Celebs Who Died In 2026

In 2025, a number of celebrities died, but unfortunately, a new year doesn't mean the circle of life halts, as 2026 has seen many beloved stars take their final curtain call. 

One unexpected glimmer that comes with the passing of a star is that we're often left with an extensive body of work to look back on. For some, that could be songs of theirs that touched our lives at exactly the right time. For others, it could be a character whose antics made us laugh with friends and family while binge-watching a series together (or even connect with strangers over social media). Sometimes, it's not the moments of laughter we remember the most, but the more heartbreaking emotions our favorite actors brought to the screen, reminding us we're not alone in what we're feeling. Reality stars and content creators aren't exempt from that, either — sometimes, just witnessing another person going through something we've experienced (or perhaps haven't experienced but have always wondered about) is a reminder of what it is to be human. 

Whatever these stars' unique contributions have been, they've certainly touched our lives in some way, and with that, it's time to give them the standing ovation they deserve.

Fans of Catherine O'Hara were heartbroken on January 30, 2026, when news broke that she had died after what was initially reported as "a brief illness" (via TMZ). Just over a week later, new details emerged revealing that the actor had been diagnosed with rectal cancer the previous year and that it was ultimately a pulmonary embolism that caused her death. 

Throughout her career, O'Hara played a number of memorable characters fans essentially grew up with, and in the wake of her unexpected passing — the actor was just 71 at the time of her death — fans flooded social media with tributes. Many of O'Hara's past colleagues also shared touching tributes to her. One particularly emotional post came from her "Home Alone" on-screen son Macaulay Culkin. The two were incredibly close, and some will even recall O'Hara speaking at Culkin's induction on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In response to her passing just over two years later, Culkin shared side-by-side pics from the ceremony and a scene from "Home Alone" to Instagram along with the caption, "Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more ... I love you. I'll see you later." O'Hara had also been a screen mom to Dan Levy on "Schitt's Creek," and in an Instagram post of his own, he gushed that even before then, she'd been a family friend thanks to her work with his dad and co-star, Eugene Levy. "Catherine was extended family before she ever played my family. It's hard to imagine a world without her in it," he penned.

In addition to her on-screen family, O'Hara was also survived by her husband Bo Welch and their two sons, Matthew and Luke Welch. We hope the massive outpouring of love gave them some peace. 

Not even two weeks after Catherine O'Hara's passing, "Dawson's Creek" star James Van Der Beek died, as well. The actor was only 48 years old at the time of his death, which was also the result of colorectal cancer. 

Van Der Beek was open about his health issues, even sharing in 2025 that he wouldn't be able to join his "Dawson's Creek" co-stars for the hotly anticipated reunion. "This is the evening I'd been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together ... So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment," he shared in an Instagram post. Van Der Beek also noted that he had been especially looking forward to thanking his fans and former co-stars for their support since his cancer diagnosis in 2024. Even so, he shared that he felt all the love in absentia. "I will be beaming and receiving from afar in a bed in Austin," he penned. 

As fans will know, Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly shared six children, daughters Olivia, Annabel Leah, Emilia, and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah. The actor also made it clear that he lived an incredibly normal life and that his wife and kids were his top priority. Van Der Beek regularly shared videos of special moments with his loved ones, like impromptu hikes, trick-or-treating photo dumps, and snaps of a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Egypt. Van Der Beek is certainly gone too soon, but there's no question that the time he did share with loved ones was special, and we hope his family and friends find some comfort in that. 

In a February 16 Facebook post, Robert Duvall's wife shared the devastating news that the "Godfather" actor had passed away. The Oscar winner was 95 at the time of his death.

Shortly after announcing his passing on Facebook, Luciana Duvall shared another statement with CNN by way of her late husband's PR firm. In that, the family requested that Robert be remembered for the things he loved most. "Do so in a way that reflects the life he lived by watching a great film, telling a good story around a table with friends, or taking a drive in the countryside to appreciate the world's beauty," the statement read in part.

