In Memoriam: Notable people who died in 2026
LOS ANGELES -- There have been a number of notable deaths in 2026, from iconic actors and politicians, to athletes and musicians.
For a list of notable or famous people who died in 2026, take a look at the photo gallery above and learn more about each person below:
Richard Riehle
May 12, 1948 | Died Oct. 15, 2026
Richard Riehle, had a long and successful career with roles in hundreds of films and television shows. In "Office Space," Riehle portrayed Tom Smykowski, a laid-off Initech employee whose fortunes changed after a hit-and-run crash led to a financial settlement that allowed him to pursue his dream of creating the "Jump to Conclusions" mat prototype. Also among his notable credits were several appearances in the Star Trek franchise and the film "Bridesmaids."
RJ Mitte
Born Aug. 21, 1992 | Died Oct. 12, 2026
RJ Mitte was an actor who starred in five seasons on the hit series "Breaking Bad." The actor, who lived with cerebral palsy, rose to fame on AMC's award-winning series as Walter White Jr., the son of the show's titular character, Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston. Mitte drew from his own experience living with the neurological disorder and used his platform to raise awareness about it. The actor became an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's. He was 34.
Mike Ditka
Born Oct. 18, 1939 | Died Oct. 9, 2026
Mike Ditka was a legendary former Chicago Bears coach and the first tight end ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ditka rose to national prominence after leading the 1985 Bears, a team that boasted arguably the greatest defense in NFL history, to the franchise's only Super Bowl title. The fifth overall pick of the 1961 NFL draft by the Bears, Ditka won Rookie of the Year after becoming the first tight end to surpass 1,000 receiving yards. He played six years for the Bears, two for the Philadelphia Eagles and four for the Dallas Cowboys. Ditka was a member of the Bears' 1963 NFL championship team and the Cowboys' squad that won Super Bowl VI. He was 86.
Eva Marie Saint
Born June 4, 1924 | Died Oct. 6, 2026
Eva Marie Saint won an Academy Award for her first movie, "On the Waterfront," and starred opposite Cary Grant in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller "North by Northwest." She had starring roles in such films as "Exodus," "Raintree County" and "All Fall Down." She turned more to television in the 1970s and enjoyed renewed popularity in the 1980s as the mother of Cybill Shepherd in the hit sitcom "Moonlighting" and as Tom Hanks' mother in the film comedy "Nothing in Common." She won an Emmy for the 1990 miniseries "People Like Us." Her acting work lasted well into her 90s. She was 102.
Freddie Jackson
Born Oct 2, 1956 | Died Oct. 5, 2026
Freddie Jackson was an R&B singer known for soulful classics like "You Are My Lady." Jackson began singing gospel music at White Rock Baptist Church in Harlem at an early age. He started his career in the New York club scene, eventually making his way out West with the band Mystic Merlin in the late '70s. He soon returned to New York and released his debut album, "Rock Me Tonight," in 1985, which made him an instant star. His sophomore album, 1987's "Just Like the First Time," was also certified platinum. He was 70.
Robert Kelker-Kelly
Born April 18, 1964 | Died Oct. 3, 2026
Actor Robert Kelker-Kelly spent many years on ABC's "General Hospital." During his acting career, Kelker-Kelly starred in several daytime dramas, starting with "Another World" and starring as Bo Brady on "Days of our Lives." He also portrayed Stavros Cassadine on "General Hospital" starting in 2001, and later appeared in guest spots through 2014. Kelker-Kelly eventually left acting behind and worked as a professional pilot. He was 62.
Dennis Haskins
Born Nov. 18, 1950 | Died Sept. 27, 2026
Dennis Haskins was best known for his role as Principal Richard Belding on the hit sitcom "Saved By The Bell." Fans of the show will remember Principal Belding's catchphrase "Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?" Haskins played Principal Richard Belding on three separate shows. First in the Disney Channel show "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" in 1989, which was later recreated into NBC's "Saved By The Bell." He starred on "Saved By The Bell" through the show's four-season run, from 1989 to 1993 and later reprised the role for "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," which ran for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000. Haskins was 75.
