TV Stars We've Lost In 2026

The calendar year is far from over, but it's already brought some difficult goodbyes to beloved entertainers.

As 2026 rolls on, TVLine is remembering the television stars and behind-the-scenes personalities that we've lost thus far, a list that includes several longtime staples of the TV industry. Entertainment icon Catherine O'Hara, best remembered on the small screen as "Schitt's Creek" matriarch Moira Rose, died in January of a pulmonary embolism amid a rectal cancer diagnosis; she was remembered by her many collaborators, including director Ron Howard, as a "brilliant" performer.

"Dawson's Creek" star James Van Der Beek and "Grey's Anatomy" vet Eric Dane are also among this year's late TV stars, following battles with colorectal cancer and ALS, respectively. Both actors passed away in February.

Keep scrolling to see more of the Hollywood names we've lost this year, including a look back at their careers, then drop a comment with your remembrances.

Actor T.K. Carter, best known to TV fans for his role on "Punky Brewster," died in January at the age of 69. His cause of death was later determined to be systolic heart failure, according to documents from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

On the small screen, Carter was best remembered for playing teacher Mike Fulton in the sitcom "Punky Brewster," appearing in two of the show's four seasons (and 24 total episodes). In addition to longer stints on shows like "The Sinbad Show" and "Good Morning, Miss Bliss," Carter made guest appearances on many series, including "Moesha," "The Nanny," "The Steve Harvey Show," "NYPD Blue," "Everybody Hates Chris," and "How to Get Away With Murder." His final TV appearances came in 2023 on FXX's "Dave" and ABC's "The Company You Keep."

On the film side, Carter's notable credits included "The Thing," "Doctor Detroit," and "Space Jam."

Legendary actress Catherine O'Hara, who enjoyed a multi-decade career in both film and television, died on January 30 at the age of 71. As first reported by TMZ, O'Hara died of a pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer as an underlying cause.

O'Hara's breakout gig was the Canadian sketch-comedy series "SCTV," on which she was an original cast member for the first two seasons. She would go on to guest-star in numerous TV series, including "The Larry Sanders Show," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "30 Rock," before landing the career-defining role of matriarch Moira Rose on "Schitt's Creek." O'Hara played the melodramatic, wig-loving Moira for all six seasons and won the 2020 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. In the months before her death, O'Hara also appeared on HBO's "The Last of Us" and Apple TV's "The Studio," both of which earned her Emmy nominations.

She held a number of beloved film roles over the years, too, including Kate McCallister — mother of Macaulay Culkin's Kevin McCallister — in Christmas favorites "Home Alone" and "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York." She frequently worked with director Christopher Guest on the silver screen — "Best in Show" and "Waiting for Guffman" were among their collaborations — while other film credits included "Beetlejuice," "Dick Tracy," and the animated "Nightmare Before Christmas," where she voiced Sally.

Grady Demond Wilson, star of the NBC sitcom "Sanford and Son," died in January at the age of 79. Per Wilson's son (via TMZ), the actor died of complications from cancer.

Wilson's claim to fame was the role of Lamont Sanford, son of Redd Foxx's Fred Sanford, on "Sanford and Son." The show ran for six seasons from 1972 to 1977, and Wilson held the role of Lamont for its entire run. After the series wrapped, Wilson starred as Raymond Ellis in CBS' one-and-done sitcom "Baby... I'm Back!" He then followed that up with "The New Odd Couple," ABC's 1982 remake of "The Odd Couple," with Wilson playing Oscar Madison opposite Ron Glass' Felix Unger; the show ran for just one season.

Wilson's other TV credits included episodes of "The Love Boat" and "Girlfriends." More recently, he co-starred in "Eleanor's Bench," a six-episode drama led by Karen Abercrombie and Cameron Arnett.

James Van Der Beek, who rose to fame as the title character on late-'90s teen drama "Dawson's Creek," died in February, just over a year after sharing his colorectal cancer diagnosis. He was 48.

For six seasons, Van Der Beek played aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery on The WB's "Dawson's Creek," which ran from 1998 to 2003 on the network. After that series concluded, Van Der Beek's TV work included "Don't Trust the B— in Apt. 23" (where he played a heightened version of himself), "CSI: Cyber," "One Tree Hill," "Pose," and the children's series "Vampirina," where he voiced Boris. He was also set to recur in Prime Video's upcoming "Legally Blonde" prequel series, "Elle"; TVLine has reached out to reps for the series regarding Van Der Beek's appearances as high school superintendent Dean Wilson.

On the film side, Van Der Beek's memorable credits included "Varsity Blues" and "The Rules of Attraction."

Oscar-winning film legend Robert Duvall died in February at the age of 95.

"To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything," Duvall's wife, Luciana, said in a statement. "His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all."

Though Duvall got his start on television — he appeared in episodes of such 1960s classics as "The Defenders," "The Fugitive," "The Outer Limits," and "The Twilight Zone" — he was better known for his work in film, namely the defining role of consigliere Tom Hagen in 1972's "The Godfather." He earned his first Oscar nomination for that portrayal, then went on to pick up five more nominations and one win (for "Tender Mercies") throughout his career. He's also remembered for his roles as Boo Radley in "To Kill a Mockingbird," Frank Hackett in "Network," and Lt. Col. William "Bill" Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now," among many others.

