Celebrities Who Have Died in 2026
It’s been a year of heavy losses in Hollywood, after fans said goodbye to numerous beloved names in film, television and music.
Dolly Parton’s death on Aug. 25 caused an outpouring of grief across the country for the beloved singer, actress and philanthropist.
“Schitt’s Creek” star Catherine O’Hara died in January, and February saw the deaths of TV stars James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane, followed by “Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere in August.
Film and TV fans were devastated by the loss of Robert Duvall, one of cinema’s towering actors who starred in “The Godfather” and “Lonesome Dove.” Action movie icon and TV star Chuck Norris died in March. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” star Tim Curry died in August.
In music, Deadheads everywhere were saddened by the loss of singer, songwriter and guitarist Bob Weir, coming just two years after the loss of Phil Lesh. Glen Hansard, Dave Mason and Peabo Bryson were among other notable musicians who died this year.
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Bob Weir
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy Singer-songwriter-guitarist Bob Weir, a cornerstone of the Grateful Dead and the San Francisco psychedelic band’s many latter-day offshoots for more than half a century, died Jan. 10 after a long battle with cancer and lung issues.
Read the full obit here.
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Catherine O’Hara
Image Credit: Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures Catherine O’Hara, the two-time Emmy-winning actor who starred in “Home Alone” and “Best in Show” and had an impressive late-career renaissance in “Schitt’s Creek,” died Jan. 30 after a short illness.
Read the full obit here.
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Demond Wilson
Image Credit: WireImage Demond Wilson, who co-starred with Redd Foxx on popular 1970s sitcom “Sanford and Son,” died Jan. 30 in Palm Springs. He was 79.
Read the full obit here.
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Bud Cort
Image Credit: ©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collectio Bud Cort, who personified the role of Harold in the 1971 Hal Ashby classic “Harold and Maude,” died Feb. 11 in Connecticut after a long illness. He was 77.
Read the full obit here.
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James Van Der Beek
Image Credit: Getty Images James Van Der Beek, the actor known for playing Dawson Leery on “Dawson’s Creek” and for numerous other TV and film roles, died Feb. 11. He was 48.
Read the full obit here.
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Robert Duvall
Image Credit: Getty Images Robert Duvall, who won an Oscar for “Tender Mercies” and was nominated for his roles in films including “The Godfather,” “Apocalypse Now,” and “The Great Santini,” died Feb. 15. He was 95.
Read the full obit here.
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Frederick Wiseman
Image Credit: WireImage Frederick Wiseman, the prolific documentarian behind films like “Titicut Follies,” “At Berkeley,” “National Gallery” and “Ex Libris,” died Feb. 16. He was 96 years old.
Read the full obit here.
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Tom Noonan
Image Credit: Getty Tom Noonan, an actor and director whose imposing presence made him one of Hollywood’s most memorable screen villains, died on Feb. 14. He was 74.
Read the full obit here.
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Eric Dane
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images Eric Dane, best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan (aka “McSteamy”) on “Grey’s Anatomy” and as complicated father Cal Jacobs on “Euphoria,” died Feb. 19, his family confirmed. He was 53.
Read the full obit here.
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Chuck Norris
Image Credit: Getty Images Chuck Norris, the martial arts champion who became an iconic action star and led the hit series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” died March 19. He was 86.
Read the full obit here.
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Nicholas Brendon
Nicholas Brendon, who played Xander Harris on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and Kevin Lynch on “Criminal Minds,” died in his sleep on March 20, according to a statement from his family. He was 54.
Read the full obit here.
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Valerie Perrine
Valerie Perrine, who was Oscar nominated for best actress for her performance in Bob Fosse’s 1974 Lenny Bruce biopic “Lenny” and appeared prominently in Richard Donner’s “Superman” films as Lex Luthor’s girlfriend Miss Teschmacher, died March 23 in Beverly Hills. She was 81.
Read the full obit here.
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Dash Crofts
Image Credit: Jerry Tavin/Everett Collection Dash Crofts (right), who as half of the duo Seals and Crofts helped define the sound of “soft rock” in the 1970s with hits like “Summer Breeze,” died March 25 at age 87.