Bob Mackie
Born March 24, 1939 | Died Sept. 14, 2026
Bob Mackie was a celebrity designer who created looks for stars including Cher, Diana Ross and Carol Burnett. Mackie's extensive and award-winning career spanned over 60 years. Mackie was known for his choice in bright colors, glamorous designs with intricate beadwork and feathers and most notably, his "nude illusion" dresses with mesh paneling that matched wearers' skin tones. He started career as a sketch artist for film costume designers before he became the costume designer for actress and singer Mitzi Gaynor's Las Vegas Review shows in the 1960s. He went on to design costumes for "The Carol Burnett Show" for 11 years. Mackie was celebrated widely for his work, earning nine Emmy Awards, three Oscar nominations and a coveted spot in the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2002, during his lifetime. He was 87.
Barry Melrose
Born July 15, 1955 | Died Sept. 9, 2026
Barry Melrose was a hockey player-turned-coach who led the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final before going on to a long career in broadcasting the sport. Melrose broke into pro hockey with the Cincinnati Stingers of the now-defunct World Hockey Association in 1976. He played three seasons in Cincinnati - the last teaming with a young Mark Messier - and, following the WHA's demise, made the transition to the NHL with Winnipeg in 1979. Melrose went on to play for Toronto and Detroit, where he closed his career following the 1985-86 season. Melrose turned to coaching and led the Adirondack Red Wings to win the American Hockey League Calder Cup championship in 1992. The following year, Melrose was hired by the Kings, where he brought a sense of colorful flare and instant success to Los Angeles. Melrose finished with a record of 79-101 and 29 ties over two-plus seasons in L.A. before being fired midway through the 1994-95 season. He was 80.
Gloria Steinem
Born March 25, 1934 | Died Sept. 2, 2026
Gloria Steinem was a celebrated author and activist who became the most visible symbol of the U.S. women's movement and remained a fierce and eloquent advocate for equality for six decades. Steinem would become known as one of the most prominent figures in the modern feminist movement, tackling politics, abortion, marriage and more through her writings and speeches. She was 92.
Tim Curry
Born April 19, 1946 | Died Aug. 25, 2026
Tim Curry was a British actor known for scene-stealing roles in cult classics and blockbusters ranging from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" to "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York." Curry began his career on the London stage in the late 1960s, performing in the original West End production of "Hair." He later appeared on Broadway in Tom Stoppard's "Travesties" and in "Amadeus." For the latter, he received a Tony nomination for best actor in a play. Curry was probably best known for playing mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult musical "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." The actor originated the character on the West End stage in the early 1970s before reprising the role for the 1975 film adaptation. The actor starred in a string of hit Hollywood films throughout the 1990s and 2000s, with major roles in "The Three Musketeers," "The Hunt for Red October," "Muppet Treasure Island" and "Charlie's Angels." He was 80.
Dolly Parton
Born Jan. 19, 1946 | Died Aug. 25, 2026
Dolly Parton was a beloved country music superstar known as much for her philanthropy and theme park business as she was for her chart-topping hit songs. In a music career that began when she was still a child, born into poverty in the tiny mountain community of Pittman Center, Tennessee, Parton went on to become one of the world's most successful and admired entertainers, regarded as a country music living legend. She wrote and recorded many of country and pop's most enduring songs, including the hits "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors" - added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2011 - "Here You Come Again," "Love Is Like a Butterfly," "9 to 5" and more. Parton's biggest hit, however, was inarguably "I Will Always Love You," which topped the charts three times. She was 80.
Hayden Panettiere
Born Aug. 21, 1989 | Died Aug. 16, 2026
Hayden Panettiere was a onetime child star who soared to fame in the TV shows "Heroes" and "Nashville." She also starred in "Remember the Titans," "Raising Helen," "Ice Princess" and "Scream 4." Panettiere began acting in commercials and soap operas, including as the ever-troubled Lizzie Spaulding on "Guiding Light." She went on to win three Teen Choice Awards for her role in "Heroes" and was nominated for a Grammy for a children's spoken word album, "A Bug's Life: Read-Along," also voicing a role in the Disney animated movie. She was 36.
