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Artwork for Famous and Gravy: Dead celebrity biographies

Famous and Gravy: Dead celebrity biographies

14th Street Studios | Michael Osborne
Hollywood
Comedy
Celebrity Culture
Television
Marriage
Addiction
Fame
Legacy
Music
David Bowie
Prince
Steve Jobs
Saturday Night Live
Johnny Cash
John Hughes
Bob Saget
Music Industry
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Maya Angelou
Carrie Fisher

Famous & Gravy is a celebrity biography podcast with a twist of self-reflection.

Each week, host Michael Osborne and a guest choose a celebrity who died in the 21st century — musicians, athletes, actors, comedians, and cultural icons – and they dive into the hidden elements of their biography. The format is built around segments that probe a simple thought experiment: Would you want that life? Our... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes141Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryTV & Film

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Artwork for Famous and Gravy: Dead celebrity biographies

Latest Episodes

Katharine Graham ran The Washington Post through Watergate and the Pentagon Papers, two of the biggest showdowns ever between the American press and the federal government. There's a case to be made that she was the most powerful woman of the 20th ce... more

After five years of grading obituaries from The New York Times, Famous & Gravy finally has a conversation with with someone who actually writes obituaries from The New York Times. Sam Roberts is on the show to share his experiences as a NYT obit writ... more

Val Kilmer walked off his first professional set at age 13. It was a hamburger commercial, he thought the burgers looked terrible, and he refused to sell them. He never got paid, and it turned out to be a preview of the rest of his career.

Kilmer on... more

Matthew Perry died in 2023 at fifty-four, and despite his very public battle with addiction, the first line of his obituary made no mention of his disease. Michael Osborne and Alice Orr argue that Matthew Perry is a case study in fame and addiction, ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Sam Roberts
Obituary writer for The New York Times, author of Are They Dead Yet?
New York Times
Episode: New York Times Obituary Writer Sam Roberts on the Art of the Obit
Denis Belliveau
Explorer, filmmaker, educator; retraced Marco Polo's route with Fran; part of the Explorers Club
In the Footsteps of History / Explorers Club
Episode: Extra Gravy: Marco Polo with Denis Belliveau
Chip White
Vanna White's brother, Relatively Famous guest
Relatively Famous (podcast)
Episode: Extra Gravy: Chip White, Vanna White's Brother
Ruth Westheimer
Dr. Ruth, renowned sex therapist and media personality
Public figure / Sex education advocate
Episode: Sexy Munchkin (Dr. Ruth Westheimer)
Sarah Murphy
A friend of the host and a recurring guest
Episode: Southern Expat (Harper Lee)
Anthony Bourdain
Celebrity chef, author, and television personality
Episode: Hungry Ghost (Anthony Bourdain)
Isaac Kestenbaum
Director of the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies
Salt Institute for Documentary Studies
Episode: Comic Mythmaker (Stan Lee)
Sara Murphy
A friend of Michael and sports enthusiast
Episode: Mamba Mentality (Kobe Bryant)
John Watts
Friend of Michael Osborne and frequent guest
Episode: Script Doctor (Michael Crichton)

Host

Michael Osborne
Host of Famous and Gravy; frequent co-host; central figure in interviews and show direction.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 348 ratings
  • Fun!

    I enjoy learning more information about these celebrities in an interesting way!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fungamesreveiwer
    United States2 months ago
  • More than once

    I have listened to the same episodes more than once, they are that interesting. Always enjoyable to break down the first line of their obituary. Often tidbits of facts not commonly known if you don’t know their whole bio.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    no excuses, just fix it
    Canada2 months ago
  • Love the Podcast

    Learn something on each episode. Fascinating stories of real people. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gojo1111
    United States2 months ago
  • Always interesting

    All your shows I’ve learned a new side of the person. It’s been real knowledge to know these people and I hope you keep your show going

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Auntie boo1963
    United States8 months ago
  • Never ever boring. Great hosts.

    This pod is one of my favorites.

    I love the category based structure because it gives the show a repeatable and familiar shape, yet the episodes never feel repetitive or dull.

    My mom and I both listen, so the storytelling captures the interest of multiple generations.

    Michael, enjoy your time away, and we all look forward to your return.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    2026FavoriteDino
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise thoughtful, well-researched episodes and engaging hosts.
Guests and production are high quality; episodes feel insightful and entertaining.
Audience values the learning aspect and the unique angle on fame and biography.
Format's mix of obituary bits and personal reflection is consistently engaging.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Iceman Transcendeth (Val Kilmer)
Q: How did Kilmer's identity as a difficult actor shape his career trajectory?
They discuss Kilmer's commitment to character, his conflicts with directors, and how his artistic process and ambition influenced both his famous roles and later career choices.
Extra Gravy: Marco Polo with Denis Belliveau
Q: All right, your initial reaction to the first line of the obituary, Denis, what do you think?
Denis says the line is spot on, noting the historical detail about Polo spending a long stretch in Beijing and that some nuance about the length of the travels can shift the perception, but overall he agrees with the framing and finds it a strong launch for the conversation.
Extra Gravy: Chip White, Vanna White's Brother
Q: What is the best setting to really see a side of your sister?
Dinner at home is suggested as ideal to observe a more personal, relaxed side, with conversations over wine enabling closer connections.
Extra Gravy: Chip White, Vanna White's Brother
Q: What are some surprising traits about Vanna White beyond her public image?
Chip notes her savviness, business sense, generosity, and consistent support for people, challenging the stereotype of the 'bimbo' and highlighting hard work behind the scenes.
Extra Gravy: Chip White, Vanna White's Brother
Q: What does the long shadow of being a relative of someone famous mean in your life?
Chip explains that the dynamic is about balancing visibility and privacy, and finding a path that honors family while creating a personal identity beyond the famous relative.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A biography-focused show that treats dead celebrities as lenses for bigger questions about life, memory, and culture. Each episode uses a playful, category-based format (opening quiz from an obituary, then five themed segments) to reveal lesser-known facets of well-known figures, spanning musicians, actors, athletes, and public intellectuals. The approach blends rigorous research with personal storytelling, often exploring fame, legacy, and the human side of public figures in a thoughtful, occasionally provocative way. Noteworthy is the consistent structure that folds in multiple guest co-hosts, plus a strong emphasis on how obituaries shape our memory of a life and what their stories can teach about our own choices and values.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
2. Fresh Air
3. This American Life
4. Stuff You Should Know
5. Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes)

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 141 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Sam Roberts
2. Denis Belliveau
3. Chip White
4. Ruth Westheimer
5. Sarah Murphy
6. Anthony Bourdain
7. Isaac Kestenbaum
8. Sara Murphy

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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