The next one...

Following a line of recents deaths which included David Carradine, Ed McMahon,Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Billy Mays,the most recent addition to the list is Karl Malden. http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/01/karl.malden.obit/index.html
Is this the end of it for awhile? (the third death in the second group of three?)

Respectfully, perhaps this one does not quite fit the pattern. Yes, he is a freshly-dead celebrity, but he was 97!

At that age, anyone has a very limited future.

The others died relatively young and/or in unfortunate circumstances (except Ed, he was getting on a bit too).

But at 97..... each breath may be your last. :)

IDK, irregardless, he was a celebrity. And the old myth does say 3 celebrities in a row. It depends on the definition which is probably open to interpretation, but I think it includes those who are known in their field whether it be music, acting, sports, news, etc. For all we know, he could've lived a few more years.I don't recall anything anywheres saying the death had to be unexpected or the relative age. I remember my mother , years ago whenever someone famous died , would reiterate the old "3 in a row" saying, and at that time there was no other interpretations as to age or how famous, etc.

I don't recall anything anywheres saying the death had to be unexpected or the relative age.
:uhoh: Well, I just like categorizing things and finding patterns..... it's the accountant in me :)

In a way, I am happy to see him make it to a ripe old age.

I always liked his work, and had respect for him, in that he made it as a leading man given his somewhat flawed appearance, AND that he never got his nose fixed.

Try doing that in today's Hollywood.

I was looking online last week after the death of MJ to see what was written about the "3" rule and came across a discussion like what I outlined in my second post in this thread. The website had a timeline with deaths of notable people and attempted to see if they happened in groups of 3. The discussion also pointed out as to how far does one go in determining the status of someone notable dying. For example the leader of a well known country versus the leader of a lesser known one. The timeline didn't really prove or disprove the "3 theory' as there were times when there were 3 deaths in a certain time period ( another debatable portion- like how far do you go back and count, or how far do you go in the future once someone dies?) were apparent, while others there were only one or two.

FWIW, the theory I am recalling is the variation of 'bad luck comes in threes', or, in this case, tragic celebrity deaths come in threes.... hence my first post.... a death at the grand old age of 97 is not particularly tragic, so to speak.

I was looking online last week after the death of MJ to see what was written about the "3" rule and came across a discussion like what I outlined in my second post in this thread. The website had a timeline with deaths of notable people and attempted to see if they happened in groups of 3. The discussion also pointed out as to how far does one go in determining the status of someone notable dying. For example the leader of a well known country versus the leader of a lesser known one. The timeline didn't really prove or disprove the "3 theory' as there were times when there were 3 deaths in a certain time period ( another debatable portion- like how far do you go back and count, or how far do you go in the future once someone dies?) were apparent, while others there were only one or two.

I see your point. It is tempting to see patterns in otherwise-random events.

I think humanity as a whole finds such activity attractive. There are numerous attempts to do so throughout history. Nostradamus and Numerology come to mind. Also, for milennia, astronomy was performed primarily to find patterns in the heavens to glean insight in terrestrial events.

Imho, its like fortune-telling, it's quite easy to take a broad rule, like celebrity deaths come in threes and argue about the relative merits of fame to make events fit the pattern.

That's what also make "dead pools" or "death pools" popular among certain groups as well.

Romans 6:23:
" For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."

:frown:it will happen to us all. (In threes or not!)

Jeez Malden didn't even get mentioned on TV news - they're so busy covering MJ's death and upcoming autopsy results...all of the other recently deceased celebs are being ignored by the media. Reminds me of Darby Crash planning his death as a publicity stunt then being overshadowed immediately by John Lennon's murder.

I guess you can put McNair on the list now. What is going on?! :(