The Stiffs for 2021

For the 30th year running, we present our fondest farewells to the recently departed.

If they were on any lists — or if they mattered at all in the world — you'll find them here.

If you're looking for everybody, then you need to head on over to the Directory.

Betty White · 99

January 17th, 1922 - December 31st, 2021

We speak for all of America when we say: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

John Madden · 85

April 10th, 1936 - December 28th, 2021

He had an amazing coaching career, announced on every major network, was the voice of the Madden video games, and all he can hear in our heads is "Tough Actin' Tinactin".

Harry Reid · 82

December 2nd, 1939 - December 28th, 2021

Vegas named an airport after him and he died like a week later. And we thought a Lifetime Achievement Award was the kiss of death...

Desmond Tutu · 90

October 7th, 1931 - December 26th, 2021

Ta ta.

Anne Rice · 80

October 4th, 1941 - December 11th, 2021

She write Servant of the Bones. We good here?

Michael Nesmith · 78

December 30th, 1942 - December 10th, 2021

He was a songwriter. For the MONKEES.

Bob Dole · 98

July 22nd, 1923 - December 5th, 2021

Being dead is something Bob Dole would do. It's not something Bob Dole has done before, and not likely to be something Bob Dole ever does again.

Stephen Sondheim · 91

March 22nd, 1930 - November 26th, 2021

The dude won eight Tony Awards, an Academy Award, eight Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, a Laurence Olivier Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. But the one thing he wanted most - a national bull riding title - eluded him.

Frederik de Klerk

November 11th, 2021

He served as state president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and as deputy president from 1994 to 1996. No scandals. None. Jesus. Were we out of our minds when we made this guy famous?

Dean Stockwell · 85

March 5th, 1936 - November 7th, 2021

How do you think it felt to start acting in movies and TV in 1945, all the way through 2015, and be BEST known for Quantum Leap? Not great, is our guess.

Mort Sahl · 94

May 11th, 1927 - October 26th, 2021

He didn't curse, drink, smoke or use drugs. And he died anyway. Go figure.

Colin Powell · 84

April 5th, 1937 - October 18th, 2021

The guy was a soldier for 35 years, including being the Secretary of State and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and somehow didn't know not to use an AOL email address to send dirty messages to some chick who wasn't your wife of SIXTY YEARS? COME ON!

Norm MacDonald · 61

October 17th, 1959 - September 14th, 2021

The Commissioner of this fine game played a round of golf with him, and can verify two things:

1. He was very funny guy.
2. He sucked at golf.

Willard Scott · 87

March 7th, 1934 - September 4th, 2021

He only made it to 87. Extra sad, in his case.

Michael Constantine · 94

May 22nd, 1927 - August 31st, 2021

Big Fat Greek Dead Guy.

Ed Asner · 91

November 15th, 1929 - August 29th, 2021

Up, up and away.

Charlie Watts · 80

June 2nd, 1941 - August 24th, 2021

After the Stones, his next band was "The A,B,C and D of Boogie Woogie". Really sorry we're going to miss that.

Don Everly · 84

February 1st, 1937 - August 21st, 2021

Bye bye, love.

Bobby Bowden · 91

November 8th, 1929 - August 8th, 2021

Vacated.

Jane Withers · 95

April 12th, 1926 - August 7th, 2021

Boy, she sure does.

Jackie Mason

July 24th, 2021

Won a bunch of awards, but none as impressive as his Emmy for voicing Hyman Krustofski in a 1991 episode of The Simpsons.

Ron Popeil · 86

May 3rd, 1935 - July 18th, 2021

Things he invented:

Chop-O-Matic (for chopping food, which was apparently WAY too hard)
Veg-O-Matic (same thing, but for slicing veggies)
Pocket Fisherman (so you can carry a fishing pole everywhere you go)
Mr. Microphone (apparently for assaulting hot women on the street)
Inside the shell egg scrambler (yes, seriously)
Showtime Rotisserie (like a regular rotisserie, but smaller)
GLH-9 - Hair in a Spray Can (Yes. Hair. In a can.)
Drain Buster (No idea.)
Smokeless Ashtray (Ashtray with a fan. Where did the smoke go?)
Electric Food Dehydrator (For sucking both moisture and flavor out of foods)
Automatic Pasta Maker (NOT automatic, we promise)
Rhinestone Stud Setter (Bedazzling before the bedazzler)
The Cap Snaffler (a bottle opener)

This is where the definition of "celebrity" gets very hazy.

Donald Rumsfeld · 88

July 9th, 1932 - June 29th, 2021

He had a ton of military awards, AND had to resign in disgrace. A well rounded career, we say.

Ned Beatty · 83

July 6th, 1937 - June 13th, 2021

That should put an end to all that squealing.

F. Lee Bailey · 87

June 10th, 1933 - June 3rd, 2021

He defended a ton of murderers, got busted for drunk driving, was disbarred in multiple states, but hey - at least he was only married four times.

Gavin MacLeod · 90

February 28th, 1931 - May 29th, 2021

Set sail.

John Warner · 94

February 18th, 1927 - May 25th, 2021

He was the 6th of Liz Taylor's 7 husbands. So, you know. Good job there.