Don Nelson
Born May 15, 1940 | Died Aug. 9, 2026
Don Nelson was the second winningest coach in NBA history, a five-time NBA champion as a player and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was 86. In 31 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors (twice), New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks, Nelson finished with a regular season record of 1,335-1,063. He retired with the most coaching wins ever, a mark that was broken by the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich in March 2022. Nelson made 18 playoff appearances as a coach, finishing with a 75-91 postseason record. As a player, Nelson won five NBA titles in 11 seasons with the Boston Celtics, who retired his No. 19 jersey in 1978. Overall, he played 14 seasons in the NBA. He was 86.
Sam Neill
Born Sept. 14, 1947 | Died July 13, 2026
Actor Sam Neill was known for his roles in the "Jurassic Park" films and "Peaky Blinders." Following his iconic portrayal as Dr. Alan Grant in the 1993 film "Jurassic Park," Neill starred in a number of films, including "Bicentennial Man" alongside Robin Williams, and the 1997 science fiction horror film "Event Horizon." He also starred in "Merlin," playing the mythical wizard, and the historical drama, "The Tudors." Throughout his career, Neill received many awards as an actor, but the award that was perhaps most meaningful to him was when he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1991, which he was able to share with his father, just before he died. He was 78.
Lindsey Graham
Born July 9, 1955 | Died July 11, 2026
Lindsey Graham was a longtime Republican senator from South Carolina. First elected to the Senate in 2002, Graham had since risen to be one of the chamber's most prominent figures. He won reelection three times, most recently in 2020. Before his time in the Senate, Graham had served in the House, where he represented South Carolina's third district. He was elected to that office in 1994. Graham was running for a fifth Senate term before his death. He had been a close ally of President Donald Trump and held hawkish foreign policy positions. He was 71.
Bonnie Tyler
Born June 8, 1951 | Died July 8, 2026
Bonnie Tyler was a Grammy-nominated Welsh pop star best known for singing the chart-topping power ballad "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1983. The gravelly voiced artist earned three Grammy nods and was awarded an MBE for her services to music by Queen Elizabeth II in 2023, all largely thanks to "Total Eclipse of the Heart," which has had more that 1 billion streams, boosted by real eclipses in 2017 and 2024. The song spent four weeks at No. 1, the video has surpassed 1 billion views and when Stereogum reevaluated it in 2020, the music outlet declared it an "extinction-level event rendered in musical form." She was 75.
Alan Greenspan
Born March 6, 1926 | Died June 22, 2026
Alan Greenspan was the longtime chairman of the Federal Reserve. The economist is remembered for leading the American central bank amid periods of historic U.S. economic expansion, while critics have also said his policies contributed to and exacerbated the mortgage crisis and financial crash of 2008. He was appointed Fed chair by four different presidents during his career, first by Ronald Reagan in 1987. He steered the U.S. economy through the economic boom in the 1990s, the dotcom bubble, and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. His final term as chair ended on Jan. 31, 2006. He was 100.
James Burrows
Born Dec. 30, 1940 | Died June 19, 2026
James Burrows directed some of the most iconic shows on television from "Cheers" and "Taxi" to "Will & Grace" and "Frasier." Throughout his illustrious career, Burrows won 11 Emmys and five Directors Guild of America Awards. The Directors Guild of America also honored Burrows in 2015 with a lifetime achievement award. He was also inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2006. He was 85.
Rick Adelman
Born June 16, 1946 | Died June 1, 2026
Rick Adelman was a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee who played for seven NBA seasons before becoming one of the game's all-time winningest coaches. Adelman won 1,042 games as an NBA coach, 10th most in league history. Only four other coaches -- Pat Riley, Gregg Popovich, Jerry Sloan and George Karl -- coached more games and had a better winning percentage than Adelman, who took the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals twice and also was head coach in Sacramento, Houston, Minnesota and Golden State. Adelman played in the NBA from 1969 through 1975 as a point guard for five different teams.He was 79.
