Drewsky1211

James Randi died on this day 3 years ago, aged 92. - Randi's birth name was Randall Zwinge- his pseudonym's last name is obviously taken from his first name. When he was a child, Randi got in a bike accident from which his doctors believed paralyzed him- and surprised them when he started to walk. During his time in a body cast, Randi would read about magic tricks, starting his primary interest. - At the age of 17, Randi dropped out of high school to work as a magician at a travelling carnival. Shortly after this, while attending a church service, the church's pastor claimed that they could read the minds of his parishoners- Randi was able to recreate this, which led the pastor's wife to call the cops; Randi spent four hours in jail. This was his first instance of his soon-to-be career as a skeptic. - Despite Randi exposing how magic tricks were done, he still loved the act- in 1956, he broke Harry Houdini's record for time spent in an underwater coffin (1 hour and 44 minutes to Houdini's 1 hour and 33 minutes), broadcast on Today. He would also appear as a magician on several kids' shows, such as Wonderama. - Randi would also often appear on TV talk shows to debunk people who claimed they had psychic abilities: - In old age, Randi would often be seen with a trademark cane adorned with a skull on top (as seen in the above picture). - Randy was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009, and was able to beat it by April of 2010. Randi made a total of three appearances on the DeathList (2012, 2014, 2016).

Snoop Dogg is 52.

10/19/2023 75 KLF ft. Tammy Wynette — Justified And Ancient 64 Haddaway — What Is Love +2 45 Ce Ce Peniston — Finally (Re-Issue) 40 Urban Cookie Collective — The Key, The Secret 39 Kris Kross— Jump +2 36 Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé — Barcelona 29 Janet Jackson — That's The Way Love Goes 28 Michael Jackson — Give In To Me 25 Arrested Development — People Everyday -3 21 Dr Alban — It's My Life -3 12 Guns N' Roses — Knockin' On Heaven's Door

King John died on this day 807 years ago, aged 49. - Being the youngest legitimate son of king Henry II and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, John was not expected to become king at the time of his birth in late 1166- his older brothers were Henry, Richard, and Geoffrey (another one, William, died before John was born). - In 1185, Henry tried to get Pope Lucius III to proclaim John the King of Ireland, but he would deny his request. - When his brother Richard I went on the Third Crusade, John promised to stay out of England (he was away at the time) due to fears he would seize power- John would return regardless and act as regent until Richard returned in 1194. - John became king upon Richard's death in 1199. His reign was known for several events that damaged his reputation- the loss of Normandy to France in 1204, the subsequent high taxes he needed for a planned campaign to retake it (which led to the legend of Robin Hood), his excommunication by Pope Innocent III in 1209, the First Barons' War, and most notably, the Magna Carta. - John died of dysentery during a campaign against the rebelling barons, and was succeeded by his son Henry III.

John Lithgow is 78.

10/18/2023 69 KLF ft. Tammy Wynette — Justified And Ancient 60 Haddaway — What Is Love 41 Ce Ce Peniston — Finally (Re-Issue) 36 Urban Cookie Collective — The Key, The Secret 34 Arrested Development — People Everyday 33 Kris Kross — Jump 30 Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé — Barcelona 30 Michael Jackson — Give In To Me 28 Janet Jackson — That's The Way Love Goes 28 Dr Alban — It's My Life 23 Pet Shop Boys — Go West +4 22 Guns N' Roses — Knockin' On Heaven's Door 14 Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson ft. Bell Biv Devoe & Ralph Tresvant — The Best Things In Life Are Free 6 Kylie Minogue — Give Me Just A Little More Time -6

Henry Temple- or Lord Palmerston- died on this day 158 years ago, aged 80. - Palmerston succeeded his father as Viscount Palmerston upon his death in 1802- he was 17 at the time. - Palmerston was elected as an MP in 1807, and became the Secretary at War in 1809- among the wars he helped administer the British Army over included the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. He held this position until 1828. - Palmerston was Foreign Secretary three times (1830-1834, 1835-1841, and 1846-1851). He was known for his gunboat diplomacy (intimidating other countries with the Royal Navy), earning him the nickname "Lord Pumice Stone". He was in this role during the First Opium War with China, as well as the European revolutions of 1848. - Immediately before becoming Prime Minister, Palmerston was Home Secretary (1852-1855). He would serve as PM twice from 1855 to 1858, and 1859 until his death in 1865. Palmerston was best known for helping end the Crimean War. - When the US Civil War broke out, Palmerston supported the Confederacy, viewing their secession as helping increase British global power. - Palmerston died two days before his 81st birthday, and is the most recent British Prime Minister to die in office. - The former Chief Mouser of the FCO (2016-2020) was named after him- and was known for his rivalry with 10 Downing Street's cat, Larry.