Countless of Robert's friends also shared beautiful tributes in the star's honor. In a statement to AP, his "Godfather" co-star Al Pacino gushed, "It was an honor to have worked with Robert Duvall. He was a born actor as they say, his connection with it, his understanding and his phenomenal gift will always be remembered." Viola Davis, who'd worked with Robert in "Widows," shared in an Instagram post, "Greatness never dies. It stays ... as a gift. Rest well, sir. Your name will be spoken." Robert's "Hustle" co-star Adam Sandler also penned a sweet Instagram caption that noted in part, "One of the greatest actors we ever had. Such a great man to talk to and laugh with. Loved him so much. We all did." It's incredibly special to have touched so many people's lives, both personally and through his art, and we hope that brought Luciana some peace as she navigated this tremendous loss. After all, as she said in her Facebook post, "To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything."

February 17 was a difficult day for many, with news breaking that civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson had died at the age of 84. In a statement posted to Instagram, Jackson's family did not share his exact cause of death. However, they did confirm that he was "surrounded by family" at the time of his passing. 

Tributes to Jackson and his legacy poured in soon after his family's announcement. A joint statement Barack and Michelle Obama shared to Instagram lauded Jackson's work in advancing civil rights, while also sharing a more personal note. "Michelle got her first glimpse of political organizing at the Jacksons' kitchen table when she was a teenager. And in his two historic runs for president, he laid the foundation for my own campaign to the highest office of the land," the former president wrote, adding that the Jackson and Obama families had become close over the years. Rev. Al Sharpton also shared a number of touching tributes in his friend and mentor's honor, even reminding his followers that he'd met Jackson when he was only 12 and serving as a youth preacher. "Jesse Jackson has mentored me ever since," he shared in a video for MS Now. 

In his later years, Jackson's family was forthcoming about some of the health woes he'd experienced, like a diagnosis with progressive supranuclear palsy, which had initially been diagnosed as Parkinson's disease more than a decade prior. The family also shared when Jackson and his wife were hospitalized with COVID in 2021. Through it all, the reverend's followers made a point of sharing their love for him and it's a blessing he got his flowers and recognition while he was still with us. 

"Grey's Anatomy" alum Eric Dane tragically died on February 19, a few months shy of the one-year anniversary of his announcement that he'd been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 

Dane would go on to share some of the heartbreaking effects of his disease in a June 2025 interview for "Good Morning America." Speaking of the moment he received his ALS diagnosis, he admitted, "I will never forget those three letters. It's on me the second I wake up." The actor also shared that he had lost use of his right arm, and was expecting the same to happen to his left arm and both legs in the coming months. That December, the actor joined the board of Target ALS, sharing in a statement, "This disease takes something from me every day. But I won't let it take my spirit." Dane also shared that he was committed to helping find treatment for the disease, and was inspired by what the foundation was already doing to "change what it means to get an ALS diagnosis."

Sadly, Dane died two months later, leaving behind the two daughters shared with wife Rebecca Gayheart. Throughout his illness, Gayheart and their girls played a huge role in the "Euphoria" star's life, and in his "Good Morning America" interview, he teared up sharing how much his estranged spouse's presence meant to him. "I talk to her every day. We have managed to become better friends and better parents, and she is probably my biggest champion and my, my stalwart supporter," he said. As heartbreaking as his passing is, we're glad to know Dane had the support of the people he loved most right to the end and we can only hope his enduring spirit brought them some much-needed peace. 

This slide includes mention of suicide. 

"Lizzie McGuire" fans across the globe were left heartbroken in late February 2026, when news broke that beloved TV dad Robert Carradine had died. The actor was just 71 at the time of his passing and though his cause of death was not immediately shared, Page Six later revealed that he had died by suicide. 

