	95	Nazi Hunter
18	3	Elia Kazan	94	Director
19	5	Hardy Amies	94	Dress maker
20	2	Joseph Barbera	92	Cartoonist (Hanna-Barbera)
21	4	Lord Scarman	92	Judge
22	13	Ronald Reagan	92	(former) Idiot
23	5	Thora Hird	92	Actress
24	6	Lord James Callaghan	91	ex-PM
25	1	Barry Sheene	53	Motorcyclist
26	2	Bill Deedes	90	Journalist
27	3	Gerald Ford	90	ex US President
28	2	Jack Jones	90	ex TUC Leader
29	4	Michael Foot	90	Tramp
30	3	Karl Malden	91	Actor
31	2	Denis Thatcher	88	Drunkard
32	1	Harry Morgan	88	MASH
33	2	Norman Wisdom	88	Comedian
34	7	Red Adair	88	Fire Fighter
35	2	Yitzhak Shamir	88	Ex PM Israel
36	3	PW Botha	87	Dictator (deposed)
37	2	Walter Cronkite	87	Journalist
38	7	Kurt Waldheim	85	Nazi
39	1	King Taufa'ahau Tupou	84	King of Tonga
40	1	Jack Palance	83	Actor
41	4	Mickey Rooney	83	Actor
42	2	Zsa Zsa Gabor	86	Actress
43	3	Peter Ustinov	82	Writer, Actor & Raconteur
44	2	Suharto	82	Ex President of Indonesia
45	3	Eric Sykes	80	Comedian
46	1	Johnny Carson	78	TV Presenter
47	2	Idi Amin	77	Ex-dictator
48	4	Yassir Arafat	74	Terrorist
49	2	Johnny Cash	71	Singer
50	3	Vaclav Havel	67	Czech PM

Latest News

31st December 2003

That was the year that was

So 2003 ends with a record 14 deaths - 28% - smashing the previous record of 10. The successes, as is often the case, came in a few bursts but none near the end of the year. Hopefully this means there's a few candidates teetering on the brink!
27th September 2003

Deceased of Eden!

Veteran film director, Elia Kazan, has died in New York aged 94 to give DeathList 2003 its 14th success. Kazan, who was most famous for directing East of Eden, has appeared on the DeathList for the last 3 years. Happily he has resoundingly justified his promotion to the number 18 slot on this year's list. It looks like DeathList 2003 is going to set an awesome target that won't be surpassed for many years to come.

3 appearances: 2003 (18), 2002 (43), 2001 (15)

14th Death
Age: 94, Director, Cause of death: Old Age/TBC
11th September 2003

Ring of funeral pyre!

Johnny Cash, legendary US country singer, has finally succumbed to a multitude of complaints to give Deathlist 2003 its fourth death in five days. After Walking the Line for 71 years, Cash can now expect many Men in Black to be attending his funeral. As the 13th success of the year theres no evidence that it will be unlucky 13 for Deathlist 2003.

2 appearances: 2003 (49), 2000 (27)

13th Death
Age: 71, Singer, Cause of death: Diabetes and complications
9th September 2003

There's no Teller when this will end!

The explosive form of DeathList 2003 continues with news of the death of Edward Teller, so-called father of the H-Bomb, has died. The shockwave following the deaths of Zevon and Riefenstahl is still ripping through the list with three deaths in three days. The 95 year old scientist was number 14 on this years list and leave us wondering how many victims the fallout will claim. So its 12 deaths for the year so far. Are there more to come??

2 appearances: 2003 (14), 2002 (37)

12th Death
Age: 95, Hydrogen bomb inventor, Cause of death: Old Age
8th September 2003

A pleasant but Nazi surprise!

Hitler's filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl has finally joined the big Reich in the sky. The 'hun'-dred and one year old nazi, who has been a deathlist regular since 2000, has passed away to give Deathlist 2003 its glorious record-breaking 11th success. Now its just a question of how high the bar can go!

4 appearances: 2003 (6), 2002 (6), 2001 (8), 2000 (35)

11th Death
Age: 101, Hitler's Film Director, Cause of death: Old Age/Cancer
7th September 2003

Gone with 'The Wind'

Just weeks after the release of his farewell CD - The Wind - American singer songwriter Warren Zevon has lost his battle with cancer. 56 year old Zevon was diagnosed with inoperable cancer last year and leapt straight to the top of this year's Deathlist charts. With tracks such as 'I'll sleep when I'm Dead' and albums entitled 'Life'll Kill Ya' and 'Wanted Dead or Alive' Zevon seemed destined for Deathlist success. His departure is the 10th success of the year and makes Deathlist 2003 the joint record holder.

1 appearance: 2003 (1)

10th Death
Age: 56, Singer/songwriter, Cause of death: Cancer
15th August 2003

Idi Amin Dadadead!

Idi Amin, the infamous former Ugandan dictator, has finally died to give the deathlist its ninth success of the year. 80-year-old Amin has been on the critical list for several weeks and eventually gave into to popular demand. The tally for Deathlist 2003 now stands at nine with over four months of the year to go. The record of ten deaths in a year is now well within reach. NB. Since Idi's death it has been brought to our attention that our original write up may have been unfair. Amin was apparently an accomplished accordion player, the self appointed 'King of Scotland' and also enjoyed fishing and swimming. We apologise if it appeared that Amin was just famous for being an evil dictatorial murderer - that was just what he was best at!

2 appearances: 2003 (47), 1994 (41)

9th Death
Age: 77, Ex-dictator, Cause of death: Kidney Failure
27th July 2003

It's Official - Deathlist Hopeless!

