The DeathList 2013

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The DeathList 2013

13 / 50 dead

The DeathList committee has completed its deliberations and finalised DeathList 2013. To recap, the list comprises the celebrities thought, in the opinion of the DeathList committee, most likely to pass away during 2013. The candidates must have a level of famousness such that their death is expected to be reported by the UK media, however their fame cannot be result purely from the fact they are likely to die shortly. The other main rule is that only a maximum of half the list can comprise of candidates on the previous year’s list. DeathList 2012 saw a return to form with a final score 12 dead, however the list had some notable misses. Some strong new candidates appear on the 2013 list, however, although he may float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, there’s no place on DeathList 2013 for Muhammad Ali!

The 2013 List

Rank Name Age Description
1 Ronnie Biggs 84 Ambassador
2 Hugo Chavez 59 President of Venezuela
3 Mikhail Kalashnikov 94 Inventor of AK47
4 Clive James 74 TV presenter
5 Erich Priebke 100 Nazi
6 Chapman Pincher 99 Journalist / Investigator
7 Anna Wing 99 Eastenders Lou Beale
8 Zsa Zsa Gabor 96 Actress
9 João Havelange 97 Ex Fifa president
10 George Bush Senior 89 Former President of USA
11 Eli Wallach 98 Actor
12 Nelson Mandela 95 Politician
13 Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh 92 Casual racist
14 Gough Whitlam 97 Former Australian PM
15 Hosni Mubarak 85 Former Egyptian President
16 Ian Paisley 87 Unionist
17 Kirk Douglas 97 Actor
18 Olivia de Havilland 97 Actress
19 Fidel Castro 87 Dictator
20 Bernadette Nolan 53 Nolan sister
21 Vera Lynn 96 Singer
22 Henry Cecil 70 Racehorse trainer
23 Denis Healey 96 Eyebrowed politican
24 Reg Presley 72 Trogg
25 Harper Lee 87 Author
26 Bob Dole 90 Politican
27 Patty Andrews 95 Last survivor of The Andrews Sisters
28 Michael Winner 78 Film director
29 Margaret Thatcher 88 Milk Snatcher
30 Peter O'Sullevan 95 UK horse racing commentator
31 Billy Graham 95 Evangelist
32 Helmut Schmidt 95 Former German Chancellor
33 Al Molinaro 94 Happy Days Al
34 Richard Attenborough 90 Film director
35 PD James 93 Author
36 Richard Adams 93 Watership Down author
37 Jake LaMotta 92 Boxer
38 Nancy Reagan 92 Actress
39 Peter Sallis 92 Last of the Summer Winer
40 Doris Day 91 Actress
41 Stan Lee 91 Marvel comics
42 General Jaruzelski 90 ex Polish PM
43 Henry Kissinger 90 Diplomat
44 Pete Seeger 94 Protest singer
45 Nicholas Parsons 90 TV quiz show host
46 Elaine Stritch 88 Actress
47 Fats Domino 85 Singer
48 James Garner 85 Jim Rockford
49 Peter O'Toole 81 Actor
50 Ian Brady 75 All round Mr Nice Guy

Latest News

  • 23rd December 2013

    Kalashnikov shoots DeathList towards record

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    DeathList 2013 has scored its thirteenth success of the year with the passing on AK46 developer, Mikhail Kalashnikov. Kalashnikov developed his most famous weapon for the Soviet military in 1947 and was said to describe the assault rifle ‘as a weapon of defence’, with which some of its victims no doubt disagree. Kalashnikov was 94 and had been in and out of hospital throughout the year. He was making his first appearance on DeathList, jumping right into the number 3 spot.

    1 appearance: 2013 (3)
    13th Death
    Age: 94, Inventor of AK47, Cause of death: Unknown
  • 18th December 2013

    We salute you, Ronnie!

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    There have been some big deaths in 2013, however we never saw Margaret Thatcher giving a cheeky shout out to DeathList at the launch of her autobiography and we never caught Nelson Mandela taking a crafty sip from his DeathList mug. For all his faults, it was Ronnie Biggs that eclipsed these world figures in his legendary embracing of DeathList. Ronnie shot to fame in 1963 in being part of the Great Train Robbery crew, albeit as perhaps quite a minor part. His escape from prison and settlement in Brazil, living the life of Riley elevated his notoriety. Ronnie made his first appearance on DeathList in 2000 and was then extradited back to Britain to die in 2001. Despite being picked on the list in every year since 2002 and always near the top of the chart, Ronnie proved to be tough as old boots and turned his taunting in the direction of DeathList with mentions at his book launch and occasional tweets and releases of photos showing him with DeathList merchandise. Perhaps after some initial mixed views, Ronnie soon won over the DeathList audience with his cheeky rascal capers. DeathList salutes you, Ronnie, and thanks you for giving us the 12th success of the year- RIP.

