Celebrity deaths 2026: The notable figures we lost this year

The year brought losses across film, television, music, and activism. Scott Adams, the creator of the "Dilbert" comic strip, died Jan. 13 from metastatic prostate cancer. Adams worked at a telephone company in the 1980s, and the experience inspired the strip, which at its peak ran in over 2,000 newspapers. A cartoon series debuted in 1999. Adams gained notoriety after writing blog posts praising Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential run. In 2023, newspapers across the U.S. pulled "Dilbert" after Adams made racist comments.

Brad Arnold, the lead singer of 3 Doors Down, died Feb. 7 from a type of kidney cancer. The band launched into fame with the 2000 rock anthem "Kryptonite," which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other hits included "Loser," "Here Without You," and "When I'm Gone."

Lance Taylor, known professionally as Afrika Bambaataa, died April 9 from prostate cancer. A hip-hop pioneer from the Bronx, he signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1981 and released landmark songs like "Jazzy Sensation" and "Planet Rock." He founded the hip-hop awareness group Universal Zulu Nation in the 1970s. Bambaataa stepped down as its head in 2016 after accusations of sexual abuse.

Rob Bass, one of the artists who helped bring hip-hop to the mainstream, crafted the 1988 track "It Takes Two" alongside DJ E-Z Rock. The song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart and later went certified platinum. Spin magazine voted it the greatest single of all time in 1989.

Nicholas Brendon, best known for playing Xander Harris on all seven seasons of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," died in his sleep March 20 due to natural causes, according to his family's statement. He also starred on "Criminal Minds" and "Kitchen Confidential." In 2023, Brendon suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. He also had cauda equina syndrome, which led to several spinal surgeries. "While it's no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis, and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing," the statement to The Hollywood Reporter read.

Two-time Grammy winner Peabo Bryson died June 2. No cause was given. Bryson is best known for his classic love ballads. One of his first major hits came opposite Roberta Flack on the 1983 duet "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love." He found global stardom with his renditions of two Disney classics: "Beauty and the Beast" alongside Céline Dion in 1991, and "A Whole New World" with Regina Belle from the 1992 release of "Aladdin."

James Burrows, an 11-time Emmy winner and co-creator of "Cheers," died June 19. No cause was given. Burrows helped shape modern TV comedy through his work on iconic sitcoms including "Will & Grace," "Friends," and "Frasier." He got his start directing episodes of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and directed over 50 pilot episodes.

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch died May 21 from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis. He was hospitalized that day before two upcoming races and pronounced dead hours later.

Robert Carradine, best known for playing Lizzie McGuire's dad and the iconic geek Lewis Skolnick in the "Revenge of the Nerds" franchise, died by suicide Feb. 23. Carradine's family shared statements with Deadline that emphasized being open about his struggles with mental illness. "We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby's valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder," his family said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing depression or has had thoughts of harming yourself or taking your own life, get help. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is also available through the Crisis Text Line – just text "HOME" to 741741.

Bud Cort, most famous for his role as Harold in the 1971 cult classic "Harold and Maude," died Feb. 11 following a long illness. The dark comedy starred Cort as a man in his 20s obsessed with suicide until he meets 79-year-old Maude. Cort later appeared in Michael Mann's "Heat" (1995) and Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004).

Eric Dane, best known for playing Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on "Grey's Anatomy" and Cal Jacobs on HBO's "Euphoria," died Feb. 19 at age 53. His publicist confirmed the death in a statement to Business Insider. Dane was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in April 2025. "He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world," his publicist said.

Clive Davis, the legendary music executive who discovered Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Whitney Houston, and Alicia Keys, died June 22. No cause was given. Over his 50-year career, Davis won five Grammys, including two for Album of the Year for "The Bodyguard" soundtrack and "Supernatural" by Santana.