While Disney fans likely know Carradine best for his work in "Lizzie McGuire," he had a lengthy career stretching back to the '70s. His notable projects included "Revenge of the Nerds" and "The Cowboys" (both the film and the spinoff series). Carradine also had a number of projects in the pipeline at the time of his death. "The Driver," for instance, had yet to start filming before he died. Speaking to the Daily Mail, the film's director, Connie Lamothe, shared that Carradine had become fairly quiet a few weeks prior to his death, but he'd been incredibly excited to play a starring role. Lamothe said the production was devastated by Carradine's death and the movie would be dedicated to his memory. 

Carradine was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the early 2000s. In their statement to Deadline confirming his passing, the family acknowledged this. "We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby's valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder," they shared. The statement also noted that, as devastating as Carradine's death was, they hoped it could "shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness." We are keeping the Carradine family and loved ones in our thoughts, and know his memory will live on through his work. 

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Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka's family shared a heartbreaking announcement that the star had died in a post to his Instagram on February 28. "Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka. A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed," the statement read. Sedaka died just two weeks prior to what would have been his 87th birthday. 

Sedaka first rose to prominence in the late 1950s, and in 1959, he earned a Grammy nomination in what was the award show's second iteration. He went on to be nominated four more times over the years for hits like "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" and "Love Will Keep Us Together." Sedaka was also the songwriter behind a number of timeless hits like "Stupid Cupid," which he wrote for Connie Francis, and ABBA's "Ring Ring," which he collaborated on alongside Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. 

In the wake of Sedaka's passing, countless music stars shared tributes in his honor. In an Instagram comment, Michael Buble penned, in part, "A hero. How lucky are we to have had your light shared with us. Have no doubt a kingdom was waiting for you." Josh Groban also shared a heartwarming message, calling Sedaka "as kind hearted as he was brilliant." Fellow songwriter David Foster also replied to the announcement, writing, "A giant even amongst the giants!! He proved melody is king!" We hope the stories of Sedaka's impact on the world gave his family some peace as they mourned. 

After decades of good-natured jokes about being indestructible, Chuck Norris, action star and "Walker, Texas Ranger" actor, died at age 86 — just over a week after celebrating his final birthday. 

The heartbreaking news of Norris' passing came in a March 20 Instagram post shared by his family. "It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning," their statement began. They declined to give the official cause of death, noting that they would prefer for that to remain private, but went on to add, "Please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace." Norris was hospitalized the day prior to his passing, with TMZ reporting that he'd required emergency care for an undisclosed medical issue while in Hawaii celebrating his birthday. 

Speaking of his birthday, Norris poked fun at his "tough guy" reputation in an Instagram video that day, which saw him spar with an opponent before switching to a selfie video where he explained, "I don't age — I level up." It was a testament to the actor's sense of humor, and we hope his family found some peace in the comments left by his fans once he did pass. "Chuck Norris didn't die, life got scared and ran away. RIP legend," wrote one. Another quipped, "G-d needed a new bodyguard." Others were more heartfelt, like one person who lauded the family's tribute to the late star, which had highlighted him as not just a star, but as "the heart of our family." "Imagine getting to the end of your life and having beautiful words like this written about you," a fan wrote. Norris certainly was loved. 

The same day Chuck Norris' family announced his death, another star also died: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" alum Nicholas Brendon. The actor's family shared the sad news in an Instagram carousel which included pictures of him with loved ones, as well as some of his artwork. "We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes," the statement began. It went on to mention his art and how it had become one of his greatest passions in the last few years of his life. "He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was," Brendon's family shared. 

As was reported by TMZ, a friend of Brendon's had been staying at his home at the time of his passing, specifically to help care for the actor. Brendon had faced a health scare that led to hospitalization for arrythmia and tachycardia in 2022, so it's possible that was why he required care, but his family did not confirm his cause of death. Heartbreakingly, the friend discovered Brendon's body. 

