Celebrity Deaths of 2026: John Forte, Kianna Underwood, More

Hollywood mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2026.

The year started off with the sad news that Broadway performer and influencer Bret Hanna-Shuford died at age 46 after being diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoma. His husband, Stephen Hanna-Shuford, confirmed on January 3 that the Beauty and the Beast actor “left this world peacefully with love, surrounded by his family.”

On January 8, 2026, PBS TV chef Elle Simone Scott — who broke barriers as the first Black woman to join cooking show America’s Test Kitchen — died at age 49 following a long battle with ovarian cancer.

News broke on January 10 that T.K. Carter, a veteran actor known for appearing in The Thing and Punky Brewster, was found dead at age 69 in Duarte, California. That same day, Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir’s death at age 78 was confirmed when he succumbed to “lung issues” after being diagnosed with cancer in July 2025. Hours later, Colombian singer Yeison Jiménez died in a plane crash at age 34.

On January 11, famed composer Guy Moon best known for his work on Nickelodeon favorites like The Fairly OddParents, succumbed to his “traumatic injuries” following a car crash in Los Angeles. He was 63. Days later, Grammy-nominated musician John Forté was found dead inside his Massachusetts home. He was 50. Later that month, All That alum Kianna Underwood died following a hit and run. She was 33.

Scroll down to remember all the stars who died in 2026: