Celebrity deaths in 2026: Remembering the famous people we lost this year

Gloria Steinem. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images Actors James Van Der Beek, Hayden Panettiere, Robert Duvall, Chuck Norris, and Tim Curry died in 2026. So did country star Dolly Parton and artist Yayoi Kusama. Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, activist Gloria Steinem, and media mogul Ted Turner also died this year. Below, we look back at the celebrities we lost in 2026, listed in alphabetical order. Scott Adams, 68 Scott Adams. Michael Macor/Getty Images Scott Adams worked at a telephone company in the 1980s. The experience inspired his beloved comic strip, "Dilbert." By the end of the decade, the character and his satirical office humor began appearing in comic strips. At its peak, "Dilbert" was syndicated in over 2,000 newspapers. A cartoon series debuted in 1999, running for two seasons. Adams gained notoriety when he began writing blog posts praising Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential run. In 2023, "Dilbert" was pulled from newspapers across the US following racist comments made by Adams. Adams died on January 13 from metastatic prostate cancer. Brad Arnold, 47 Brad Arnold. Scott Gries/ImageDirect/Getty Images The lead singer of 3 Doors Down, Brad Arnold launched the group into fame with the 2000 rock anthem "Kryptonite," which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year. The success led to other hits like "Loser," "Here Without You," and "When I'm Gone." Arnold's vocal range and lyrics focused on love and love lost, which fueled the group to stardom. Arnold died on February 7 from a type of kidney cancer. Afrika Bambaataa, 68 Afrika Bambaataa. Paul Natkin/WireImage/Getty A hip-hop pioneer during the 1970s and 1980s, Lance Taylor, known professionally as Afrika Bambaataa, first gained attention as a DJ in the Bronx. He signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1981 and released landmark songs like "Jazzy Sensation" and "Planet Rock." He would go on to influence the likes of Queen Latifah and A Tribe Called Quest throughout his career. Bambaataa founded the hip-hop awareness group, Universal Zulu Nation, in the 1970s to steer kids away from gang life. Bambaataa stepped down as the head of the organization in 2016 after accusations of sexual abuse. Bambaataa denied all claims. He died on April 9 due to prostate cancer. Rob Bass, 59 Rob Bass. Al Pereira/Michael Osche Archives/Getty Images One of the icons responsible for bringing hip-hop to the mainstram, Rob Bass crafted the iconic track "It Takes Two" alongside DJ E-Z Rock. The track, released in 1988, reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart and later went certified platinum. In 1989, it was voted the greatest single of all time by Spin magazine. Bass died on May 22 following cancer. Nicholas Brendon, 54 Nicholas Brendon. Getty Images Nicholas Brendon was a television actor, best known for playing Xander Harris in all seven seasons of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." He also starred in "Criminal Minds" and "Kitchen Confidential." Brendon died in his sleep on March 20 due to natural causes, according to his family's statement. 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. "Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart." Peabo Bryson, 75 Peabo Bryson. ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images Two-time Grammy winner Peabo Bryson is best known for his classic love ballads. Bryson began releasing music in the late 1970s, but one of his first major hits was opposite Roberta Flack on the 1983 duet, "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love." He continued hit-making a year later with the smash "If Ever You're in My Arms Again," and in 1991, he topped the R&B charts with "Can You Stop the Rain." Bryson found global stardom with his renditions of two Disney classics. In 1991, he released the pop version of "Beauty and the Beast," alongside Céline Dion, and a year later, he duetted with Regina Belle on "A Whole New World" from the 1992 release of "Aladdin." Bryson died on June 2. No cause was given. James Burrows, 85 James Burrows. Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images An 11-time Emmy winner and co-creator of "Cheers," director James Burrows helped shape modern TV comedy through his work on iconic sitcoms including "Will & Grace," "Friends," and "Frasier." Known for his comedic timing and elaborate blocking, Burrows got his start directing episodes of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Throughout his career, he directed episodes of "Frasier" (winning an Emmy for the pilot episode), "Will & Grace," "Friends," and "The Big Bang Theory." He directed over 50 pilot episodes. Burrows died on June 19. No c