The year 2026 has seen the deaths of influential people who died in 2026, including major figures from politics, entertainment, sports, science, music and civil rights.
Among the most notable were U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, aviation pioneer Wally Funk, singer Bonnie Tyler, former CIA Director R. James Woolsey, actor Sam Neill and West Indies cricket legend Garry Sobers.
The list also includes major cultural figures such as Bob Weir, Catherine O Hara, Robert Duvall, Asha Bhosle, David Hockney and Ted Turner.
Here is a month-by-month look at some of the most notable influential people who died in 2026, based on reports available through July.
January
January brought the loss of several prominent figures.
Diane Crump, 77, broke barriers in horse racing. She became the first woman to ride professionally in a horse race and later became the first female jockey to compete in the Kentucky Derby.
South Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki, 74, died after a career spanning about six decades. He became known as one of the country’s most respected actors.
CIA officer Aldrich Ames, 84, also died in January. His espionage caused one of the most damaging intelligence breaches in U.S. history.
Filmmaker Bla Tarr, hockey great Glenn Hall and Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir were among the other notable deaths.
Fashion designer Valentino Garavani, public health pioneer William Foege and actor Catherine O Hara also died during the month.
February
February saw the deaths of several major names in entertainment and public life.
Actor Robert Duvall, 95, was remembered for acclaimed performances in films including The Godfather and Tender Mercies.
Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, 84, died after decades of activism. He also ran for president twice and remained an influential voice in American politics.
Actor James Van Der Beek, known for Dawsons Creek, died at 48. Actor Eric Dane, known for Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, also died at 53.
Other notable February deaths included filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, baseball legend Bill Mazeroski, salsa musician Willie Coln and singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, was also killed in U.S. and Israeli military strikes, according to the Associated Press.
March
March brought the deaths of influential figures from politics, sport and entertainment.
Basketball coach Lou Holtz, civil rights activist Bernard LaFayette and Watergate-era White House aide Alexander Butterfield were among those who died.
Actor Chuck Norris, known for his action films and Walker, Texas Ranger, died at 86.
Former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III, who later served as special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, also died.
Former French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and filmmaker James Tolkan were among the other notable names remembered in March.
April
April saw the deaths of several influential figures in music, science, politics and entertainment.
Indian singer Asha Bhosle, 92, died after a career that helped shape Bollywood music. She recorded thousands of songs during a career spanning decades.
Scientist J. Craig Venter, 79, was also remembered for his role in mapping the first draft of the human genome.
Other April deaths included Everest pioneer Jim Whittaker, entertainer Sid Krofft, actor Nathalie Baye, former Hawaii Governor George Ariyoshi and musician Dave Mason.
May
Media, sports, politics and music lost several major figures in May.
Ted Turner, 87, died after building a media empire that included CNN. His launch of the network helped transform television news by introducing a 24-hour news format.
NBA pioneer Jason Collins, the league’s first openly gay player, also died. He later became an advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport.
Other notable deaths included Gap co-founder Doris Fisher, longtime Yankees broadcaster John Sterling, NASCAR champion Kyle Busch and jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins.
Marcia Lucas, the Oscar-winning editor of the original Star Wars, also died in May.
June
June included the deaths of major figures in music, art, science and public service.
Music executive Clive Davis, 94, was among the month’s most influential losses. He helped launch or revive the careers of major performers including Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin and Alicia Keys.
Former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan, 100, also died. He led the U.S. central bank during a long period of economic growth but later faced criticism over policies linked to the financial crisis.
British artist David Hockney, Iranian-French filmmaker and cartoonist Marjane Satrapi, R&B singer Peabo Bryson and former MI6 chief Alex Younger were also among those who died.
South African jazz musician Abdullah Ibrahim and Afghan cosmonaut Abdul Ahad Momand were among the other notable figures remembered in June.
July
July brought another wave of high-profile deaths among the influential people who died in 2026.
Bonnie Tyler, 75, the Welsh singer best known for the global hit Total Eclipse of the Heart, died on July 8.
Aviation pioneer Wally Funk, 87, also died. She became the oldest woman to travel into space when she joined Jeff Bezos aboard a Blue Origin flight in 2021.
Former Qatari ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani died at 74. During his rule, Qatar expanded its influence in diplomacy, media and international investment.
Actor Sam Neill, best known internationally for films including Jurassic Park and The Piano, died at 78.
West Indies cricket legend Garry Sobers, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history, died at 89.
Former CIA Director R. James Woolsey, author Charles Gaines and actor Brenda Fricker were among the other notable July deaths.
Lindsey Graham
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, 71, was another major loss in July.
Graham became one of the most prominent Republican voices in the Senate and was known for his strong support of U.S. military power.
He initially opposed Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign but later became one of Trump’s strongest allies.
A preliminary medical examiner’s report said Graham died from a tear in his aorta linked to hardening of the arteries.
A year of major losses
The influential people who died in 2026 came from remarkably different backgrounds.
The list includes political leaders, entertainers, athletes, scientists, activists, artists and business figures. Their careers shaped everything from cinema and music to politics, journalism, sport and science.
As 2026 continues, more names will inevitably be added to the year’s record. For now, the deaths already reported represent the passing of several generations of influential figures whose work left a lasting mark around the world. The Associated Press continues to update its year-in-review list as new deaths are reported.
The influential people who died in 2026 came from remarkably different backgrounds, leaving lasting marks on politics, culture, sport, science and entertainment.