Violeta Chamorro is (somehow) 94.

10/17/2023 67 KLF ft. Tammy Wynette — Justified And Ancient 56 Haddaway — What Is Love 39 Ce Ce Peniston — Finally (Re-Issue) 38 Arrested Development — People Everyday 37 Kris Kross — Jump 32 Urban Cookie Collective — The Key, The Secret 32 Dr Alban — It's My Life 32 Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé — Barcelona 25 Pet Shop Boys — Go West +4 24 Guns N' Roses — Knockin' On Heaven's Door 24 Janet Jackson — That's The Way Love Goes 24 Michael Jackson — Give In To Me 18 Kylie Minogue — Give Me Just A Little More Time 16 Shanice — I Love Your Smile 14 Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson ft. Bell Biv Devoe & Ralph Tresvant — The Best Things In Life Are Free 10 Bitty McLean — It Keeps Rainin' (Tears From My Eyes) -4 8 Cappella — U Got 2 Let The Music -2

Gord Downie died on this day 6 years ago, aged 53. - Downie formed his first band during high school for its student variety show- it was called The Slinks. - Downie would form The Tragically Hip when he was 20 years old, which was initially a cover band. By the late '80s, they became a rock band, and soon skyrocketed in popularity in their native Canada- their second album, Road Apples, was their first number one album in Canada. Downie himself would become quite the popular personality by recalling fictional anecdotes during concerts. - Downie would pursue a solo career in 2001, though he would continue to perform with the band. - Downie would cameo in several movies- most notably in the Trailer Park Boys' 2008 film The Big Dirty as a police officer (alongside Alex Lifeson of Rush). - Downie would be diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in December of 2015. The Tragically Hip would tour for one final time throughout 2016, and the final concert was televised and viewed by 11 million people (about a third of Canada's population). - Downie debuted on the DeathList in 2017 in what was his only appearance- and was the record-breaking fifteenth hit that year.

Mike Judge is 61.

10/16/2023 60 KLF ft. Tammy Wynette — Justified And Ancient 52 Haddaway — What Is Love 35 Kris Kross — Jump 35 Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé — Barcelona 34 Michael Jackson — Give In To Me 32 Arrested Development — People Everyday 31 Ce Ce Peniston — Finally (Re-Issue) 31 Dr Alban — It's My Life 29 Guns N' Roses — Knockin' On Heaven's Door 28 Urban Cookie Collective — The Key, The Secret 24 Janet Jackson — That's The Way Love Goes 21 Elton John & Kiki Dee — True Love 20 Kylie Minogue — Give Me Just A Little More Time 20 Bitty McLean — It Keeps Rainin' (Tears From My Eyes) 20 Cappella — U Got 2 Let The Music 16 Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson ft. Bell Biv Devoe & Ralph Tresvant — The Best Things In Life Are Free 15 Pet Shop Boys — Go West +4 13 Shanice — I Love Your Smile 11 Def Leppard — Let's Get Rocked 11 M People — Moving On Up -3 6 Shut Up And Dance — Raving I'm Raving -3

Pope Gregory XIV died on this day 432 years ago, aged 56. - Gregory was born as Niccolo Sfondrati. His father Francesco was a notable law professor who became a member of the clergy after the death of his wife (who died giving birth to Gregory). - Gregory himself entered the clergy in his 20s, becoming the bishop of Cremona in 1557 (aged 22). It was not until 1583 that he was made a cardinal, appointed by Pope Gregory XIII. - Gregory was elected pope in December of 1590, to succeed Urban VII- an election that lasted two months due to interference from king Philip II of Spain- the man who requested Gregory be appointed as bishop. - One of Gregory's first papal decrees was the excommunication of the Protestant Henry IV of France- Gregory had even planned to invade France in a holy war, but this never came to fruition. - Gregory would also forbid his cardinals from betting on who they believed would become the next pope, who he would appoint as cardinals, and (relevant to this website) when he would die. - Among Gregory's righteous acts was demanding Spanish Catholics to give reparations to Filipino natives they had enslaved, and ordered all of them to be freed under threat of their enslavers' excommunication. - Gregory died from an untreated gallstone after ten months on the papal throne, and was succeeded by Pope Innocent IX.

Tim Robbins is 65.