In wake of Brendon's passing, many have shared tributes in his honor. "I saw you Nicky. I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky," his former co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar wrote on Instagram. Likewise, Alyson Hannigan penned, "My sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers. I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair. I love you." Fans also shared sweet comments, recalling times they met him, and sharing what his "Buffy" character, Xander Harris, meant to them.

OG "Superman" fans were undoubtedly devastated on March 23 when news broke that the actor behind Eve Teschmacher had died. Valerie Perrine was 82 at the time of her death, which was linked to Parkinson's disease. She'd been diagnosed more than 10 years prior. 

In addition to "Superman" and its 1980 sequel, Perrine was also known for her work in 1972's "Slaughterhouse Five" and 1974's "Lenny," the latter of which earned her an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the titular character's wife, stripper Honey Bruce. As noted by The New York Times in the wake of Perrine's death, she was reportedly one of the few sex symbols of her day whose acting abilities were widely celebrated. Perhaps that's why the star had no issue being called a sex symbol. Far from it, The Guardian noted she once quipped she was happy to be "the 1970s version of Mae West." Perrine's last role was in the 2016 film "Silver Skies," and it's safe to say that, even in her 70s, she had it going on, with George Hamilton, whom she worked with in the film, saying of her in the "Valerie" documentary, "Those eyes are dangerous. You can drown in them" (via The Guardian). 

Despite being known for her zest for life, a few years prior to her passing, Perrine did an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, which highlighted many of the near-death experiences she'd had. For one, she'd been invited to dinner at Sharon Tate's home the night of her horrific murder, but had to cancel last minute. Perrine also survived a plane crash a few years later. In her final years, she spent much of her time with close friend Stacey Souther, who helped her through her Parkinson's diagnosis, and who directed the "Valerie" documentary. 

The death of "Days of Our Lives" actor Patrick Muldoon on April 19 came as a shock to many, with the actor being only 57 years old at the time of his passing from a heart attack. Just days before he died, he'd shared via Instagram that he was producing an upcoming Taron Egerton and Chris Hemsworth project. 

In wake of Muldoon's sudden death, a number of his former co-stars shared tributes in his honor. In a devastating Instagram post, Denise Richards revealed she and Muldoon had met in their very first acting class and had been friends ever since. "Here we are. 36 years later. My whole adult life & I don't know it without you ...You've had my back and protected me more than anything," she wrote, while also shouting him out for being there during her difficult divorce from Aaron Phypers. Likewise, Hallmark star and fellow "Days of Our Lives" actor Alison Sweeney took to X to gush, "Pat was a rare kind of person — brilliantly talented, endlessly kind, and generous in spirit. I was so lucky to have worked with him when I first started at Days, he made me feel at ease right away."

Muldoon's sister, Shanna Muldoon Zappa, also memorialized her brother on social media, sharing numerous posts in his honor. Among the memories were videos from the family's Easter celebrations a few weeks prior to his passing, clips he'd sent to their family group chat, and snippets of him with her kids, including one sweet video that saw him tell Zappa's daughter she was "the closest thing I have to a daughter."

April 20 was a sad day for fans of The Osmonds, with the band's eldest member, Alan Osmond, passing away at age 76. 

Though Alan never had the same solo popularity as his younger brother Donny Osmond and sister Marie Osmond, as the eldest sibling in the group (he did have two older brothers, but they weren't in The Osmonds or its predecessor, Osmond Brothers), he was their leader. Both Donny and Marie have spoken about how seriously he took that role, the former describing him in a touching Instagram tribute as "the one who quietly carried so much responsibility so the rest of us could shine." Donny added, "Alan was our leader in every sense of the word." As for Marie, in an emotional Instagram post, she gushed, "Alan became our leader at age 12. How daunting that must have felt to have that immense responsibility, to lead at such a young age. But he never complained."