Actor Eric Dane, best known for his roles on "Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria," died in February at the age of 53. He had previously shared his ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) diagnosis in April 2025.

Dane's breakout TV role was that of Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," a character he played from 2006 to 2012 before returning for a single episode in 2021. He also led TNT's action drama "The Last Ship" for five seasons and played Cal, the father of Jacob Elordi's Nate Jacobs, on HBO's "Euphoria."

Dane's TV work also included episodes of "The Fixer," "Las Vegas," "Charmed," "Gideon's Crossing," and, more recently, Prime Video's one-and-done "Countdown." Just months before his death, he appeared in an episode of NBC's "Brilliant Minds" as a character with ALS. Dane also appeared in such films as "X-Men: The Last Stand," "Marley & Me," "Valentine's Day," "Burlesque," and "Bad Boys: Ride or Die."

Robert Carradine, an actor who broke out in the "Revenge of the Nerds" film franchise and later played the title character's dad on "Lizzie McGuire," died by suicide in February. He was 71.

Following appearances in films like "Mean Streets," "Coming Home," and "The Long Riders," Carradine starred as nerd Lewis Skolnick in the 1984 comedy "Revenge of the Nerds," which ultimately spawned three sequels (the final two of which aired as TV movies). Carradine later teamed up with his "Revenge of the Nerds" co-star Curtis Armstrong to host the TBS reality competition "King of the Nerds," which premiered in 2013 and ran for three seasons.

Younger TV fans likely knew Carradine best as Lizzie's dad, Sam, on the Disney Channel series "Lizzie McGuire," a role he later reprised in 2003's "The Lizzie McGuire Movie." His other TV credits included guest appearances on shows like "ER," "NYPD Blue," and "The Practice."

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"Deadliest Catch" deckhand Todd Meadows died in February while Season 22 of the Discovery Channel reality series was being filmed. He was 25.

Meadows worked on the Alaskan crab fishing vessel the Aleutian Lady, but the exact nature of his death was not reported at the time. Production on Season 22 has since concluded.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows," a Discovery Channel spokesperson said in a statement. "This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time."

Aleutian Lady captain Rick Shelford added that Meadows' death was "the most tragic day" in the vessel's history. "Todd's love for his children, his family, and his life was evident in everything he did," he said. "He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him. Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can't fully express."

Kiki Shepard, best known on the small screen as co-host of the "Showtime at the Apollo" variety show, died in March at the age of 74. Per Shepard's publicist, her cause of death was a heart attack.

Shepard served as "Showtime at the Apollo" co-host from 1987 to 2002, appearing alongside a roster of emcees that included Steve Harvey, Sinbad, Mo'Nique, Rudy Rush, Mark Curry, and Rick Aviles. Her television work also included appearances on shows like "A Different World," "Everybody Hates Chris," "Grey's Anatomy," "NYPD Blue," and "Yes, Dear."

She was also a professional dancer throughout her entertainment career. In addition to serving as a charter member of the D.C. Repertory Dance Company while at Howard University, she later appeared in Broadway productions including "Bubbling Brown Sugar," "Comin' Uptown," and "Porgy and Bess."

Actor and martial arts enthusiast Chuck Norris died in March at the age of 86. Though the circumstances of Norris' death were kept private by his family, his loved ones said in a statement that he was "surrounded by his family and was at peace" at the time of his passing.

Norris' acting career began in the late 1960s and included films like "Missing in Action," "The Sidekicks," and "The Expendables 2." But to television fans, he was best known for the role of Cordell Walker in the CBS action drama "Walker, Texas Ranger," which ran for nine seasons from 1993 to 2001. (The show was later rebooted by The CW in 2021, with Jared Padalecki in the lead role.)

"While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and for the unforgettable moments we were blessed to share with him," Norris' family's statement continued. "The love and support he received from fans around the world meant so much to him, and our family is truly thankful for it. To him, you were not just fans, you were his friends."

Nicholas Brendon, best known for playing Xander Harris on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," died in March at the age of 54. According to a statement from his family, Brendon passed away in his sleep of natural causes.

"While it's no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing," the statement read. "Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart. Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support."

Brendon appeared as witty outcast Xander in all but one episode of "Buffy" during its seven seasons, which aired on The WB and UPN from 1997 to 2003. After "Buffy," Brendon co-starred with Bradley Cooper in the short-lived Fox series "Kitchen Confidential" and later recurred on the CBS procedural "Criminal Minds" as FBI analyst Kevin Lynch. Additional TV credits included "Private Practice" and "Without a Trace."

Actress Carrie Anne Fleming, whose many TV credits included "Supernatural" and "iZombie," died of breast cancer complications in February. She was 51.

Fleming was best known to TV fans as brain dealer Candy Baker in The CW's "iZombie," who popped up in a recurring capacity throughout the show's five seasons. She also appeared as Bobby Singer's (Jim Beaver) wife in two episodes of The CW's long-running "Supernatural." Her other television credits included "Smallville," "The 4400," "Continuum," "UnREAL," and "Supergirl."

On the film side, Fleming appeared in such movies as "Good Luck Chuck," "Married Life," and "Happy Gilmore."