10/15/2023 50 KLF ft. Tammy Wynette — Justified And Ancient 44 Haddaway — What Is Love 33 Kris Kross — Jump +2 32 Ce Ce Peniston — Finally (Re-Issue) 31 Guns N' Roses — Knockin' On Heaven's Door 30 Michael Jackson — Give In To Me 28 Arrested Development — People Everyday 28 Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé — Barcelona 27 Dr Alban — It's My Life 24 Pet Shop Boys — Go West +2 24 Janet Jackson — That's The Way Love Goes 24 Urban Cookie Collective — The Key, The Secret 21 Shut Up And Dance — Raving I'm Raving 21 Elton John & Kiki Dee — True Love 20 Kylie Minogue — Give Me Just A Little More Time 20 Bitty McLean — It Keeps Rainin' (Tears From My Eyes) 20 Cappella — U Got 2 Let The Music 20 Def Leppard — Let's Get Rocked 19 Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson ft. Bell Biv Devoe & Ralph Tresvant — The Best Things In Life Are Free 15 M People ft. Liz Truss — Moving On Up 15 Shanice — I Love Your Smile 14 Undercover — Baker Street 12 Mariah Carey — I’ll Be There 6 The Temptations — My Girl (Re-Issue) -6 6 The Prodigy — Everybody In The Place EP

Betty Driver died on this day 12 years ago, aged 91. - Driver was a child actress who made her professional theatrical debut when she was 8 years old. By 12 years old, she was touring in a musical revue show, and she debuted on West End when she was 16 in the play Home and Beauty. - Her film debut came in 1934 with the movie Boots! Boots!, but the scene she was in was deleted after its premiere because its star, Beryl Formby, felt that Driver would outperform her. Her scene was re-added to the film in its DVD release over 60 years later. - Driver would entertain troops during World War II, and recorded her own songs around this time: - Driver would audition for the role of Hilda Ogden on Coronation Street in 1964, but the role ended up going to Jean Alexander. However, Driver got the role of Betty Williams in 1969, a role she would play for 42 years and 2732 episodes, becoming a household name in the UK. - While Driver never appeared on the DeathList, the soap opera thread on this forum continues to bear her name as the "Betty Driver Memorial Soapstar Superstar Thread". Her death was acknowledged on the thread (page 3).

Vincent Martella, the voice of Phineas on Phineas and Ferb, is 31.

Dead.

10/14/2023 41 Haddaway — What Is Love 41 KLF ft. Tammy Wynette — Justified And Ancient 28 Ce Ce Peniston — Finally (Re-Issue) 28 Kris Kross — Jump +2 27 Pet Shop Boys — Go West +2 26 Michael Jackson — Give In To Me 26 Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé — Barcelona 24 Arrested Development — People Everyday 23 Janet Jackson — That's The Way Love Goes 22 The Prodigy — Everybody In The Place EP 22 Urban Cookie Collective — The Key, The Secret 22 Dr Alban — It's My Life 21 Elton John & Kiki Dee — True Love 20 Guns N' Roses — Knockin' On Heaven's Door 20 Kylie Minogue — Give Me Just A Little More Time 20 Iron Maiden — Be Quick Or Be Dead 20 Shut Up And Dance — Raving I'm Raving 20 Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson ft. Bell Biv Devoe & Ralph Tresvant — The Best Things In Life Are Free 20 Undercover — Baker Street 20 Bitty McLean — It Keeps Rainin' (Tears From My Eyes) 20 Cappella — U Got 2 Let The Music 19 Def Leppard — Let's Get Rocked 19 Mariah Carey — I’ll Be There 18 M People ft. Liz Truss — Moving On Up 16 Michael Jackson — Heal The World 14 The Temptations — My Girl (Re-Issue) -2 14 Shanice — I Love Your Smile 11 Bryan Adams — Please Forgive Me 0 Non Blondes — What's Up -4

Simon MacCorkindale died on this day 13 years ago, aged 58. - MacCorkindale's father Peter was an RAF officer, but he was rejected due to poor eyesight. He decided to become a theater director afterwards. - MacCorkindale debuted on West End early in his career, in a 1974 production of Pygmalion. He would quickly become a TV actor as well, most notably in the 1976 miniseries adaptation of I, Claudius, and Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus of Nazareth. - MacCorkindale's breakout role was in the 1978 film Death on the Nile as the character of Simon Doyle. He would move to the US in 1980, refusing to speak in American accents because he wanted to become a niche actor. MacCorkindale would appear in single episodes of shows like The Dukes of Hazzard, Dynasty, and Fantasy Island. - MacCorkindale would star in the 1983 superhero show Manimal as the title role of Jonathan Chase- a person who can transform into any animal: The show lasted only eight episodes before being cancelled (mostly due to Dallas airing new episodes during the same timeslot on a different channel at the same time). - Also in 1983, MacCorkindale starred in Jaws 3D, where his character (Philip FitzRoyce) falls prey to the titular shark: This was his last major film role. - MacCorkindale passed up the role of Jonathan Archer on Star Trek: Enterprise (which went to Scott Bakula), moving back to the UK in 2002 to star in Casualty as Dr. Harry Harper. His acting was criticized as being too stiff, too loud, or as one Guardian journalist called him, a human Foghorn Leghorn (I say, I say). - MacCorkindale was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2006, which metastasized to his lungs after remission. He announced his diagnosis as terminal in 2009, and debuted on the 2010 DeathList for his only appearance, being the seventh of the nine hits that year.