After appearing on every Deathlist since 1994 Bob Hope has finally justified his selection as the number 2 candidate this year by passing away just weeks after his 100th birthday. Hope has become one of the Deathlist greats in appearing an amazing 13 times - a feat only bettered by the Queen Mother. So it now looks as if Deathlist 2003 is on the Road to... record breaking year. Now back to work on preparing Idi Amin's obituary...

13 appearances: 2003 (2), 2002 (3), 2001 (6), 2000 (7), 1999 (9), 1998 (10), 1997 (17), 1996 (48), 1995 (50), 1993 (38), 1991 (23), 1990 (33), 1987 (16)

8th Death
Age: 100, Entertainer, Cause of death: Old Age
29th June 2003

Guess who's not coming to dinner

DeathList 2003 is in unstoppable form following the news of a third success in the space of five days. Actress Katharine Hepburn, selected in this year's number 12 slot, has died aged 96. The DeathList Committee has been emailed several times in the last few years informing us that Hepburn was already dead, but we can finally celebrate with definitive proof. With seven deaths in the first sixth months the record of 10 deaths in a year now looks well within reach.

11 appearances: 2003 (12), 2002 (8), 2001 (20), 2000 (12), 1999 (24), 1998 (50), 1997 (40), 1996 (37), 1995 (23), 1993 (36), 1990 (28)

7th Death
Age: 96, Actress, Cause of death: Old Age
26th June 2003

Strom voted out

Veteran US Senator and racist, Strom Thurmond, has died to give DeathList 2003 its sixth success and second inside two days. Thurmond, who was 100 years old, was nearly omitted from this year's list on the grounds of not being famous enough in the UK. However, the correct decision was eventually made and he was selected in the number 8 slot. With the DeathList 2003 total at six deaths with more than half a year to go the record pace is back on.

1 appearance: 2003 (8)

6th Death
Age: 101, US Senator, Cause of death: Old Age
25th June 2003

Sir Denis' spirits live on!

Sir Denis Thatcher, husband of the former British Prime Minister, has died aged 88 to give DeathList 2003 its fifth success. This year's number 31 selection, who was well known for enjoying a drink or two, had last appeared on the 1994 DeathList but was wisely reselected this year. With two deaths this month DeathList 2003 looks as if it is finally starting to gather momentum.

2 appearances: 2003 (31), 1994 (18)

5th Death
Age: 88, Drunkard, Cause of death: Old Age
11th June 2003

Peck of the Day!

Veteran actor Gregory Peck has thankfully brought a quiet Spell(bound) for the Deathlist to an end. The 87 year old movie star was confidently selected in this year's number four slot following (Cape) Fears that he wasn't in the best of health. Clearly The Omen's weren't good for Peck and it was only a matter of time before he added to this year's total. With only four deaths so far this year the Deathlist 2003 needs to pick up its pace over the second half of the year to achieve a reasonable result.

2 appearances: 2003 (4), 1997 (36)

4th Death
Age: 87, Actor, Cause of death: Old age
22nd March 2003

Launch of wap.deathlist.net

With all the talk of G3, GPRS and Photo Messaging, here at deathlist.net we like to focus on dying technology. We are therefore proud to announce our launch onto the WAP platform. Have you ever found yourself in the bar, in your car, on the train or on the bus, desperately trying to remember which celebrities are on the Deathlist this year? Well now you can access the Deathlist from anywhere by using our WAP site. Point your mobile phone to wap.deathlist.net to check out the latest information wherever you are.
16th March 2003

Hird is the Third!

British actress, Dame Thora Hird, has died today giving Deathlist 2003 its third success in the space of 11 days. Hird, who starred in TV's Last of the Summer Wine, passed away aged 91 a week after suffering a stroke. It turned out to be a 'stroke of luck' for the Deathlist, which is now back on record pace after a slow start.

5 appearances: 2003 (23), 2002 (31), 2001 (39), 1999 (38), 1997 (46)

3rd Death
Age: 92, Actress, Cause of death: Stroke
10th March 2003

Final pitstop for Sheene

Following his well-publicised battle against cancer using only homeopathic medicines, British motorcycling legend, Barry Sheene, is once again in the news, this time for his well-publicised death. Thanks to Sheene's positive statements about his approach to conquering the big 'C', the Deathlist committee confidently slotted the 53 year old into this year's number 25 position and have been rewarded with the second success within a week. As so often happens, Deathlist 2003 made a slow start but has now opened up its throttle and is starting to roar through the field. Hopefully by the time the chequered flag is waved, Deathlist 2003 will be ready for a lap of honour!

1 appearance: 2003 (25)

2nd Death
Age: 53, Motorcyclist, Cause of death: Cancer
5th March 2003

Hardy drops his last stitch

The Queen's former dressmaker, Sir Hardy Amies, has died aged 93. It did seam that the Deathlist committee had pinned high hopes on Amies this year as there was a distinct pattern in his recent positioning on the list - on Deathlist 2002 he was number 46, this year he was awarded the number 19 spot. With the first success of the year compleat - we shall sleeve it there and needless to say we look forward to the next success.

5 appearances: 2003 (19), 2002 (46), 2001 (27), 2000 (39), 1998 (20)

1st Death
Age: 94, Dress maker, Cause of death: Old Age
1st January 2003

Off we go again

After promising early progress Deathlist 2002 once again could only equal the record of 10 deaths in the year. Deathlist 2003 includes a strong selection of candidates who maybe can deliver a new record. Obituary writers at the ready!