Welcome to The Dead Club from your ghoulish hosts, Pat and Elizabeth Cryptkeeper.

I apologize for taking so long to update and really I have no excuse except deadlines for things for which someone actually pays me. And after his holiday, Death has returned with a vengeance.

Actually I missed a death in March: Deadbeats and HoulaGrrl had musician Dan Seals, for 61 points. May opened with the death of Dom DeLuise, which got Marilyn onto the board with 25 points. But it wasn't until almost the end of June before anyone else scored. It was Ed McMahon who put Six Feet Under on the board. Fourteen points, not bad. That started a vertitable FESTIVAL OF CELEBRITY DEATH - first Farrah Fawcett, the actress whose poster inspired a million teenage fantasies and who went on to do some serious acting (in The Burning Bed and others. Fourteen of us had her! Deathscore, Dirtycheeks, MCR, Molly Bloom, Stiff Competition, Team Dirt, and the Ghost of Toast are all on the board. Deadbeats moves into first place.

The same day the world leaerned of the death of Michael Jackson, singer, dancer, songwriter, kid star, King of Pop, world class weirdo. He was only 50. Although he was not known to be in ill health, four of us had him: Deanballoonatic made it onto the board. and Deathscore, La Llorona, and MCR also scored.

Yet another entertainer death: distinguished actor Karl Malden, who won an academy award for his work in Streetcar Named Desire but who we probably know best from "Streets of San Francisco" and American Express commercials. Lizzie got on the board. Team Dirt had him too. Two points.

• 2009 standings
• Who's died in 2009
• The 2009 lists
• Some fun death related links
• The history of the Dead Club
• Who's visited us? Check the map
• Add yourself to the map of members
• If you want to join the 2010 pool, read the rules then email me: crowATwellDOTcom.

Last updated July 3, 2009