    13 appearances: 2013 (1), 2012 (4), 2011 (1), 2010 (2), 2009 (1), 2008 (4), 2007 (10), 2006 (3), 2005 (2), 2004 (4), 2003 (10), 2002 (1), 2000 (40)
    12th Death
    Age: 84, Ambassador, Cause of death: Cancer
  • 15th December 2013

    Goodbye, Mr Chips

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    Hellraising actor, Peter O’Toole, has supped his last drink and provides DeathList 2013 with its eleventh success of the year. Apart from his alcoholic consumption, O’Toole was most famous for starring in Laurence of Arabia, for which he received an Oscar nomination. During his career he earned a further seven nominations but never won for a performance. He was however awarded an honorary Oscar in 2003. O’Toole passed away aged 81 and surprisingly, considering his hard living, was making his first appearance on DeathList, just sneaking into the 49th spot.

    1 appearance: 2013 (49)
    11th Death
    Age: 81, Actor, Cause of death: Unknown
  • 5th December 2013

    Nelson's Solemn

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    Despite the slowing hit rate of DeathList 2013, there was no missing the biggest death of the year, that being Nelson Mandela. An activist and politician who spearheaded the campaign to dismantle apartheid in South Africa, Mandela made his first appearance on DeathList in 1989 while serving the last of his 27 years in prison. With Mandela looking quite frail on his eventual release in 1990, he made a second appearance on the list in 1991, however it soon became clear his work on this earth was not done and he went on to become South Africa first black president in 1994. Into his 90s, Mandela’s health started to fail and finally, after eight appearances on the list, the universally respected figure succumbed. Unlike some candidates, his achievement of providing DeathList 2013 with its tenth success of the year ranks well down the list of what he achieved in his lifetime.

    8 appearances: 2013 (12), 2012 (31), 2011 (31), 2010 (27), 2009 (29), 2006 (45), 1991 (19), 1989 (12)
    10th Death
    Age: 95, Politician, Cause of death: Unknown
  • 11th October 2013

    Priebke provides DeathList with Nazi Gold

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    After a quiet couple of months, it’s time for unanimous celebrations for the death of Erich Priebke, a Nazi officer convicted of the massacre of some 335 Italians in 1944. Priebke lived to the grand age of 100 and lived some 50 years of his life free in Argentina after escaping to there following the war. Priebke was tracked down by ABC reporters in 1994, which began a long process to bring justice and resulted in him being under house arrest for the last 15 years of his life. A nice outcome for Priebke considering the severity of his crimes. Priebke is success number nine for DeathList 2013. This year marked his fourth appearance on DeathList, securing the number five spot on the list.

    4 appearances: 2013 (5), 2012 (8), 2011 (39), 2010 (16)
    9th Death
    Age: 100, Nazi, Cause of death: Natural causes
  • 11th July 2013

    Anna Wings another success for DeathList

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    Former star of British soap opera, Eastenders, Anna Wing, has passed on at the grand old age of 98 to provide DeathList 2013 with another score. Wing was most famous for her role as Lou Beale when the show first started in the mid 1980’s but her character was killed off well ahead of time in 1988. She remained an active actress through the 90s and 2000s appearing in a variety of TV shows. Wing was making her fifth appearance on DeathList (including the inaugral 1987 list) , breaking into the top 10 at number seven this year. She marks the eighth success for DeathList 2013, maintaining the strong pace set in the first half of the year.

    5 appearances: 2013 (7), 2012 (16), 2011 (26), 2010 (3), 1987 (21)
    8th Death
    Age: 99, Eastenders Lou Beale, Cause of death: Unknown
  • 4th July 2013

    Bernie puts DeathList In The Mood

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    Bernadette “Bernie” Nolan, lead singer of the 80s pop group, The Nolans, has succumbed to cancer, at the age of just 52, to give DeathList 2013 another score. Most famous for their tune “In The Mood for Dancing”, The Nolans were a household name in Britain in the early 1980s. Bernie Nolan went on to have an acting career, appearing on British TV in Brookside and The Bill. She announced that she had breast cancer in 2010 and then got the all clear in 2012, only for it to return several months later. Bernie was making her first appearance on DeathList, charting right at the edge of the top 20. She is the seventh success of the year.

    1 appearance: 2013 (20)
    7th Death
    Age: 53, Nolan sister, Cause of death: Unknown
  • 11th June 2013

    Henry Cecil delivers his final winner

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    Sir Henry Cecil, 10 times flat racing champion horse trainer, has rewarded the DeathList punters for the final time by losing his battle with stomach cancer aged 70. Cecil had many highs and lows throughout his career. He trained eight winners of the Oaks and four Derby winners, but still found time to dabble with drink, drugs, a stable girl and a rather expensive “vice girl”. Towards the end of his life he trained his most highly rated horse, Frankel. Cecil was making his debut appearance of DeathList, drawn at number 22.

