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03/03/26 01:00:00
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03/03 12:57 CST The year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026
The year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026
By BERNARD McGHEE
Associated Press
Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson is among the influential and
noteworthy people who died in February.
A protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and a two-time presidential
candidate, he led a lifetime of crusades, advocating for poor people and the
underrepresented in the United States and around the world.
February also saw the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
who was killed amid U.S. and Israeli military strikes. Khamenei ruled the
country for decades, assembling theocratic power and seeking to turn the nation
into a regional powerhouse. His death --- along with the ongoing fighting in
Iran --- raises questions about the future of the Islamic Republic.
Others who died in February include actors Robert Duvall, James Van Der Beek,
Sondra Lee and Eric Dane; Three Dog Night singer Chuck Negron; and Hall of Fame
second baseman Bill Mazeroski.
Here is a roll call of some influential figures who have died this year (the
cause of death is cited, if available):
___
JANUARY -__
Diane Crump, 77. In 1969, she became the first woman to ride professionally in
a horse race and a year later became the first female jockey in the Kentucky
Derby. Jan. 1.
Ahn Sung-ki, 74. He was one of South Korean cinema's biggest stars whose
prolific 60-year career and positive, gentle public image earned him the
nickname "The Nation's Actor." Jan. 5.
Aldrich Ames, 84. The CIA turncoat who betrayed Western intelligence assets to
the Soviet Union and Russia in one of the most damaging intelligence breaches
in U.S. history died in prison. Jan. 5.
Bla Tarr, 70. The celebrated Hungarian filmmaker directed such works as
"Stntang" and "The Turin Horse" and was the recipient of numerous awards for
his long and often darkly comic films. Jan. 6.
Glenn Hall, 94. Nicknamed "Mr. Goalie," he was a Hockey Hall of Famer whose
ironman streak of 502 starts as a goaltender remains an NHL record. Jan. 7.
Bob Weir, 78. The guitarist and singer was an essential member of the Grateful
Dead who helped found the sound of the San Francisco counterculture of the
1960s and kept it alive through decades of endless tours and marathon jams.
Jan. 10.
Scott Adams, 68. His popular comic strip "Dilbert" captured the frustration of
beleaguered, white-collar cubicle workers and satirized the ridiculousness of
modern office culture until he was abruptly dropped from syndication in 2023
for racist remarks. Jan. 13.
John Fort, 50. The Grammy-nominated musician was known for his work with the
Fugees and the Refugee Camp All-Stars, among others. Jan. 12.
Claudette Colvin, 86. Her 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a
segregated Montgomery bus helped spark the modern civil rights movement. At age
15, she was arrested nine months before Rosa Parks gained international fame
for also refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. Jan. 13.
Valentino Garavani, 93. He was the jet-set Italian designer whose high-glamour
gowns --- often in his trademark shade of "Valentino red" --- were fashion show
staples for nearly half a century. Jan. 19.
Ota Zaremba, 68. He won a weightlifting gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics
before admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs under a secret program
run by the totalitarian regime in the former Czechoslovakia. Jan. 23.
William Foege, 89. As a doctor, he was a leader of one of humanity's greatest
public health victories --- the global eradication of smallpox. Jan. 24.
Catherine O'Hara, 71. The gifted Canadian-born comic actor and "SCTV" alum
starred as Macaulay Culkin's harried mother in two "Home Alone" movies and won
an Emmy as the dramatically ditzy, wealthy matriarch Moira Rose in "Schitt's
Creek." Jan. 30.
Demond Wilson, 79. He found fame in the 1970s playing Lamont on "Sanford and
Son" and went on to become a minister. Jan. 30.
___
FEBRUARY
___
X.J. Kennedy, 96. He was an award-winning poet, author, translator and educator
who schooled millions of students through "The Bedford Reader" and other
textbooks and engaged voluntary readers with his children's stories and
intricate, witty verse. Feb. 1.
Chuck Negron, 83. He was a founding member of the soul-rock sensations Three
Dog Night who sang lead on such hits as "One" and "Just an Old Fashioned Love
Song" and hollered the immortal opening line "Jeremiah was a bullfrog!" on the
chart-topping "Joy to the World." Feb. 2.
Mickey Lolich, 85. He had three complete-game victories for the Detroit Tigers
in the 1968 World Series, the last Major League Baseball pitcher to post the
incredible feat. Feb. 4.
James Van Der Beek, 48. The heartthrob starred in coming-of-age dramas at the
dawn of the new millennium, shooting to fame playing the titular character in
"Dawson's Creek" and in later years mocking his own hunky persona. He had
revealed in 2024 that he was being treated for colorectal cancer. Feb. 11.
Robert Duvall, 95. He was an Oscar-winning actor of matchless versatility and
dedication whose classic roles included the intrepid consigliere of the first
two "Godfather" movies and the over-the-hill country music singer in "Tender
Mercies." Feb. 15.
Frederick Wiseman, 96. He was the celebrated director of "Titicut Follies" and
dozens of other documentaries whose in-depth, unadorned movies comprised a
unique and revelatory history of American institutions. Feb. 16.
The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, 84. A protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and
a two-time presidential candidate, he led the Civil Rights Movement for decades
after the revered leader's assassination. Feb. 17.
Eric Dane, 53. The celebrated actor was best known for his roles on "Grey's
Anatomy" and "Euphoria" and later in life became an advocate for ALS awareness.
He died from the disease less than a year after he announced his diagnosis.
Feb. 19.
Bill Mazeroski, 89. The Hall of Fame second baseman won eight Gold Glove awards
for his steady work in the field and the hearts of countless Pittsburgh Pirates
fans for his historic walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.
Feb. 20.
Willie Coln, 75. He was a Grammy-nominated architect of urban salsa music and
a social activist. Feb. 21.
Robert Carradine, 71. He was the youngest of his prolific Hollywood family, and
his biggest hit was the 1984 comedy "Revenge of the Nerds." Feb. 23.
Sondra Lee, 97. She was a dancer and actor discovered by the legendary
choreographer-director Jerome Robbins and originated the role of Tiger Lily on
Broadway in "Peter Pan" and played Minnie Fay in the original production of
"Hello, Dolly!" Feb. 23.
Neil Sedaka, 86. The hit-making singer-songwriter's boyish soprano and bright
melodies made him a top act in the early years of rock ?n' roll and led to a
second run of success in the 1970s. Feb. 27.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86. He assembled theocratic power in Iran over the
decades as its top leader and sought to turn it into a regional powerhouse,
bringing it into confrontation with Israel and the United States over its
nuclear program while crushing democracy protests. He was killed in U.S. and
Israeli military strikes. Feb. 28.
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