Kyle Busch
Born May 2, 1985 | Died May 21, 2026
Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than anyone across NASCAR's three national series, died after he was hospitalized with a "severe illness," three days before he was to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. From Las Vegas, Busch experienced unrivaled success across NASCAR's three national series winning a combined 234 Cup, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Trucks Series races. He had 63 Cup victories along with 102 O'Reilly Auto Parts wins and 69 Trucks victories - both records. He was 41.
Mark Fuhrman
Born Feb. 5, 1952 | Died May 12, 2026
Former Los Angeles Police Department Det. Mark Fuhrman became infamous for discovering the bloody glove in O.J. Simpson's murder case and recordings of him using racial slurs played during the trial. He was one of the first two police detectives sent to investigate the 1994 killings of Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles. Fuhrman reported finding a bloody glove at Simpson's home, but his credibility came under withering attack during the trial as the defense raised the prospect of racial bias. He was accused of planting one of the gloves as a racist effort to frame Simpson for the killings. The former detective was charged with perjury and pleaded no contest in 1996. He was 74.
Jason Collins
Born Dec. 2, 1978 | Died May 12, 2026
Jason Collins was the NBA's first openly gay player who served as a global ambassador for the sport for the past decade. Collins retired in 2014 after a 13-year career that included stops with the New Jersey Nets, Memphis, Minnesota, Atlanta, Boston, Washington and back to the Nets after they moved to Brooklyn. He announced he was gay in a 2013 Sports Illustrated cover story, becoming the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of the four main North American sports leagues. He died from brain cancer after being diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. He was 47.
Ted Turner
Born Nov. 19, 1939 | Died May 6, 2026
Ted Turner founded CNN, the 24-hour network that revolutionized television news. Turner was also an internationally known yachtsman; a philanthropist who founded the United Nations Foundation; an activist who sought the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons; and a conservationist who became one of the foremost landowners in the United States. He played a crucial role in reintroducing bison to the American west. He even created the Captain Planet cartoon to educate kids about the environment. He was 87.
Alan Osmond
Born June 22, 1949 | Died April 20, 2026
Alan Osmond, the eldest member of the chart-topping family act The Osmonds, died after decades with multiple sclerosis. A talented songwriter and performer, Alan Osmond helped write some of the Osmond Brothers' biggest hits, including "One Bad Apple," "Crazy Horses" and "Are You Up There?" Osmond's storied musical career began in the 1950s, when he and his brothers Wayne, Merrill and Jay formed a barbershop quartet. The brothers worked the state fair circuit in Utah until a visit to Disneyland led to a television debut on "Disney After Dark" in 1962. In 1971, the Osmonds tallied nine gold records, surpassing single-year bests by Elvis and the Beatles. In 1987, Alan Osmond was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It caused him to retire from performing with his family. He was 76.
Patrick Muldoon
Born Sept. 27, 1968 | Died April 19, 2026
Actor Patrick Muldoon was known for his roles on shows including "Days of Our Lives" and films including "Starship Troopers." Muldoon rose to fame in the early 1990s with his role on "Days of Our Lives," on which he originated the role of Austin Reed. He later starred on the primetime soap opera "Melrose Place" and had a recurring role on "Saved By the Bell." In addition to his TV roles, Muldoon also acted on the big screen, including the 1997 movie "Starship Troopers," playing the role of Zander Barcalow. Over his decadeslong acting career, Muldoon accrued nearly 100 acting credits, as well as more than one dozen producing credits and several soundtrack credits, according to IMDb. He was 57.
Sid Krofft
Born July 30, 1929 | Died April 10, 2026
Sid Krofft was a Canadian-born entertainment wizard who teamed with his brother and fellow puppeteer Marty Krofft to create such cult favorites as children's 1960s TV show "H.R. Pufnstuf." The Kroffts popularized cultural figures ranging from the inept Weenie the Genie to siblings Donny and Marie Osmond. Other Krofft productions included "Land of the Lost," "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl" and "Pryor's Place," featuring comedian Richard Pryor. The Kroffts received a Daytime Emmy for lifetime achievement in 2018, and a Hollywood Walk of Fame star two years later. He was 96.
