Here are some notable people who have died in 2026.

American salsa legend <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F02%2F21%2Fentertainment%2Fwillie-colon-death">Willie Colón</a>, the pioneering trombonist, vocalist and composer, died on Saturday, February 21, his family said in a statement. He was 75.
American salsa legend Willie Colón, the pioneering trombonist, vocalist and composer, died on Saturday, February 21, his family said in a statement. He was 75.
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<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F02%2F21%2Fsport%2Fbill-mazeroski-pittsburgh-pirates-death-baseball">Bill Mazeroski</a>, a Hall of Fame second baseman who won the hearts of countless Pittsburgh Pirates fans for his historic walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, died Friday, February 20, the Pirates said. He was 89.
Bill Mazeroski, a Hall of Fame second baseman who won the hearts of countless Pittsburgh Pirates fans for his historic walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, died Friday, February 20, the Pirates said. He was 89.
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<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F02%2F19%2Fentertainment%2Feric-dane-death">Eric Dane</a>, the actor who steamed up primetime TV on “Grey’s Anatomy” at the height of the show’s popularity, has died, according to his publicist. He was 53. Dane announced he was living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in 2025.
Eric Dane, the actor who steamed up primetime TV on “Grey’s Anatomy” at the height of the show’s popularity, has died, according to his publicist. He was 53. Dane announced he was living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in 2025.
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The Rev. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F02%2F17%2Fus%2Freverend-jesse-jackson-death">Jesse Jackson</a>, the towering civil rights leader whose moral vision and fiery oratory reshaped the Democratic Party and America, died Tuesday, February 17, at the age of 84. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F02%2F17%2Fpolitics%2Fgallery%2Fjesse-jackson">Jackson</a>, a protégé of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., had been <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2025%2F11%2F12%2Fpolitics%2Fjesse-jackson-hospitalized-hnk">hospitalized</a> in the months leading up to his death and was under observation for progressive supranuclear palsy.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the towering civil rights leader whose moral vision and fiery oratory reshaped the Democratic Party and America, died Tuesday, February 17, at the age of 84. Jackson, a protégé of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., had been hospitalized in the months leading up to his death and was under observation for progressive supranuclear palsy.
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<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F02%2F16%2Fentertainment%2Frobert-duvall-death">Robert Duvall</a>, who played Tom Hagen in "The Godfather," died on Sunday, February 15. The Oscar-winning actor is best known his many tough-guy roles over an acclaimed screen career that spanned six decades. He was 95.
Robert Duvall, who played Tom Hagen in "The Godfather," died on Sunday, February 15. The Oscar-winning actor is best known his many tough-guy roles over an acclaimed screen career that spanned six decades. He was 95.
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<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F02%2F11%2Fentertainment%2Fjames-van-der-beek-death">James Van Der Beek</a>, who rose to fame playing Dawson Leery on the 1990s-era hit teen drama “Dawson’s Creek,” died on Wednesday, February 11. He was 48. Van Der Beek announced in 2024 that he was living with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
James Van Der Beek, who rose to fame playing Dawson Leery on the 1990s-era hit teen drama “Dawson’s Creek,” died on Wednesday, February 11. He was 48. Van Der Beek announced in 2024 that he was living with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F02%2F07%2Fentertainment%2Fbrad-arnold-3-doors-down-dies">Brad Arnold</a>, the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated rock band 3 Doors Down, died Saturday, February 7, months after he announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer. He was 47.
Brad Arnold, the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated rock band 3 Doors Down, died Saturday, February 7, months after he announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer. He was 47.
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Singer <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F02%2F04%2Fentertainment%2Flamonte-mclemore-5th-dimension-death">LaMonte McLemore</a>, a founding member of the vocal group the 5th Dimension, died February 4 at the age of 90.
Singer LaMonte McLemore, a founding member of the vocal group the 5th Dimension, died February 4 at the age of 90.
Everett Collection
<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F01%2F30%2Fentertainment%2Factress-catherine-ohara-has-died">Catherine O’Hara</a>, who starred in legendary films “Beetlejuice” and “Home Alone” before taking a star turn as Moira Rose on “Schitt’s Creek,” died at the age of 71, it was confirmed on January 30.
Catherine O’Hara, who starred in legendary films “Beetlejuice” and “Home Alone” before taking a star turn as Moira Rose on “Schitt’s Creek,” died at the age of 71, it was confirmed on January 30.
Danny Moloshok/Reuters
<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F02%2F01%2Fentertainment%2Fdemond-wilson-who-played-lamont-on-sanford-and-son-dies-at-79">Demond Wilson</a>, who found fame in the 1970s television show “Sanford and Son” and went on to become a minister, died on January 30. He was 79.
Demond Wilson, who found fame in the 1970s television show “Sanford and Son” and went on to become a minister, died on January 30. He was 79.
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<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F01%2F28%2Fus%2Fshirley-raines-tiktok-star-skid-row-dies-hnk">Shirley Raines</a>, a social media creator and nonprofit founder who dedicated her life to caring for people experiencing homelessness, died at the age of 58, her organization Beauty 2 The Streetz said on January 28.
Shirley Raines, a social media creator and nonprofit founder who dedicated her life to caring for people experiencing homelessness, died at the age of 58, her organization Beauty 2 The Streetz said on January 28.
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Valentino Garavani attends the 14th Annual CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund Gala at Weylin in November 2017 in New York.
Italian fashion legend Valentino Garavani, whose elegant evening gowns were favored for decades by some of the world’s most glamorous women, died on January 19, according to his foundation. He was 93.
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<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F01%2F13%2Fus%2Fclaudette-colvin-death">Claudette Colvin</a>, whose 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus helped spark the modern civil rights movement, has died on January 13. She was 86. At the age of 15, Colvin was arrested for not giving up her seat to a white person in Montgomery, Alabama. This predated the arrest of Rosa Parks and the the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott by nine months.
Claudette Colvin, whose 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus helped spark the modern civil rights movement, has died on January 13. She was 86. At the age of 15, Colvin was arrested for not giving up her seat to a white person in Montgomery, Alabama. This predated the arrest of Rosa Parks and the the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott by nine months.
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<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F01%2F13%2Fentertainment%2Fgrammy-nominated-musician-john-forte-death">John Forté</a>, the Grammy-nominated musician known for his work with the Fugees and the Refugee Camp All-Stars among others, was found dead at his home in Massachusetts on January 12. He was 50.
John Forté, the Grammy-nominated musician known for his work with the Fugees and the Refugee Camp All-Stars among others, was found dead at his home in Massachusetts on January 12. He was 50.
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<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F01%2F10%2Fentertainment%2Fbob-weir-grateful-dead-dies">Bob Weir</a>, a founding member of the iconic American rock group the Grateful Dead who seemingly never stopped touring for six decades, died on January 10, according to a statement posted to his official website. He was 78. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Finteractive%2F2025%2F08%2Fentertainment%2Fgrateful-dead-jim-marshall-cnnphotos%2Findex.html">See behind-the-scenes photos of the Grateful Dead in their early years.</a>
Bob Weir, a founding member of the iconic American rock group the Grateful Dead who seemingly never stopped touring for six decades, died on January 10, according to a statement posted to his official website. He was 78. See behind-the-scenes photos of the Grateful Dead in their early years.
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