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06/03/26 08:43:00
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06/03 08:41 CDT 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
He was a brash and outspoken media mogul who gave the world the 24-hour news
cycle when he launched CNN.
Ted Turner, who died in May, built a media empire that also included TNT, the
Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies. In addition, he was a
philanthropist, conservationist and owner of the Atlanta Braves baseball team.
May also saw the death of Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in the
NBA. He spent 13 years as a player in the league for six different franchises,
revealing in 2013 that he was gay, an announcement that came toward the end of
his playing career. Collins went on to become an advocate for inclusion.
Shortly before his death, he received the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion
Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. He was too ill to attend and his
twin brother, former NBA player Jarron Collins, accepted for him.
Other noteworthy people who died in May include French singer and actor
Claudine Longet, hockey star Claude Lemieux, longtime Democratic congressman
Barney Frank and Doris Fisher, who co-founded the clothing chain The Gap Inc.
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.
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.
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.
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.
___
MARCH
___
Kermit Gosnell, 85. He was an abortion clinic doctor sentenced to life for
killing three babies who had been delivered alive. March 1.
Lou Holtz, 89. He was the College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre
Dame to the 1988 national championship and won 249 games over 33 seasons at six
schools. March 4.
Bernard LaFayette, 85. He was the advance man who did the risky groundwork for
the voter registration campaign in Selma, Alabama, that culminated in the
passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. March 5.
"Country" Joe McDonald, 84. He was a hippie rock star of the 1960s whose
"I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" was a four-lettered rebuke to the Vietnam
War that became an anthem for protesters and a highlight of the Woodstock music
festival. March 8.
Alexander Butterfield, 99. He was the White House aide who inadvertently
hastened Richard Nixon's resignation over the Watergate scandal when he
revealed that the president had bugged the Oval Office and Cabinet Room and
routinely recorded his conversations. March 9.
Nicholas Haysom, 73. The white South African anti-apartheid activist was tapped
by prisoner-turned-president Nelson Mandela to help draft the country's new
constitution that enshrined equal rights for Black people, minorities and white
people. March 17.
Michael Bambang Hartono, 86. He was Indonesia's richest man and helped turn the
Djarum cigarette company into one of the country's largest business empires.
March 19.
Chuck Norris, 86. A martial arts grandmaster and action star, his roles in
"Walker, Texas Ranger" and other television shows and movies made him an iconic
tough guy --- sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents. March
19.
Umberto Bossi, 84. He was the founder of Italy's populist Northern League and
one of the most influential --- and polarizing --- figures of Italian politics.
March 19.
Robert S. Mueller III, 81. He was the FBI director who transformed the nation's
premier law enforcement agency into a terrorism-fighting force after the Sept.
11, 2001, attacks and who later became special counsel in charge of
investigating ties between Russia and Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
March 20.
Nicholas Brendon, 54. He was an actor best known for his role as a loveable
underdog sidekick on the hit television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." His
family said he died in his sleep of natural causes. March 20.
Lionel Jospin, 88. He was a former French prime minister who gave France its
35-hour work week and then withdrew from politics after leading France's
Socialist Party to an earth-shaking presidential election defeat against
far-right firebrand Jean-Marie Le Pen. March 22.
Darrell "Dash" Crofts, 87. The singer-songwriter teamed with childhood friend
Jim Seals for such 1970s soft-rock hits as "Summer Breeze," "Diamond Girl" and
"Get Closer." March 25.
James Tolkan, 94. The actor was known for his roles as a cigar-chomping naval
commander in "Top Gun" and a gruff high school administrator in "Back to the
Future." March 26.
Mary Beth Hurt, 79. The Tony Award-nominated actor starred on Broadway in
"Benefactors" with Glenn Close and reunited with Close for the movie "The World
According to Garp." March 28.
___
APRIL
___
Jim Whittaker, 97. In 1963, he became the first American to reach the top of
Mount Everest. April 7.
Sid Krofft, 96. He was the 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." April 10.
Lionel Rosenblatt, 82. As a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, he carried out an
unauthorized evacuation of hundreds of Vietnamese citizens before the 1975 fall
of Saigon. April 11.
Asha Bhosle, 92. She was one of India's most versatile Bollywood singers whose
performances shaped the country's musical memory and modern cinema. April 12.
Bob Hall, 74. A childhood polio survivor, he became known as the father of
wheelchair racing after twice winning the Boston Marathon and then going on to
build racing chairs for the generations of competitors that followed. April 12.
Don Schlitz, 73. He was the storied country music songwriter known for such
hits as "The Gambler," "On the Other Hand" and "Forever and Ever, Amen." April
16.
