Notable Deaths of 2026: A Chronological List of Public Figures Who Died This Year
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In brief
Several internationally known public figures died in 2026, including former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, actor Robert Duvall, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, artist David Hockney and singer Dolly Parton. This reference list compiles confirmed deaths from January through September 2026, drawn from Wikipedia's "Deaths in 2026" page and news obituary trackers.
This reference list tracks public figures who died in 2026, as reported by Wikipedia's "Deaths in 2026" article and by obituary compilations from CBS News and ABC7. Entries are ordered chronologically by date of death, from January through September 2026. The list is not exhaustive and will not reflect deaths after the sources below were checked.
Public figures who died in 2026, by date
Jan. 13 — Claudette Colvin, 86, American civil rights pioneer who in 1955 refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, months before Rosa Parks' more widely known protest.
Jan. 19 — Valentino Garavani, 93, Italian fashion designer who founded the Valentino fashion house and dressed celebrities and royalty for decades.
Feb. 15 — Robert Duvall, 95, American actor who won an Academy Award for "Tender Mercies" and appeared in "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now."
Feb. 17 — Jesse Jackson, 84, American civil rights leader and two-time Democratic presidential candidate who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
March 4 — Lou Holtz, 89, American college football coach who led the University of Notre Dame to the 1988 national championship.
March 19 — Chuck Norris, 86, American martial artist and actor known for the television series "Walker, Texas Ranger."
March 20 — Robert Mueller, 81, American lawyer and former FBI director who led the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.
June 11 — David Hockney, 88, British artist regarded as a leading figure of 20th-century pop art, known for his swimming-pool paintings.
June 22 — Alan Greenspan, 100, American economist who chaired the U.S. Federal Reserve for more than 18 years under four presidents.
June 22 — Clive Davis, 94, American record executive credited with discovering and developing numerous major recording artists.
July 8 — Wally Funk, 87, American aviation pioneer who in 2021 became the oldest woman to fly to space.
Aug. 14 — Yayoi Kusama, 97, Japanese artist known worldwide for immersive polka-dot and mirror installations.
Aug. 25 — Dolly Parton, 80, American singer-songwriter, actress and philanthropist known for songs including "Jolene" and "9 to 5."
Aug. 25 — Tim Curry, 80, British actor known for his role in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
Sept. 2 — Gloria Steinem, 92, American journalist and activist who co-founded Ms. magazine and became a leading voice of the women's liberation movement.
Deaths in this list, by field
Fields represented among the 15 figures listed above (Jan.–Sept. 2026)
Field
Figures in this list
Examples
Civil rights and activism
3
Colvin, Jackson, Steinem
Visual arts and design
3
Garavani, Hockney, Kusama
Film and television
3
Duvall, Norris, Curry
Economics and business
2
Greenspan, Davis
Sports
1
Holtz
Law and public service
1
Mueller
Music
1
Parton
Aviation
1
Funk
The grouping above reflects only the 15 figures selected for this list and is not a count of every death recorded on Wikipedia's broader 2026 deaths pages, which log hundreds of additional names across politics, academia and other fields.
Questions
Who are some of the most widely reported public figures who died in 2026?
Among the most widely reported deaths in 2026 are former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, actor Robert Duvall, former FBI director Robert Mueller, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, and entertainers Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, according to CBS News and ABC7 obituary trackers.
Where does this list of 2026 deaths come from?
The entries are drawn from Wikipedia's "Deaths in 2026" article and cross-checked against obituary compilations published by CBS News and ABC7.
Is this a complete record of every notable person who died in 2026?
No. It includes a selection of figures confirmed by the sources checked for this piece, through September 2026; Wikipedia's monthly death logs record many additional names not included here.
Who was Robert Mueller and when did he die?
Robert Mueller was an American lawyer and former FBI director who led the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election; ABC7 reported he died on March 20, 2026, at age 81.
When did Alan Greenspan and Clive Davis die?
CBS News reported that both Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve chairman, and Clive Davis, the record executive, died on the same date, June 22, 2026, at ages 100 and 94 respectively.
This piece was prepared with artificial intelligence and passed an automated source check before publication. If you see an error, ask for a correction. Request a correction or reply · How we make this
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