Read the full obit here.
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Dave Mason
Image Credit: Getty Images Dave Mason, solo artist, founding member of the band Traffic, writer of the classic rock songs “Feelin’ Alright” and “Hole in My Shoe” and sideman to the Rolling Stones, George Harrison and Jimi Hendrix, died April 19. No cause of death was announced, although ill health forced him to cancel a tour last year; he was 79.
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Ted Turner
Image Credit: BRENT HUMPHREYS Ted Turner, the charismatic, larger-than-life figure who conquered the world of media, sports and philanthropy, died May 6. He was 87.
Read the full obit here.
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Peabo Bryson
Image Credit: Photo: Julie Yarbrough. Peabo Bryson, the veteran R&B singer best known as the singer behind the Disney film hits “Beauty and the Beast” and “Whole New World,” died June 2.
Read the full obit here.
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Daveigh Chase
Image Credit: Getty Daveigh Chase, who voiced Lilo in Disney’s original animated movie “Lilo & Stitch” and terrified audiences as Samara Morgan in “The Ring,” died June 16 in Los Angeles. She was 35.
Read the full obit here.
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James Burrows
Image Credit: Art Streiber/NBC James Burrows, the prolific director who reigned as television’s preeminent sitcom helmer of “Cheers,” “Taxi” and more, died June 19. He was 85.
Read the full obit here.
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Clive Davis
Image Credit: Getty Images Clive Davis, the executive who steered Columbia, Arista and J Records to the pinnacle of the pop music business, died June 22 at his Manhattan home. No cause of death was cited, although he was recently hospitalized after suffering respiratory problems. He was 94.
Read the full obit here.
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Bonnie Tyler
Image Credit: United Archives via Getty Images Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh pop-rock singer behind ’80s hits like “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” died July 8. She was 75.
Read the full obit here.
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Randolph Mantooth
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Randolph Mantooth, known for playing paramedic Johnny Gage on the “Emergency!” TV series in the 1970s, died July 9 in Ventura. He was 80.
Read the full obit here.
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Sam Neill
Image Credit: Getty Images Sam Neill, the versatile actor whose career of more than 50 years was highlighted by his three appearances in the blockbuster “Jurassic Park” and “Jurassic World” franchises, died July 13 in Sydney, Australia. He was 78.
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Brenda Fricker
Image Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Brenda Fricker, who became the first Irish actress to win an Oscar for her turn opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in 1989’s “My Left Foot” and captured hearts as the Pigeon Lady in 1992’s “Home Alone 2,” died July 16 in Dublin. She was 81.
Read the full obit here.
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Glen Hansard
Image Credit: Getty Images Glen Hansard, the Irish musician who starred in the 2007 film “Once” and won the best original song Oscar for “Falling Slowly,” died July 29 in a motorcycle crash. He was 56.
Read the full obit here.
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Hayden Panettiere
Image Credit: Getty Images Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles on “Heroes,” “Nashville” and in “Scream 4” and “Scream VI,” died on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina.
Read the full obit here.
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Shelley Fabares
Image Credit: ©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection Shelley Fabares, the star of the classic sitcoms “The Donna Reed Show” and “Coach,” died Aug. 22 in Los Angeles. She was 82.
Read the full obit here.
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Tim Curry
Image Credit: Getty Images Tim Curry, who soared to fame in the ‘70s as the flamboyant star of the campy horror movie stage spoof “The Rocky Horror Show” and its screen version “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” died on Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 80.
Read the full obit here.
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Dolly Parton
Image Credit: Getty Images Singer-songwriter-actress Dolly Parton, whose glittering country music stardom was matched by her pop fame and popular parallel careers in film and TV, died Aug. 25 in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80. Her reps said that she died after a “brief battle” with cancer.
Read the full obit here.
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Jaye P. Morgan
Image Credit: ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection Jaye P. Morgan, a singer, actress and frequent game show panelist in the 1970s, died Aug. 24 in Washington.
Read the full obit here.
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