There’s nothing more embarrassing than killing someone — in your news story, that is. Once you’ve described someone as dead when they’re very much alive, you might find your own life in danger.
Just ask Abe Vigoda. Ever since People magazine erroneously reported his death in 1982, the veteran actor still finds people surprised to see him alive.
He’d be a lot happier right now if the Web had been around back then and the writer had been able to check the Dead People Server, which contains information on whether more than 2,400 celebrities are living or dead — including Vigoda:
“Abe Vigoda (actor) — Not dead yet. Born February 24, 1921. Fish on Barney Miller.”
The site even includes an entry for Kenny, the unlucky cartoon character on the TV show South Park: “Kenny (dead again) — Dead. Died 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002. Born 1997. South Park’s bad luck boy.”
To set yourself straight, check out the Quash Those Dead People Rumors page.
A similar site is Who’s Alive and Who’s Dead, which breaks its list into categories such as The Addams Family (three of four main cast members dead) and Led Zeppelin (three of four members still living).
An even more useful site for journalists is The Political Graveyard, which not only tracks whether thousands of politicians are living or dead, but lists where they are buried.
You can find people by name, office, geography, and cause of death. If you’re really morbid, you can take a “random walk through the graveyard.”
These sites will give you a quick start — but double-check any info. While mostly reliable, the information in them is gleaned from many sources. Still, they might help you save someone’s life — at least in your story.
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