Every year brings with it the sad loss of some of our favourite celebrities — and so far 2026 has taken some legends.
With the year only just past the halfway mark we have already bid farewell to such big name film stars as Robert Duvall and Catherine O’Hara, music legends such as Bonnie Tyler, and TV household names including Mel Schilling and Dame Penelope Keith.
And while we might mourn their loss, all of them have left behind a remarkable body of work which will ensure their memory lives on.
Here are just some of the famous faces we’ve lost since January.
T.K Carter
Actor Thomas Carter — known as T.K Carter — died on January 9 aged 69, at his home in Duarte, California.
The cause of his death was not released, but authorities said at the time that no foul play was involved.
Carter, who began his career as a stand-up comedian aged 12, sprang to fame playing Mike Fulton in the first two seasons of sitcom Punky Brewster.
He also starred in movies including Space Jam and The Thing.
Derek Martin
Actor Derek Martin, best known as EastEnders legend Charlie Slater, died on January 10 aged 92.
Martin, whose acting career spanned decades from the 1960s to the 2010s, was a regular fixture in Walford from 2000 until 2011 as the on-screen father of characters Lynne Hobbs, Kat Moon, Belinda Peacock, and Little Mo Mitchell.
His numerous other screen credits included appearances in Doctor Who, The Adventures of Black Beauty, The Chinese Detective and King and Castle, as well as movies such as Candleshoe and Ragtime.
EastEnders paid tribute to the actor at the time, saying: ‘Derek was deeply loved by all those that worked with him at EastEnders and will always be remembered with great fondness. Our love and thoughts are with his family and friends.’
Valentino Garavani
Fashion designer Valentino Garavani – known mononymously as Valentino – died on January 19 aged 93.
The fashion world icon founded the luxury fashion housein 1960 alongside his business partner, Giammetti.
During his 48-year career he dressed some of the most famous women in the world, including Elizabeth Taylor who famously wore a Valentino gown to the 1960 premiere of Spartacus in Rome.
Other celebrity clientele of his included Princess Diana, Audrey Hepburn, Oprah Winfrey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Elizabeth Hurley, while Nicola Peltz wore a Valentino wedding dress for her nuptials to Brooklyn Beckham.
Sly Dunbar
Grammy-award winning musician Sly Dunbar died on January 26 aged 73.
The drummer – real name Lowell Fillmore ‘Sly’ Dunbar – was known for his work as one half of the prolific Jamaican rhythm section and production duo Sly and Robbie, alongside bassist Robbie Shakespeare.
The pair were best known in reggae and dub genres, where Sly was nominated for 13 Grammys during his career, winning two.
His death came five years after Shakespeare died at the age of 68 following kidney surgery. Although no cause was given, sources told The Guardian at the time that he had ‘been unwell for some months.’
Catherine O’Hara
Hollywood legend Catherine O’Hara died on January 30 aged 71.
The actress passed away following ‘a brief illness’ with reports at the time saying she was rushed to hospital in Los Angeles with breathing difficulties before her death.
O’Hara was best known for roles such as Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice (1988) and Macaulay Culkin’s on-screen mother, Kate, in Home Alone (1990) and its sequel, Lost in New York (1992).
She also starred alongside Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy as Moira Rose in 80 episodes of the beloved comedy Schitt’s Creek, which aired from 2015 to 2020. Her performance in the show won her Golden Globe, Critics Choice and Emmy Awards.
More recently, she was seen in Apple TV+’s series The Studio alongside Seth Rogen.
James Van Der Beek
Actor James Van Der Beek, who found fame as the star of 90s/00s TV series Dawson’s Creek, died aged 48 on February 11.
The father of six, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023,’passed away peacefully’, according to a statement released by his family to Instagram.
They added: ‘There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come.
‘For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.’
Van Der Beek’s other roles included Don’t Trust The B in Apt 23, Criminal Minds, One Tree Hill and CSI: Cyber, as well as film appearances in the likes of The Rules Of Attraction and Varsity Blues.
Eric Dane
Grey’s Anatomy actor Eric Dane passed away on February 19 aged 53, just 10 months after publicly revealing he had been diagnosed with amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – a form of motor neurone disease.
His death certificate, obtained by People, stated that he died of respiratory failure, with ALS as an underlying cause.
Announcing his death in a statement his family said: ‘He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always.
‘Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received.’
Rob Grant
Rob Grant,co-creator of the hit sitcom Red Dwarf, died on February 25 aged 70.
