It all started in 1982 when People magazine reported that actor Abe Vigoda had died.

He hadn't.

But actor Vigoda "took the error with good humor," reports Wikipedia, "posing for a photograph showing him sitting up in a coffin, holding the magazine in question."

He may have played an aging police officer named Fish on the 1970s sitcom Barney Miller, but 23 years later, the 84-year-old Vigoda remains very much alive, affirming that a human life can be resilient and hearty.

And ever since 1982, "his erroneous death has remained a running joke for Vigoda." Carrying the joke into the 21st century, he's even lived to see his longevitity being celebrated on the internet. Geek developer Bob Vesterman developed a special extension for the Firefox browser that does just one thing.

It tells you whether or not Abe Vigoda is still alive.