Charles Grodin · 86

April 21st, 1935 - May 18th, 2021

Heartbreaking.

Bobby Unser · 87

February 20th, 1934 - May 2nd, 2021

Well, that should slow him down.

Olympia Dukakis · 89

June 20th, 1931 - May 1st, 2021

She was in a ton of movies, which came as a huge shock to us, because we thought she was just married to that failed politician. Huh. Oh well.

Walter Mondale · 93

January 5th, 1928 - April 19th, 2021

Imagine being MOST known for getting your ass kicked almost as bad as is POSSIBLE in a Presidential election. He had 13 electoral votes, for chrissakes. That's only 13 more than WE had.

Bernie Madoff · 82

April 29th, 1938 - April 14th, 2021

The thing about pyramids is that there’s *always* a little prick at the top.

Prince Philip · 99

June 10th, 1921 - April 9th, 2021

Well, well, well. Looks like QE2 is on the market again, fellas.

G. Gordon Liddy · 90

November 30th, 1930 - March 30th, 2021

Weird how Watergate doesn't even seem that bad anymore.

Beverly Cleary · 104

April 12th, 1916 - March 25th, 2021

She was a beloved author who inspired tens of millions of children to read. Her biggest scandal was - gasp! - marrying a Roman Catholic in 1940. YOU try to think of a witty obituary, smartass.

George Segal · 87

February 13th, 1934 - March 23rd, 2021

Yet another highly-acclaimed Jewish banjo-playing actor passes away.

Elgin Baylor · 86

September 16th, 1934 - March 22nd, 2021

Dude scored 61 points in an NBA Finals game in 1962 - and that is STILL a record. What the FUCK?

Yaphet Kotto · 81

November 15th, 1939 - March 15th, 2021

As Dr. Kananga, he had one of the best Bond villain deaths ever. In real life, probably less dramatic.

Roger Mudd · 93

February 9th, 1928 - March 9th, 2021

His name is... well, you know.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti · 101

March 24th, 1919 - February 23rd, 2021

There once was a guy named Larry
Whose poetry game was hairy
Lived many years
Faced all his fears
And was only just recently buried

Rush Limbaugh · 70

January 12th, 1951 - February 17th, 2021

Michael J. Fox is probably laughing his ASS off right now.

Larry Flynt · 78

November 1st, 1942 - February 10th, 2021

He called himself a "smut peddler". He has a solid gold wheelchair, won a case in front of the US Supreme Court, found and then lost Jesus, and was depicted by Woody Harrelson in a movie about his life. Hero? You be the judge.

Marty Schottenheimer · 77

September 23rd, 1943 - February 8th, 2021

200 wins, no championships, not in the hall of fame. But you know, famous.

George Shultz · 100

December 13th, 1920 - February 6th, 2021

His wife was married 3 times and all of her husbands died of cancer. Coincidence? Yeah, probably.

Leon Spinks · 67

July 11th, 1953 - February 5th, 2021

The only boxer to beat Ali in the ring for a championship, and undefeated lifetime worldwide against dentists.

Christopher Plummer · 91

December 13th, 1929 - February 5th, 2021

Plummer cracked.

Dustin Diamond · 44

January 7th, 1977 - February 1st, 2021

That should put an end to all that goddamned screeching.

Cicely Tyson · 96

December 19th, 1924 - January 28th, 2021

On a trip to a place WAY less bountiful.

Cloris Leachman · 94

April 30th, 1926 - January 27th, 2021

She posed nude on the cover of Alternative Medicine Digest in 1997. THAT'S why she was famous.

Larry King · 87

November 19th, 1933 - January 23rd, 2021

He was married 7 times to 6 different women. No wonder he died.

Hal Holbrook · 95

February 17th, 1925 - January 23rd, 2021

He was a great actor and in a lot of really shitty movies. Weird.

Henry Aaron · 86

February 5th, 1934 - January 22nd, 2021

Hammered.

Phil Spector · 81

December 26th, 1939 - January 16th, 2021

Truly an incredible resume of musical accomplishments. It's just that pesky murder that always seems to steal the spotlight.

Siegfried Fischbacher · 81

June 13th, 1939 - January 13th, 2021

Siegfried and Roy! Together again for an exclusive engagement!

Sheldon Adelson · 87

August 4th, 1933 - January 11th, 2021

For a man that built casinos, worked with mobsters, fought against weed legalization and Internet gambling, and was the single biggest supporter of a twice-impeached President, you'd think he was a complete shitbag. Turns out, you'd be right.

Tommy Lasorda · 93

September 22nd, 1927 - January 7th, 2021

Well, fuck. We always want someone solid to make fun of as the FIRST death of the year, and Tommy was NOT it. A baseball icon, an all-around good guy, and worst of all - NO scandals.

Sometimes running a deadpool sucks.

Year	Stiffs
2024	12
2023	52
2022	44
2021	56
2020	71
2019	54
2018	51
2017	65
2016	72
2015	59
2014	63
2013	68
2012	81
2011	65
2010	80
2009	65
2008	83
2007	78
2006	99
2005	84
2004	70
2003	97
2002	101
2001	99
2000	92
1999	192
1998	127
1997	119
1996	63
1995	40

Guess the Stiff!