Dash Crofts
Born Aug. 14, 1940 | Died March 25, 2026
Dash Crofts was one half of the 1970s soft rock duo Seals & Crofts. Crofts, born Darrell George Crofts, and Jim Seals began recording under the name Seals & Crofts in 1969, and released their self-titled debut album that year. Seals died in 2022. The duo scored their breakthrough hit in 1972 with the album "Summer Breeze," which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The album's title track became a top-10 hit, peaking at No. 6 on the singles chart, while the follow-up single "Hummingbird" reached No. 20. Seals & Crofts scored another top-10 album with their fifth studio release, 1973's "Diamond Girl." He was 87.
Valerie Perrine
Born Sept. 3, 1943 | Died March 23, 2026
Valerie Perrine, the Oscar-nominated "Lenny" actress and "Superman" star died after a yearslong battle with Parkinson's disease. Perrine was born in Galveston, Texas, and worked for some time as a showgirl in Las Vegas before entering the film industry. Perrine earned early recognition in 1972's "Slaughterhouse-Five," playing adult film actress Montana Wildhack, and clinched her most critically acclaimed role in 1974's "Lenny," the biographical drama based on the life of famed comedian Lenny Bruce. In 1978, Perrine took on perhaps her most noteworthy role as Eve Teschmacher, the girlfriend of DC Comics villain Lex Luthor, in "Superman." Perrine would go on to play the same role in 1980's "Superman II." She was 82.
Robert Mueller
Born Aug. 7, 1944 | Died March 20, 2026
Robert Mueller worked in the U.S. Attorney's office, the Department of Justice, and, from 1998 to 2001, served as the U.S. Attorney for San Francisco. He became the director of the FBI on Sept. 4, 2001, after being nominated by President George W. Bush. Mueller served as director of the FBI for 12 years, from Sept. 4, 2001, to Sept. 4, 2013. In 2017, Mueller was appointed as special counsel to investigate Russian interference into the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He worked on what came to be known as the Mueller Report. On May 29, 2019, Mueller resigned from the Department of Justice. He was 81.
Chuck Norris
Born March 10, 1940 | Died March 19, 2026
Martial artist and actor Chuck Norris was a black belt in several disciplines including karate, taekwondo and judo. After Norris opened a series of karate schools that boasted celebrity clients, friend Steve McQueen pushed him to start acting. Norris went on to star in several kung-fu movies opposite Bruce Lee, most notably 1972's "The Way of the Dragon." Later Norris would star in more action-based movies, leading to his breakout role as Cord Walker on the TV series "Walker, Texas Ranger." The show ran for nine seasons and spawned a TV movie and reboot in 2021. He was 86.
Lou Holtz
Born Jan. 6, 1937 | Died March 4, 2026
Coaching legend Lou Holtz solidified his place in history after leading the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a national championship win in 1988. During his career Holtz was head coach at six schools: William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame and South Carolina. He also coached the NFL's New York Jets for the 1976 season. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump in 2020. Holtz died March 4. He was 89.
Phil Campbell
Born May 7, 1961 | Died March 13, 2026
Guitarist Phil Campbell joined Motörhead in 1984 and stayed with the rock group until it disbanded in 2015, following the death of frontman Lemmy. English rock band Motörhead is best known for songs such as "Ace Of Spades," "Overkill" and "Killed By Death." Campbell's current band with his children -- Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons -- announced his death on their Instagram page. His children say he passed away peacefully, following "a long and courageous battle in intensive care after a complex major operation." Campbell was 64.
Neil Sedaka
Born March 13, 1939 | Died Feb. 27, 2026
Legendary singer Neil Sedaka was known for his hit songs "Calendar Girl" and "Breaking Up is Hard to Do." He was a founding member of the Tokens in the late 1950s known for their biggest hit "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Sedaka was nominated for five Grammy awards and inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978. He died on Feb. 27. Sedaka was 86.