His family confirmed the sad news in a statement, saying: ‘With much sadness, we have to announce that Rob Grant, co-creator of Red Dwarf, passed away suddenly yesterday afternoon, a great loss to his family, friends and comedy fans across the world.’
Red Dwarf – which Grant co-wrote with long-time writing partner Doug Naylor – was a fusion of high-concept science fiction and British humour, centring on the last human (Craig Charles) left alive in deep space.
The show ran on BBC Two from 1988-1999 and again on Dave from 2009-2020.
Grant was also known for his work on other shows, including puppet satire Spitting Image.
Neil Sedaka
Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka died on February 27 aged 86.
His family confirmed the news in a statement, saying they were ‘devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather’.
The cause of his death, or where he died, was not given,
Sedaka was best known for such classic hits as Oh! Carol and Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, while he also wrote songs for other artists including Connie Francis and Tony Christie.
The Brooklyn-born musician, was also a pianist, who was nominated for five Grammy awards during his long career.
Jordan Wright
The Only Way Is Essex cast member Jordan Wright died in Thailand in March aged 33.
The body of the reality star was found in a canal on the popular holiday island of Phuket on March 14, with local authorities saying they found ‘no signs of physical assault or a struggle’.
Wright appeared on eight episodes of MTV’s Ex On The Beach in 2017 and 17 episodes of Towie in 2018, and also worked across fire services, financial investment and DJing.
He was best remembered on the show for his involvement in the first-ever onscreen fight with Courtney Green’s ex-boyfriend, Myles Barnett.
Chuck Norris
Actor and martial artist Chuck Norris died in Hawaii on March 19 aged 86, after being rushed tohospital in a ‘medical emergency’.
The star’s family paid tribute on social media, saying: ‘To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family.
‘He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives.’
Norris, who founded Chun Kuk Do and trained celebrities in martial arts, had his first starring role in 1972’s Way Of The Dragon, while he was also known for the likes of TV show Walker Texas Ranger, the Missing In Action series and, more recently, The Expendables 2.
Mel Schilling
Married At First Sight star Mel Schilling died on March 24 aged 54, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The dating coach passed away just weeks after revealing in an emotional Instagram post that she did not know how long she had left after doctors told her the cancer had spread to her brain.
Her husband Gareth said in a statement shared to Instagram: ‘Life can be beautiful, and life can be incredibly cruel. But ultimately, life is fleeting, fragile, and tomorrow is promised to no one.
‘If you can do anything to honour Mel, please live life to the full, love your people well, and try not to sweat the small stuff.’
Nicholas Brendon
Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon, best known for playing Xander in the hit show, died in March aged 54.
Brendon had previously suffered a heart attack in 2023 and had been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. He also had cauda equina syndrome, which causes severe back pain among other symptoms.
Brendon played Xander for seven years and was in all but one of the show’s 144 episodes.
He also shared that starring in Buffy ‘helped me a lot’, after he initially pursued a career in acting to help manage a stutter.
Andy Kershaw
Broadcaster Andy Kershaw died on April 16 aged 66, after being diagnosed with cancer in August 2025.
His family confirmed news of his death while his sister, fellow broadcaster Liz Kershaw, paid tribute on X saying: ‘I’ve lost my best friend.’
Kershaw started his career as a promotions manager for independent station Radio Aire, where he inadvertently helped launch Carol Vorderman’s career.
He also worked as a roadie for Billy Bragg before fronting the BBC’s late night rock programme The Old Grey Whistle Test, fronting shows on Radio 1, and being one of the presenting team for coverage of the iconic Live Aid concert in 1985.
Jake Hall
The Only Way Is Essex cast member Jake Hall died in May aged 35 after reportedly crashing through a glass door at a villa in Majorca.
According to reports at the time police found the reality star lying in a pool of blood with fatal injuries caused by shards of glass after he smashed his head through the door.
Hall joined the cast of The Only Way Is Essex in 2015 and starred on the ITV show from seasons 14 to 17.
He is survived by his eight-year-old daughter River, who was seen jumping around in the final social media video he posted before his death.
Rob Base
Musician Rob Base, one half of the groundbreaking hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, died on May 22 aged 59 after a cancer diagnosis.
Rob – full name Robert Ginyard – was best known, along with his musical partner, for the 1988 hip-hop classic It Takes Two.
The track was credited with bringing hip-hop into mainstream success through dance club play and pop chart rankings, and has been sampled by numerous artists since then including Snoop Dogg and the Black Eyed Peas.
His death came 12 years after E-Z Rock died from diabetes complications aged 56.
Marcia Lucas
Star Wars legend Marcia Lucas died aged 80 from cancer on May 27 at her home in Rancho Mirage, California.
