Stars we lost in 2026: Remembering the actors, musicians and TV figures who died
The new year opened on a somber note for the entertainment world, with a succession of deaths spanning film, television and music. On Jan. 1, Victoria Jones, the daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, was found dead inside the Fairmont in San Francisco. She was 34.
Ten days later, two more losses were recorded. Grateful Dead legend Bob Weir died on Jan. 10 following lung problems after he beat cancer. He was 78. That same day, Colombian singer Yeison Jiménez died in a plane crash at the age of 34. January continued to bring difficult news.
Roger Allers, the co-director of The Lion King, died on Jan. 17 following a short illness. He was 76. Catherine O’Hara, the comedy star known for Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, died on Jan. 30 at the age of 71. February proved especially heavy. A 3 Doors Down founding member and lead vocalist died on Feb.
7 at 47 following a battle with cancer. Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek died on Feb. 11 following a battle with colon cancer. He was 48. Grey’s Anatomy actor Eric Dane died on Feb. 19 following a battle with ALS. He was 53. Robert Carradine died on Feb.
23 after battling bipolar disorder for nearly two decades. He was 71. Several families with ties to entertainment also suffered loss on Feb. 23. Katherine Short, the daughter of actor Martin Short, died by suicide at 42, and Robert Cosby Jr., the son of Mary Cosby, died at 23.
On Feb. 24, Lauren Chapin, best known for Father Knows Best, died following a battle with cancer at age 80, and Bobby J. Brown, known for his work on The Wire, died in a barn fire at 62. Deadliest Catch personality Todd Meadows died on Feb. 25 while at sea. He was 25.
Music legend Neil Sedaka died on Feb. 27 at the age of 86. Losses continued into March. Pulp Fiction actor Stephen Hibbert died on March 2 after suffering a heart attack. He was 68. Ghostbusters actress Jennifer Runyon died on March 6 at 65 following a six-month battle with cancer.
Country Joe McDonald died on March 7 in the Bay Area following a decline in health due to Parkinson’s disease. He was 84. On March 9, Boston lead singer Tommy DeCarlo died after a battle with brain cancer at 60. Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell died on March 13 at 64 “following a long and courageous battle in intensive care” after an operation.
British reality star Jordan Wright was found dead on March 14 in a drainage canal near Bang Tao Beach in Phuket, Thailand. He was 33. Back to the Future actor Matt Clark died on March 15 after experiencing complications following back surgery. He was 89. Iconic martial artist and actor Chuck Norris died on March 19 at the age of 86.
Together, these passings mark a difficult stretch for fans and colleagues across the arts, underscoring the breadth of talent and influence lost in the early months of 2026.