Eric Dane
Born Nov. 9, 1972 | Died Feb. 19, 2026
Eric Dane started his career in television with small roles in "Saved by the Bell," "The Wonder Years," "Roseanne," and "Married... with Children." After starring on "Charmed" for two seasons as Jason Dean, Dane landed his breakout role on "Grey's Anatomy." He played plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan for eight seasons beginning in 2006. The character was referred to on the show by female characters as "McSteamy," because of his good looks. Dane also starred in "Euphoria" and "Brilliant Minds," where he played a firefighter battling ALS, a diagnosis he received himself and made public in 2025. He died at the age of 53.
Rev. Jesse Jackson
Born Oct. 8, 1941 | Died Feb. 17, 2026
Beginning his career as a protege of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson quickly rose to become one of the most prominent and influential civil rights leaders. In 1971, he formed the nonprofit Operation PUSH [People United to Save/Serve Humanity] to advocate for social and economic parity for Black Americans, which he later merged with the National Rainbow Coalition. Jackson ran for president twice as a Democrat, placing third for the nomination in 1984, second in 1988. In 1999, President Bill Clinton awarded Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. He died at the age of 84.
Robert Duvall
Born Jan. 5, 1931 | Died Feb. 15, 2026
Robert Duvall's big screen debut was in the 1962 movie, "To Kill A Mockingbird." He also played such memorable roles as Tom Hagen in "The Godfather" series, and Frank Hackett in "Network." In 1980, Duvall won a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for his role as Lt. Col. Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now." He won an Oscar for "Tender Mercies" in 1984. Duvall received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003 and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2005. He won two Emmy Awards in 2007 for the TV miniseries "Broken Trail." More recently, he appeared in "The Pale Blue Eye," in 2022. He died at the age of 95.
James Van der Beek
Born March 8, 1977 | Died Feb. 11, 2026
James Van der Beek was best known for his role as Dawson Leery on the popular '90s teen drama, "Dawson's Creek," which followed his character navigating high school in the hopes of a film career. Following the show's success, Van Der Beek had starring roles in hit films like "Varsity Blues," "The Rules of Attraction" and "Scary Movie." He also starred in several other hit TV shows such as "Ugly Betty," "One Tree Hill" and "How I Met Your Mother." Van Der Beek also appeared on "Dancing With The Stars" alongside pro dancer Emma Slater. The pair came in 5th during their season. He died at the age of 48.
Sonny Jurgensen
Born Aug. 23, 1934 | Died Feb. 6, 2026
After leading the Duke University Blue Devils to an Orange Bowl win in 1955, quarterback Sonny Jurgensen was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957. In 1961, he passed for an NFL record 3,723 yards and threw 32 touchdown passes, which tied the single season NFL record. Jorgensen was traded to Washington in 1964, where he played for 11 seasons before retiring in 1974. Over his career, he threw 255 touchdown passes, including a 99-yard touchdown pass in 1968. He played in the Pro-Bowl five times, was named All-Pro four times, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983. He died at the age of 91.
Catherine O'Hara
Born March 4, 1954 | Died Jan. 30 2026
Comedy legend Catherine O'Hara was known for roles in films like "Beetlejuice," "Home Alone" and "Best in Show." She began her career in 1974 as a cast member of the Second City in her hometown, Toronto. O'Hara received accolades for her work on the sitcom "Schitt's Creek," earning a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series and a Golden Globe Award for best actress. She was 71.