Robert Duvall, who starred in "The Godfather," "The Godfather Part II," "Apocalypse Now," and "The Apostle," died Feb. 15 on his ranch in Virginia. No cause was given. Duvall got his first big screen role playing Boo Radley in the 1962 classic "To Kill a Mockingbird" and won an Oscar for his portrayal of a country singer dealing with alcoholism in 1983's "Tender Mercies."

Brenda Fricker, the Irish actress who played the Pigeon Lady in 1992's "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," died July 16. No cause was given. In 1990, she became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award, taking best supporting actress for her performance in "My Left Foot."

Mark Fuhrman, the LAPD detective who found the bloody glove on O.J. Simpson's estate during the 1995 murder case, died May 12 of throat cancer. Simpson's defense team used Fuhrman's past racist language to discredit him as a witness. Fuhrman retired from the LAPD after the trial and moved to Idaho, where he wrote true crime books.

Valentino Garavani, the Italian designer whose fashion label became synonymous with women's high fashion, died Jan. 19. No cause was given. He launched his fashion business in Rome in 1960. His creations were worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, and Sharon Stone. Garavani retired from designing in 2008, his label and signature "Valentino Red" remain red carpet staples.

Donald Gibb, who played the hulking fraternity character Ogre in the "Revenge of the Nerds" movies, died May 12 following health complications. Gibb also starred opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in the 1988 action movie "Bloodsport" and landed guest roles on shows like "Quantum Leap," "MacGyver," and "Cheers."

Glen Hansard, the Irish singer-songwriter who fronted The Frames and co-starred in the 2007 indie film "Once," died July 29 in a motorcycle crash in Dublin. He and Swell Season bandmate Markéta Irglová won an Oscar for best original song for the film's standout track, "Falling Slowly." His 2015 solo album "Didn't He Ramble" was nominated for a Grammy.

Anthony Head, who played Rupert Giles on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and the bitter former owner of AFC Richmond on "Ted Lasso," died June 5. His family stated the cause was "complications due to pneumonia."

David Hockney, the British painter renowned for his striking portraits and figurative pop art, died June 12 at his home in London at age 88. His publicist confirmed the death to The New York Times. No cause was given. Hockney moved to Los Angeles in the late '60s, his work became synonymous with the warmth of Southern California. He was also one of the few popular artists at the time to depict openly gay scenes.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a leader of the Civil Rights Movement and activist icon who twice ran for president, died in 2026. He was born Oct. 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, and experienced Jim Crow segregation firsthand. Jackson worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and ran for president as a Democrat in 1984 and 1988, marking the most successful presidential runs of any Black candidate before Barack Obama. Jackson announced in 2017 that he'd been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In November 2025, he was treated in a Chicago hospital after complications from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

Patrick Muldoon, who played Austin Reed on "Days of Our Lives" and Richard Hart on "Melrose Place," died April 19 after a heart attack. He also appeared on "Saved by the Bell" and had a role in the cult classic movie "Starship Troopers."

Sam Neill, the New Zealand actor best known for playing Dr. Alan Grant in the "Jurassic Park" franchise, died July 13. No cause was given. Neill was battling a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer was cancer-free at the time of his death, according to a post on his Instagram account. His other credits include "Dead Calm," "The Hunt for Red October," and "Peaky Blinders."

Tom Noonan, the 6'5" actor who played villains in "Manhunter," "RoboCop 2," and "Last Action Hero," died Feb. 14. No cause was given. Noonan also wrote, directed, and starred in "What Happened Was," which won the grand prize at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival.

Chuck Norris, the martial arts champion and action star, died March 20 in Hawaii after being hospitalized the previous day. His family confirmed the death. No cause was given. Norris faced off against Bruce Lee in "The Way of the Dragon" (1972) and became one of the biggest action stars in the world through the 1980s. He later played the lead in "Walker, Texas Ranger," which aired in over 100 countries from 1993 to 2001.