Lucas – the former wife of Star Wars director George Lucas – won an Oscar for her editing work on the original film, 1977’s Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
She also worked with her ex-husband on Return of the Jedi, as well as American Graffiti (earning another Oscar nod) and his directorial debut THX 1138.
Lucas’ other credits included three of Martin Scorsese’s classic works: Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Taxi Driver and New York, New York.
Peabo Bryson
Grammy-winning singer Peabo Bryson died on June 2 aged 75 after suffering a stroke.
Bryson released 20 studio albums and earned multiple gold records during his career, working with a string of iconic artists including Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack, Kenny G and Regina Belle.
He also became synonymous with a number of Disney soundtrack hits, including 1991’s Beauty And The Beast with Celine Dion.
The following year he partnered with Regina Belle on Aladdin song A Whole New World, the first song from an animated film ever to top the Billboard charts.
Anthony Head
Actor Anthony Head, best known for series including Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso, died on June 5 aged 72.
His daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head, confirmed he passed away from complications of pneumonia, with his death coming just six months after the death of their mother, his long-term partner Sarah Fisher.
Head’s acting career began in the 70s but he rose to fame in the UK in the 1980s, starring in a string of episodic ads for Nescafe Gold Blend alongside actress Sharon Maughan.
He went on to star in Buffy as librarian Rupert Giles, while his other roles included Little Britain, The Inbetweeners, Merlin, Doctor Who and Motherland. He also appeared in several West End productions as well as films including The Iron Lady (2011) and 2024’s Upgraded.
Oliver Tree
American singer-songwriter Oliver Tree died on June 14 aged 32 after a helicopter crash in Brazil.
Tree had been halfway through headlining a world tour for his album Love You Madly, Hate You Badly when the crash occurred, with the singer and five others killed in the collision in Rio de Janeiro.
Tree first rose to fame at the age of 17, working on presentations for Skrillex and Zeds Dead.
He was known for such tracks as When I’m Down and Life Goes On – as well as for his distinctive bowl haircut and exaggerated wardrobe.
Dame Penelope Keith
Actress Dame Penelope Keith died on June 29 aged 86 after being diagnosed with cancer.
The TV legend found fame as Margo Leadbetter in the hit BBC series The Good Life from 1975 to 1978 opposite Paul Eddington, Felicity Kendal and Richard Briers, for which she won a Bafta.
She went on to star as widowed aristocrat Audrey Forbes-Hamilton in To The Manor Born, which was watched by over 20m viewers a week when it aired between 1979 and 1981.
More recently she appeared in 2013’s Death Comes To Pemberley, as well as presenting Channel 4 reality series Village Of The Year. She was made a Dame for her services to arts and charity in 2014.
Bonnie Tyler
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, who soared to the top of the charts with 1983’s Total Eclipse Of The Heart, died on July 8 aged 75 in Faro, Portugal. She passed away after previously being in an induced coma following emergency bowel surgery and the removal of her appendix.
The singer, who was born Gaynor Hopkins in Skewen, Neath, Wales, began her career in music just before she turned 18, eventually scoring her first hit record with 1976’s Lost In France.
After collaborating with Meat Loaf songwriter Jim Steinman she scored iconic chart-topper Total Eclipse Of The Heart as well as top five hit Holding Out For A Hero. She continued to produce music and release albums up to 2021’s The Best Is Yet To Come.
Tyler also represented the UK at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo with the song Believe In Me, which finished 19th.
Dermot Murnaghan
TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan died aged 68 on July 11, after being diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer.
Murnaghan’s broadcasting career spanned five decades, with the journalist becoming one of the most recognisable faces in British TV news.
As well as a 15-year stint on Sky News, broadcasting major breaking news events and political coverage, he fronted such flagship shows as ITV Evening News, BBC News at Six and BBC News at Ten.
He also became a vocal advocate in raising awareness of prostate cancer after being diagnosed with the disease in 2024.
Sam Neill
Actor Sam Neill died on July 13 in Sydney, Australia, aged 78.
The beloved actor’s ‘unexpected’ death came just months after he shared that he was cancer-free, following his diagnosis with a ‘ferocious’ form of blood cancer in 2022.
Widely regarded as one of the most versatile screen stars of his generation, Neill’s most famous roles included that of Dr Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, as well as appearing in the likes of My Brilliant Career (1979), Dead Calm (1989), The Piano (1993), In The Mouth Of Madness (1994) and Event Horizon (1997).
Hs final film appearance came in 2025’s The Fox, while his final TV role was in Netflix’s Untamed, released in the same year.