Lowell "Sly" Dunbar
Born May 10, 1952 | Died Jan. 26 2026
Drummer Lowell "Sly" Dunbar met Robbie Shakespeare in 1972, and they went on to form the duo Sly and Robbie. They also co-founded the Taxi Records label in 1980. Dunbar went on to play with such luminaries as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Grace Jones, and the Rolling Stones. Dunbar was nominated for a Grammy Award 13 times. He won twice, once in 1995 with the band Black Uhuru, and one in 1999 for the Sly and Robbie album "Friends." He received Jamaica's Order of Distinction and the Musgrave Gold Medal in 2015. He received the University of Minnesota Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. He died at the age of 73
Shirley Raines
Born Dec. 29, 1967 | Died Jan. 27, 2026
Shirley Raines founded the non-profit organization Beauty 2 The Streetz in 2017, providing makeovers, hygiene and beauty products, and food to the homeless population in Los Angeles. She later traveled to Las Vegas to distribute food there as well. Her generosity, style and humor gained her a massive social media presence, with almost 6 million followers on TikTok. In 2021, Raines was honored with the CNN Hero of the Year Award. In 2025, she won an NAACP Award for Outstanding Social Media Personality. Shirley Raines died on Jan. 27, at the age of 58.
Valentino Garavani
Born May 11, 1932 | Died Jan. 19, 2026
Fashion designer Valentino Garavani, known exclusively by his first name, created a fashion label that dressed celebs, royalty, heads of state, and the like. Valentino started his own fashion brand with his partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, in 1960 after studying in Paris. Valentino saw early success designing a wedding dress for Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968; and designed for Elizabeth Taylor, Julia Roberts and Princess Diana, among others. While always maintaining his high fashion aesthetic, each collection always included a red dress, earning recognition from Pantone as "Valentino Red." He died at the age of 93.
Claudette Colvin
Born Sept. 5, 1939 | Died Jan. 13, 2026
On March 2, 1955, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin was arrested for not giving up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This was 9 months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Colvin was one of the plaintiffs of the landmark civil rights case Browder v. Gayle, which ended segregation on public transportation in Alabama. Colvin moved to New York City and became a nurse's aide. She retired in 2004 and moved to South Texas. A book about her life, "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice," by Phillip Hoose, won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2009. She died at the age of 86.
Scott Adams
Born June 8, 1957 | Died Jan. 13, 2026
Scott Adams was interested in cartooning from an early age. At 11, he applied to the Famous Artists Course for Young People, but was rejected because the cut-off age was 12. While working at Crocker National Bank and Pacific Bell, Adams continued drawing. The "Dilbert" comic strip was first published in 1989. In 1995, he quit his office job and started working full time on "Dilbert." The comic was eventually published in more than 1,000 newspapers in 32 countries. There were also multiple "Dilbert" books as well as a TV series. Scott Adams died on Jan. 13 at the age of 68.
Bob Weir
Born Oct. 16, 1947 | Died Jan. 10, 2026
Musician Bob Weir was a founding member of the Grateful Dead, playing guitar and lending his vocals to the group. He formed the band in 1965 with Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. In the 1970s, Weir experimented with a solo album while still performing with the Grateful Dead, and he started several side bands that would cover their songs. In 1994, the Grateful Dead, including Weir, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and would later receive Kennedy Center honors. He died at the age of 78.
Glenn Hall
Born Oct. 3, 1931| Died Jan. 7, 2026
Canadian hockey legend Glenn Hall goaltended for the Chicago Blackhawks for most of his 20-year career in the NHL. He helped bring the Blackhawks their first Stanely Cup win in 1961. Hall played 502 consecutive games, an NHL record for goaltenders and was voted to the All-Star games 11 times. He's thought of by many as one of the best goalies the sport has seen with his butterfly style still being used by many goalies currently playing. He died at the age of 94.
Aldrich Ames
Born May 26, 1941 | Jan. 5, 2026
Aldrich Ames, the former CIA agent turned Russian asset, died at the age of 84 in a federal prison in Maryland on Jan. 5, according to a Bureau of Prisons spokesperson. The son of a CIA analyst, Ames started full time with the agency in 1962. He went on to specialize in Soviet cases, eventually being named counterintelligence branch chief for Soviet operations in 1983. In 1985, Ames approached the KGB offering U.S. secrets for money. At least 10 U.S. intelligence sources were executed by the KGB as a direct result of Ames. He spied for the Soviet Union until he was arrested in 1994.
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ABC News, ESPN, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