Catherine O'Hara, best known for her roles in "Beetlejuice," "Home Alone," and "Schitt's Creek," died Jan. 30. Her representation confirmed the death to Business Insider. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed in a death certificate viewed by People that O'Hara died of a pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer listed as an underlying cause. O'Hara got her start in the Canadian comedy scene on "SCTV" and later won an Emmy for outstanding lead actress for "Schitt's Creek" in 2020.

Valerie Perrine, who played the secretary to Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor in 1978's "Superman" and its sequel, died March 23 in her Beverly Hills home. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015. Perrine earned an Oscar nomination for starring alongside Dustin Hoffman in 1974's "Lenny" and also appeared opposite Robert Redford in 1979's "The Electric Horseman."

Sonny Rollins, one of the most influential jazz musicians in history, died May 25. No cause was given. Rollins recorded more than 60 albums over his seven-decade career. His live album "A Night at the Village Vanguard" is considered one of the greatest jazz albums ever made.

Neil Sedaka, the Brooklyn native who wrote over 500 songs including "Laughter in the Rain," "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," and "Love Will Keep Us Together," died Feb. 27. No cause was given.

Gene Shalit, the iconic movie critic who appeared on the "Today" show from 1973 to 2010, died June 12. No cause was given. Shalit was known for his signature look of glasses, bushy hair, and big mustache, and for reviewing movies with puns. He was parodied as a Muppet and on "SCTV" and "Saturday Night Live."

Kiki Shepard, who served as a co-host on "Showtime at the Apollo" from 1987 to 2002, died March 16 after suffering a heart attack. Known as the "Apollo Queen of Fashion," Shepard also appeared on "Baywatch," "A Different World," and "Grey's Anatomy."

Béla Tarr, the Hungarian filmmaker known for his unflinching style featuring several-minute-long takes, died Jan. 6 following a battle with a long and serious illness. His film "Sátántangó" (1994) had a run time of 450 minutes. Tarr's work influenced arthouse filmmakers including Jim Jarmusch and Gus Van Sant.

James Tolkan, the character actor known for playing Commander "Stinger" Jardian in "Top Gun" and Principal Strickland in the "Back to the Future" franchise, died March 26. No cause was given. His other credits include "Serpico," "WarGames," and "Dick Tracy."

Ted Turner, who changed the television landscape by founding CNN, the first 24-hour news channel, died May 6. No cause was given. Turner took over his father's advertising company at age 24 and built TBS, a "super station" that showed old movies, reruns, and Atlanta Braves and Hawks games. He sold his networks to Time Warner for $7.5 billion in 1996. In 1991, Time named him "Man of the Year."

Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer behind the power ballads "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero," died July 8 in Portugal, where she was being treated for an illness, according to a statement posted on her social media. Tyler was nominated for three Grammys and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

James Van Der Beek, who played the titular teen Dawson Leery on "Dawson's Creek" from 1998 to 2002, died in 2026. Van Der Beek learned he had stage 3 colon cancer in 2023 and publicly announced his diagnosis in late 2024. He previously told Business Insider the news came as a shock given the subtleness of his symptoms and his efforts to stay healthy. "I was doing everything," he said. "I was doing sauna, cold plunge, weightlifting, Pilates. I would dance and also do football training."

Bob Weir, one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead, died in 2026. Weir wrote or sang on songs like "Sugar Magnolia," "Truckin'," and "The Other One." After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, he formed several other bands, including Dead & Company alongside John Mayer. In the summer of 2025, Weir was diagnosed with cancer.

Victor Willis, the lead singer of the Village People who cowrote "Y.M.C.A.," "Macho Man," and "In the Navy," died June 30 following a "short but aggressive illness," according to the band's Facebook page. Willis left the band to embark on a solo career in 1979, then re-formed the Village People in 2017.

Frederick Wiseman, the documentary filmmaker whose nearly 50-film catalogue covered high schoolers, hospital workers, and Air Force cadets, died Feb. 16. No cause was given.