Oscar Schmidt, 68. The Basketball Hall of Famer was known to his Brazilian
compatriots as the "Holy Hand." April 17.
Nathalie Baye, 77. The French actor was a fan's favorite for her down-to-earth
charm and great versatility. April 17.
George R. Ariyoshi, 100. The former Hawaii governor was the nation's first
Asian American governor. April 19.
Dave Mason, 79. The co-founder of the psychedelic British band Traffic, he was
the songwriter behind classic rock hits "Feelin' Alright" and "Hole in My Shoe"
and a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. April 19.
Alan Osmond, 76. He was the eldest member of the chart-topping family act The
Osmonds. April 20.
Nedra Talley Ross, 80. She was the last surviving member of the 1960s bee-hived
pop band the Ronettes, who sang the enduring hits "Be My Baby," "Baby I Love
You" and "Walking in the Rain" alongside her cousins. April 26.
David Allan Coe, 86. He was the country singer-songwriter who wrote the
working-class anthem "Take This Job and Shove It" and had hits with "You Never
Even Called Me By My Name" and "The Ride" among others. April 29.
J. Craig Venter, 79. He mapped the first draft of the human genome and helped
scientists understand how genes shape our lives. April 29.
___
MAY
___
Alex Zanardi, 59. He was the Italian auto racing champion-turned-Paralympic
gold medalist whose career was marked by two life-altering accidents. May 2.
Doris Fisher, 94. She co-founded the iconic clothing chain The Gap Inc. in 1969
with her late husband Don. May 2.
John Sterling, 87. The longtime New York Yankees radio broadcaster was known
for extravagant, individualized home run calls. May 4.
Ted Turner, 87. He was the brash and outspoken television pioneer who built a
media empire and transformed the news business by creating CNN and introducing
the 24-hour cable news cycle. May 6.
Joni Lamb, 65. With her late husband, she founded the Daystar Television
Network and guided it to become one of the world's largest Christian TV
networks. May 7.
Bobby Cox, 84. He was the folksy manager of the Atlanta Braves whose teams
ruled the National League during the 1990s and gave the city its first major
title as well as World Series trips that fell short. May 9.
Abraham H. Foxman, 86. He was a forceful advocate for American Jews as national
director of the Anti-Defamation League for nearly three decades. May 10.
Jim Colbert, 85. He was renowned for wearing his bucket hat while winning eight
times on the PGA Tour and 20 times on the PGA Tour Champions. May 10.
Mark Fuhrman, 74. He was the former Los Angeles police detective who was
convicted of lying during testimony at the O.J. Simpson murder trial. May 12.
Jason Collins, 47. The NBA's first openly gay player, he went on to become a
pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league. He died after an
eight-month battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. May 12.
Clarence Carter, 90. He was the blues and soul musician and singer-songwriter
with the raspy, emotional vocals whose hits included the sentimental "Patches"
and the salacious "Strokin.'" May 13.
Claudine Longet, 84. She was a French singer and actor who was at the center of
a highly publicized manslaughter trial after she was charged with the fatal
shooting of her boyfriend, Olympic skier Vladimir "Spider" Sabich. May 14.
Scott Hastings, 61. He was the Scotland rugby great who played alongside his
older brother Gavin for the national team and the British and Irish Lions. May
17.
Barney Frank, 86. The longtime Democratic congressman and leading liberal
brought new visibility to gay rights and crafted the most significant reforms
to the financial system in a generation. May 19.
Kyle Busch, 41. He was a two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than
anyone across NASCAR's three national series. His family said he died after
severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis. May 21.
Rob Base, 59. The rapper was one half of the Harlem hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ
E-Z Rock, best known for the 1988 chart-topper "It Takes Two." He died after a
battle with cancer. May 22.
Raymond Berry, 93. The Hall of Fame wide receiver teamed with Baltimore
quarterback Johnny Unitas for one of the NFL's greatest passing combinations
and helped lead the Colts to victory over the New York Giants in the storied
1958 championship game. May 25.
Sonny Rollins, 95. He was the tenor saxophonist and restless genius whose bold,
distinctive tone and constant experimentation kept him on the cutting edge of
jazz for more than 50 years. May 25.
Marcia Lucas, 80. She won an Oscar as editor of the original 1977 "Star Wars"
and was part of a group of women whose editing was essential to film's New
Hollywood era. May 27.
Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, 80. He was the internationally recognized president of
Yemen who led a fractured government mostly from exile for eight years as the
country descended into civil war and famine before stepping down in 2022. May
28.
Claude Lemieux, 60. He was a four-time Stanley Cup champion whose ferocious,
hard-hitting style of play angered opponents and sometimes overshadowed his
prodigious skills and ability to deliver in the biggest games. Authorities said
he took his own life. May 28.
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