Boney M's Marcia Barrett is 75.

10/13/2023 31 Haddaway — What Is Love 27 KLF ft. Tammy Wynette — Justified And Ancient 25 Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé — Barcelona 24 Kris Kross — Jump +2 24 Pet Shop Boys — Go West +2 24 SL2 — On A Ragga Tip 24 Ce Ce Peniston — Finally (Re-Issue) 23 Michael Jackson — Give In To Me 23 Janet Jackson — That's The Way Love Goes 21 Mariah Carey — I’ll Be There 20 The Prodigy — Everybody In The Place EP 20 Kylie Minogue — Give Me Just A Little More Time 20 Def Leppard — Let's Get Rocked 20 Iron Maiden — Be Quick Or Be Dead 20 Shut Up And Dance — Raving I'm Raving 20 Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson ft. Bell Biv Devoe & Ralph Tresvant — The Best Things In Life Are Free 20 Undercover — Baker Street 20 Dr Alban — It's My Life 20 Arrested Development — People Everyday 20 Michael Jackson — Heal The World 20 Urban Cookie Collective — The Key The Secret 20 Bitty McLean — It Keeps Rainin' (Tears From My Eyes) 20 Cappella — U Got 2 Let The Music 20 Elton John & Kiki Dee — True Love 18 M People ft. Liz Truss — Moving On Up 18 The Temptations — My Girl (Re-Issue) 17 Bryan Adams — Please Forgive Me 17 4 Non Blondes — What's Up -6 16 Guns N' Roses — Knockin' On Heaven's Door 16 Shanice — I Love Your Smile 14 2 Unlimited — Twilight Zone 12 Nick Berry — Heartbeat Glad to see What Is Love on top.

Emperor Claudius died on this day 1969 years ago, aged 63. - Claudius was a grandson of Mark Antony, and his uncle was the Emperor Tiberius. - Claudius was initially a historian who authored a history of recent Roman civil wars- these were criticized for being too truthful about Emperor Augustus, who was late in his reign at this time. - Once his uncle became emperor in 14, he allowed Claudius to enter the cursus honorum- the rising ranks of Roman politicians. This culminated with him becoming a consul in 37. - After his nephew Caligula's assassination in 41, Claudius was elected emperor. His reign was known for expanding Roman territory by annexing Judea, Thrace, Lycia and Noricum into the empire and also conquering and establishing the province of Britannia, and industrializing Rome through the construction of roads, canals, and aqueducts. - Claudius' 17-year reign came to an end when he was poisoned- most likely by his wife Agrippina. His adoptive son Nero succeeded him as emperor.

Sacha Baron Cohen is 52.

10/12/2023 (8:12 PM EST) 24 Snow — Informer 22 Kris Kross — Jump +2 22 Pet Shop Boys — Go West +2 20 KLF ft. Tammy Wynette — Justified And Ancient 20 The Prodigy — Everybody In The Place EP 20 Kylie Minogue — Give Me Just A Little More Time 20 2 Unlimited — Twilight Zone 20 Temptations — My Girl (Re-Issue) 20 Shanice — I Love Your Smile 20 Ce Ce Penniston — Finally (Re-Issue) 20 Def Leppard — Let's Get Rocked 20 Iron Maiden — Be Quick Or Be Dead 20 SL2 — On A Ragga Tip 20 Guns N' Roses — Knockin' On Heaven's Door 20 Shut Up and Dance — Raving I'm Raving 20 Nick Berry — Heartbeat 20 Mariah Carey — I’ll Be There 20 Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe — Barcelona 20 Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson ft. Bell Biv Devoe & Ralph Tresvant — The Best Things In Life Are Free 20 Undercover — Baker Street 20 Dr Alban — It's My Life 20 Arrested Developement — People Everyday 20 Michael Jackson — Heal The World 20 Michael Jackson — Give In To Me 20 Janet Jackson — That's The Way Love Goes 20 Haddaway — What Is Love 20 Urban Cookie Collective — The Key The Secret 20 Bitty McLean — It Keep Rainin' (Tears From My Eyes) 20 M People ft. Liz Truss — Moving On Up 20 Cappella — U Got 2 Let The Music 20 Bryan Adams — Please Forgive Me 20 Elton John & Kiki Dee — True Love 17 4 Non Blondes — What's Up -3 17 Take That — Why Can't I Wake Up With You 14 Smart E's — Sesame's Treet -3 The better version of this song: