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In 2026, Hollywood faced the loss of several of its cherished icons, leaving the industry in mourning.
The year began on a somber note with the passing of Broadway star and influencer Bret Hanna-Shuford at the age of 46. After a battle with T-Cell Lymphoma, Bret’s death was confirmed on January 3 by his husband, Stephen Hanna-Shuford, who shared that the Beauty and the Beast actor “departed this world peacefully, surrounded by love and family.”
Just days later, on January 8, 2026, the culinary world bid farewell to PBS TV chef Elle Simone Scott, a trailblazer as the first Black woman on America’s Test Kitchen. She passed away at 49 after a protracted fight against ovarian cancer.
The entertainment industry was hit again on January 10 when news emerged of T.K. Carter‘s death. The veteran actor, recognized for his roles in The Thing and Punky Brewster, was found dead at 69 in Duarte, California. On the same day, the music world lost Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir at 78, after battling lung issues related to cancer diagnosed in July 2025. That day also saw the tragic passing of Colombian singer Yeison Jiménez, who died in a plane crash at just 34 years old.
The following day, January 11, brought further heartbreak with the death of esteemed composer Guy Moon. Renowned for his work on Nickelodeon classics like The Fairly OddParents, Moon succumbed to “traumatic injuries” sustained in a Los Angeles car accident. He was 63.
Scroll down to remember all the stars who died in 2026:
