The year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026

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):

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JANUARY ___

, 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.

, 74. He was one of South Korean cinema鈥檚 biggest stars whose prolific 60-year career and positive, gentle public image earned him the nickname 鈥淭he Nation鈥檚 Actor.鈥� Jan. 5.

, 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.

, 70. The celebrated Hungarian filmmaker directed such works as 鈥淪谩t谩ntang贸鈥� and 鈥淭he Turin Horse鈥� and was the recipient of numerous awards for his long and often darkly comic films. Jan. 6.

, 94. Nicknamed 鈥淢r. Goalie,鈥� he was a Hockey Hall of Famer whose ironman streak of 502 starts as a goaltender remains an NHL record. Jan. 7.

, 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.

, 50. The Grammy-nominated musician was known for his work with the Fugees and the Refugee Camp All-Stars, among others. Jan. 12.

, 68. His popular comic strip 鈥淒ilbert鈥� 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.

, 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.

, 93. He was the jet-set Italian designer whose high-glamour gowns 鈥� often in his trademark shade of 鈥淰alentino red鈥� 鈥� were fashion show staples for nearly half a century. Jan. 19.

, 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.

, 89. As a doctor, he was a leader of one of humanity鈥檚 greatest public health victories 鈥� the global eradication of smallpox. Jan. 24.

, 71. The gifted Canadian-born comic actor and 鈥淪CTV鈥� alum starred as Macaulay Culkin鈥檚 harried mother in two 鈥淗ome Alone鈥� movies and won an Emmy as the dramatically ditzy, wealthy matriarch Moira Rose in 鈥淪chitt鈥檚 Creek.鈥� Jan. 30.

, 79. He found fame in the 1970s playing Lamont on 鈥淪anford and Son鈥� and went on to become a minister. Jan. 30.

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FEBRUARY

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, 96. He was an award-winning poet, author, translator and educator who schooled millions of students through 鈥淭he Bedford Reader鈥� and other textbooks and engaged voluntary readers with his children鈥檚 stories and intricate, witty verse. Feb. 1.

, 83. He was a founding member of the soul-rock sensations Three Dog Night who sang lead on such hits as 鈥淥ne鈥� and 鈥淛ust an Old Fashioned Love Song鈥� and hollered the immortal opening line 鈥淛eremiah was a bullfrog!鈥� on the chart-topping 鈥淛oy to the World.鈥� Feb. 2.

, 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.

, 48. The heartthrob starred in coming-of-age dramas at the dawn of the new millennium, shooting to fame playing the titular character in 鈥淒awson鈥檚 Creek鈥� and in later years mocking his own hunky persona. He had revealed in 2024 that he was being treated for colorectal cancer. Feb. 11.

, 95. He was an Oscar-winning actor of matchless versatility and dedication whose classic roles included the intrepid consigliere of the first two 鈥淕odfather鈥� movies and the over-the-hill country music singer in 鈥淭ender Mercies.鈥� Feb. 15.

, 96. He was the celebrated director of 鈥淭iticut Follies鈥� and dozens of other documentaries whose in-depth, unadorned movies comprised a unique and revelatory history of American institutions. Feb. 16.

, 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鈥檚 assassination. Feb. 17.

, 53. The celebrated actor was best known for his roles on 鈥淕rey鈥檚 Anatomy鈥� and 鈥淓uphoria鈥� 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.

, 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.

, 75. He was a Grammy-nominated architect of urban salsa music and a social activist. Feb. 21.

, 71. He was the youngest of his prolific Hollywood family, and his biggest hit was the 1984 comedy 鈥淩evenge of the Nerds.鈥� Feb. 23.

, 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 鈥淧eter Pan鈥� and played Minnie Fay in the original production of 鈥淗ello, Dolly!鈥� Feb. 23.

, 86. The hit-making singer-songwriter鈥檚 boyish soprano and bright melodies made him a top act in the early years of rock 鈥榥鈥� roll and led to a second run of success in the 1970s. Feb. 27.

, 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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MARCH

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, 85. He was an abortion clinic doctor sentenced to life for killing three babies who had been delivered alive. March 1.

, 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.

, 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.

, 84. He was a hippie rock star of the 1960s whose 鈥淚-Feel-Like-I鈥檓-Fixin鈥�-To-Die Rag鈥� 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.

, 99. He was the White House aide who inadvertently hastened Richard Nixon鈥檚 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.

, 73. The white South African anti-apartheid activist was tapped by prisoner-turned-president Nelson Mandela to help draft the country鈥檚 new constitution that enshrined equal rights for Black people, minorities and white people. March 17.

, 86. He was Indonesia鈥檚 richest man and helped turn the Djarum cigarette company into one of the country鈥檚 largest business empires. March 19.

, 86. A martial arts grandmaster and action star, his roles in 鈥淲alker, Texas Ranger鈥� and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy 鈥� sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents. March 19.

, 84. He was the founder of Italy鈥檚 populist Northern League and one of the most influential 鈥� and polarizing 鈥� figures of Italian politics. March 19.

, 81. He was the FBI director who transformed the nation鈥檚 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鈥檚 presidential campaign. March 20.

, 54. He was an actor best known for his role as a loveable underdog sidekick on the hit television series 鈥淏uffy the Vampire Slayer.鈥� His family said he died in his sleep of natural causes. March 20.

, 88. He was a former French prime minister who gave France its 35-hour work week and then withdrew from politics after leading France鈥檚 Socialist Party to an earth-shaking presidential election defeat against far-right firebrand Jean-Marie Le Pen. March 22.

, 87. The singer-songwriter teamed with childhood friend Jim Seals for such 1970s soft-rock hits as 鈥淪ummer Breeze,鈥� 鈥淒iamond Girl鈥� and 鈥淕et Closer.鈥� March 25.

, 94. The actor was known for his roles as a cigar-chomping naval commander in 鈥淭op Gun鈥� and a gruff high school administrator in 鈥淏ack to the Future.鈥� March 26.

, 79. The Tony Award-nominated actor starred on Broadway in 鈥淏enefactors鈥� with Glenn Close and reunited with Close for the movie 鈥淭he World According to Garp.鈥� March 28.

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APRIL

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, 97. In 1963, he became the first American to reach the top of Mount Everest. April 7.

, 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鈥檚 1960s TV show 鈥淗.R. Pufnstuf.鈥� April 10.

, 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.

, 92. She was one of India鈥檚 most versatile Bollywood singers whose performances shaped the country鈥檚 musical memory and modern cinema. April 12.

, 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.

, 73. He was the storied country music songwriter known for such hits as 鈥淭he Gambler,鈥� 鈥淥n the Other Hand鈥� and 鈥淔orever and Ever, Amen.鈥� April 16.

, 68. The Basketball Hall of Famer was known to his Brazilian compatriots as the 鈥淗oly Hand.鈥� April 17.

, 77. The French actor was a fan鈥檚 favorite for her down-to-earth charm and great versatility. April 17.

, 100. The former Hawaii governor was the nation鈥檚 first Asian American governor. April 19.

, 79. The co-founder of the psychedelic British band Traffic, he was the songwriter behind classic rock hits 鈥淔eelin鈥� Alright鈥� and 鈥淗ole in My Shoe鈥� and a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. April 19.

, 76. He was the eldest member of the chart-topping family act The Osmonds. April 20.

, 80. She was the last surviving member of the 1960s bee-hived pop band the Ronettes, who sang the enduring hits 鈥淏e My Baby,鈥� 鈥淏aby I Love You鈥� and 鈥淲alking in the Rain鈥� alongside her cousins. April 26.

, 86. He was the country singer-songwriter who wrote the working-class anthem 鈥淭ake This Job and Shove It鈥� and had hits with 鈥淵ou Never Even Called Me By My Name鈥� and 鈥淭he Ride鈥� among others. April 29.

, 79. He mapped the first draft of the human genome and helped scientists understand how genes shape our lives. April 29.

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MAY

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, 59. He was the Italian auto racing champion-turned-Paralympic gold medalist whose career was marked by two life-altering accidents. May 2.

, 94. She co-founded the iconic clothing chain The Gap Inc. in 1969 with her late husband Don. May 2.

, 87. The longtime New York Yankees radio broadcaster was known for extravagant, individualized home run calls. May 4.

, 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.

, 65. With her late husband, she founded the Daystar Television Network and guided it to become one of the world鈥檚 largest Christian TV networks. May 7.

, 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.

, 86. He was a forceful advocate for American Jews as national director of the Anti-Defamation League for nearly three decades. May 10.

, 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.

, 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.

, 47. The NBA鈥檚 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.

, 90. He was the blues and soul musician and singer-songwriter with the raspy, emotional vocals whose hits included the sentimental 鈥淧atches鈥� and the salacious 鈥淪trokin.鈥欌€� May 13.

, 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 鈥淪pider鈥� Sabich. May 14.

, 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.

, 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.

, 41. He was a two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than anyone across NASCAR鈥檚 three national series. His family said he died after severe pneumonia . May 21.

, 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 鈥淚t Takes Two.鈥� He died after a battle with cancer. May 22.

, 93. The Hall of Fame wide receiver teamed with Baltimore quarterback Johnny Unitas for one of the NFL鈥檚 greatest passing combinations and helped lead the Colts to victory over the New York Giants in the storied 1958 championship game. May 25.

, 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.

, 80. She won an Oscar as editor of the original 1977 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� and was part of a group of women whose editing was essential to film鈥檚 New Hollywood era. May 27.

, 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.

, 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.