    1 appearance: 2013 (22)
    6th Death
    Age: 70, Racehorse trainer, Cause of death: Cancer
  • 8th April 2013

    The Lady's for interring...

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    Former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, has passed away, putting another point on the DeathList 2013 scoreboard. In the earlier stages of her career she attracted the Milk Snatcher moniker, when, as Secretary of State, she cut free milk allowance for school children. Thatcher became leader of the Conservative party in 1975 and Prime Minister in 1979. The Iron Lady ruled Britain for 11 years, during which time she dismantled Britain’s nationalised industries and battered the trade unions, the Argentinians and any others that got in her way. Public feeling against her culminated when she forced the introduction of the poll tax in 1990 and soon after found she had few allies left in her own party. Despite the passage of time, much hatred for Thatcher remains to this day. She was making her sixth appearance on DeathList, this year elected in 29th place. Her death is the fifth success for DeathList 2013.

    6 appearances: 2013 (29), 2012 (24), 2011 (13), 2010 (31), 2009 (45), 2006 (36)
    5th Death
    Age: 88, Milk Snatcher, Cause of death: Stroke
  • 5th March 2013

    Another coup for DeathList as Chavez passes

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    Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, has succumbed to cancer, providing DeathList 2013 with another score. Rumours of 58 year old Chavez’s deteriorating health had been circulating for some time and his return home from treatment in Cuba signalled that the end was near. Despite his poor health, Chavez was re-elected as president in an election as recent as October 2012. His social democratic politics made him a natural enemy of the United States, although perhaps his description of George W Bush as a donkey reinforced that role. Chavez was making his debut appearance on DeathList and found himself sitting in the number 2 slot behind our self-appointed ambassador. Chavez is the fourth success for DeathList 2013.

    1 appearance: 2013 (2)
    4th Death
    Age: 59, President of Venezuela, Cause of death: Cancer
  • 4th February 2013

    Wild Thing - You've made DeathList sing!

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    DeathList’s fast start to the year continues with the news that Reg Presley, lead singer of The Troggs, has passed away. The Troggs had a number of hits through the 60’s to the 90’s including Wild Thing (1966), Wild Thing (new version) (1972), Wild Thing (Reggae version) (1975), Wild Thing '89 (1989) Wild Thing (1992) (featuring Oliver Reed and Hurricane Higgins), Wild Thing (1993) (featuring Wolf from Gladiators), With a Girl Like You (1966) and Love is all Around (1967). Presley succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 71. He was making his first appearance on DeathList, securing the number 24 position.

    1 appearance: 2013 (24)
    3rd Death
    Age: 72, Trogg, Cause of death: Unknown
  • 30th January 2013

    Patty's In The Mood for another DeathList success

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    Patty Andrews, the last surviving members of The Andrews Sisters, has passed away to give DeathList 2013 its second success. Close harmony singing group, The Andrews Sisters, had a string of hits in the 1940, with such songs as Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Hold Tight and Beer Barrel Polka (aka Roll Out The Barrel), but the only bugle that will be heard now is that playing the Taps, as the pallbearers hold tight while the DeathList committee rolls out the barrel. Andrews was 94 years old and making her third appearance on DeathList, this year at number 27 in the charts.

    3 appearances: 2013 (27), 2012 (14), 2011 (41)
    2nd Death
    Age: 95, Last survivor of The Andrews Sisters, Cause of death: Unknown
  • 21st January 2013

    Winner's Death Wish granted!

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    Michael Winner, British film director, pompous food critic and star of UK motor insurance TV commercials, has added to his long list celebrity claims by being the first success of DeathList 2013. Winner was perhaps best known for the Death Wish movies in the 1970s and 80s, although in recent years had also become well known for his weekly Winner’s Dinners column in The Sunday Times. In the early 2000s, he starred in TV commercials for online insurance company, Esure, firing out the infuriating catchphrase “Calm down dear, it’s a commercial”. In later life, Winner suffered from a series of serious illnesses and had his own Death Wish, publicly announcing that he was investigating assisted suicide with Dignitas. He finally passed away aged 77. In 2013 he making his first appearance on DeathList and would have perhaps been disappointed by only claiming the number 28 position.

    1 appearance: 2013 (28)
    1st Death
    Age: 78, Film director, Cause of death: Unknown
  • 1st January 2013

    DeathList 2013 is live

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    How will DeathList fare in the post Clive Dunn era?