Favorite Celebrities We Have Said Goodbye To in 2026

From her early days on SCTV to her iconic roles in Beetlejuice, Home Alone, Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, and her Emmy-winning turn as Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek, Catherine O'Hara's fearless comedic brilliance defined four decades of entertainment.

Launching Dilbert in 1989 while working in corporate telecommunications, Scott Adams turned white-collar cubicle frustration into a cultural phenomenon syndicated across 2,000 newspapers in 65 countries and dozens of bestselling books.

Writing the diamond-certified smash 'Kryptonite' in his high school math class at age 15, Brad Arnold led Mississippi rock band 3 Doors Down to global stardom with timeless early-2000s anthems like 'Here Without You' and 'When I'm Gone.'

After defining late-1990s teen television as Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek and starring in Varsity Blues, James Van Der Beek won new generations of admirers with his self-aware comedy in Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 and his courageous cancer advocacy.

Across a seven-decade career beginning with his screen debut as Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird, Robert Duvall delivered some of American cinema's greatest performances in The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, Tender Mercies, The Apostle, and Lonesome Dove.

Whether captivating millions as Dr. Mark 'McSteamy' Sloan on Grey's Anatomy, commanding the bridge for five seasons on The Last Ship, or delivering raw dramatic intensity as Cal Jacobs on HBO's Euphoria, Eric Dane brought unforgettable magnetism to every role.

From his historic Rome Colosseum showdown opposite Bruce Lee in 1972's Way of the Dragon to 1980s action classics like Lone Wolf McQuade and eight seasons of Walker, Texas Ranger, Chuck Norris became one of the most recognizable martial arts icons in history.

Appearing in 144 episodes across all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as the loyal, quick-witted Xander Harris—and later starring as technical analyst Kevin Lynch on Criminal Minds—Nicholas Brendon was the emotional anchor of a generation's favorite cult series.

A foundational architect of 1970s Bronx block-party culture, Afrika Bambaataa fused Kraftwerk synthesizer melodies with Roland TR-808 drum machines on 1982's 'Planet Rock,' forever transforming hip-hop, electro, techno, and modern dance music.

Nicknamed the 'Mouth of the South,' Ted Turner revolutionized modern television by founding CNN—the world's first 24-hour cable news network—in 1980, building TBS and TCM, winning the America's Cup, and leading the Atlanta Braves to the 1995 World Series title.

Teaming up with lifelong Harlem friend DJ E-Z Rock on 1988's multi-platinum classic 'It Takes Two,' Rob Base helped bring Golden Age hip-hop into mainstream pop radio and clubs worldwide with an infectious groove that never left the dance floor.

With her unmistakable husky voice and larger-than-life rock ballads, Welsh powerhouse Bonnie Tyler dominated international charts in the late 1970s and 1980s with timeless hits including 'It's a Heartache,' 'Total Eclipse of the Heart,' and 'Holding Out for a Hero.'

Born into a fourth-generation deaf family in Georgia, Kaylee Hottle became a global blockbuster sensation as Jia in 2021's Godzilla vs. Kong and 2024's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, bringing authentic American Sign Language artistry to audiences worldwide.

From his unforgettable performance as paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park franchise to acclaimed turns in The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, Event Horizon, and Peaky Blinders, Sir Sam Neill was one of cinema's warmest storytellers.

First capturing hearts as coach's daughter Sheryl Yoast in Remember the Titans, Hayden Panettiere became an international television phenomenon as cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC's Heroes before earning two Golden Globe nominations as Juliette Barnes on Nashville.

Composing over 3,000 songs—including immortal classics 'Jolene,' '9 to 5,' 'Coat of Many Colors,' and 'I Will Always Love You'—Dolly Parton paired unmatched musical genius with boundless generosity, gifting over 250 million books to children worldwide.

Few performers in history possessed the theatrical electricity of Tim Curry, whose indelible gallery of characters spanned Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Wadsworth in Clue, Pennywise in 1990's It, Nigel Thornberry, and King Arthur in Spamalot.

With his trademark 'Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?' catchphrase and genuine warmth toward Bayside High's students, Dennis Haskins made Principal Richard Belding an enduring staple of Saturday-morning television across more than a decade of Saved by the Bell.

Renowned for her silky baritone voice and effortless grace on camera, Angela Stribling became a beloved presence in millions of homes during the 1990s and 2000s as the host of BET's Jazz Central and Pillow Talk and on WHUR-FM radio.

A commanding daytime television leading man throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Robert Kelker-Kelly captivated soap opera audiences during his celebrated runs as Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives, Bobby Reno on Another World, and Stavros Cassadine on General Hospital.

Remembered for her nuanced character work on stage and screen, Betty McGuire appeared in Robert Altman's acclaimed 1982 ensemble drama Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean as well as memorable television roles on Columbo and Cagney & Lacey.

Starring across all five seasons of AMC's landmark drama Breaking Bad as Walter 'Flynn' White Jr., RJ Mitte earned a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble and used his global platform to champion authentic disability inclusion in film, television, and sports.