Alan had to step back from performing in the '90s after having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the late '80s. Speaking to People in 1995 about his experience with the disease, Alan shared that his first symptom came during a 1987 performance. "As I was playing the trumpet onstage with my brothers, I couldn't get the speed in the fingers of my right hand. 'Come on,' I told myself, 'You're really getting slack.' I thought I might be tired and that it would go away. But it didn't," he recalled. Through it all, Alan had the support of his wife, siblings, and children. He also used his platform to bring attention to the disease.

Peabo Bryson was beloved by many for his R&B hits, like "Feel the Fire" and "I'm So Into You," but he was also the voice of many people's childhoods, having provided vocals for both "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World" in the early '90s. Sadly, the singer-songwriter died on June 2 at age 75. Speaking to People, Bryson's family revealed he'd had a stroke. 

Numerous stars who worked with Bryson shared tributes in his honor after his passing, like Celine Dion, who'd been his ballad partner on "Beauty and the Beast." Taking to X, Dion shared she was new to singing in English when they recorded the song and lauded him for keeping her relaxed during that time. "He was so wonderful and generous to me all those years ago ... He made me so comfortable." In a touching conclusion, Dion added, "He will remain for me always as a real symbol of the joy that music has brought to my life." Kenny Lattimore also shared a statement to Instagram, writing, "One of the greatest voices our genre has ever known. Thank you for the legendary music, the excellence, and your supreme example. Your legacy is forever etched into the heart of R&B and beyond."

Bryson's widow, Tanya Boniface, also shared a heartfelt message to Instagram in her late husband's honor, penning, "You loved me endlessly with every part of you and I loved you endlessly with every part of me ... Please shower us with your spirit, I need it!" Boniface and Bryson shared a young son, who performed onstage with his dad just one month before his passing. Bryson also had a daughter from a previous marriage.

"Ted Lasso" star Anthony Head died on June 5. The actor was 72. Speaking to the BBC, his daughters shared, "He passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family."

While Head's role on "Ted Lasso" will no doubt be top of mind for his fans, '90s and early '00s kids also remember his role on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as a mentor to Sarah Michelle Gellar's titular character, Rupert Giles. Gellar shared a sweet post about her late co-star to Instagram, writing, "'Tell Giles I figured it out and I'm ok' Well I don't have it figured out and I'm not ok. But I know I'm the lucky one because I knew you.'" Gellar also sent love to Head's daughters, sharing, "Thank you to Daisy and Emily who not only shared their dad with me, but with the world." Harlan Coben, author of "The Stranger," on which a series by the same name featuring Head was based, also shared a sweet tribute via Instagram. "You'll be reading a lot of wonderful things about him in the coming days. Believe them. He was charming and erudite and funny and open and friendly and so damn talented. He brought joy and warmth and sparkle and wonder to every room he entered," Coben gushed. 

In addition to sharing the reason for their beloved dad's passing with BBC, Head's daughters also shared how much he meant to them. "It has been, and forever will be, an honor and a privilege to be his daughters and to have witnessed firsthand the impact both he and his work have had on so many," they said.

Longtime fans of "Today" will surely remember Gene Shalit for his iconic hair (both on his head and his face) and his time on the morning show. Sadly, the longtime journalist died on June 12. The film and book critic was 100 at the time of his death, with "Today" shouting out his milestone birthday just two and a half months prior to his passing. 

Shalit made his first appearance on "Today" back in 1968, and by early 1973, he'd been made a regular on the show's panel. He would remain on the show right up until 2010 when he officially retired from his spot. At the time, Shalit's longtime producer gave a touching interview to "Today" about his cultural significance, pointing out Shalit's special rapport with celebrities. In fact, Guy Ludwig noted that there were some stars, like Warren Beatty, Robert De Niro, and Barbra Streisand, who'd only speak exclusively with Shalit when it came time to promote their work. The producer also added Shalit had once scored an exclusive interview with Sophia Loren amid her tax woes in Italy. "She flew to the United States specifically to be interviewed by Gene exclusively because she knew her story would be fairly told but also that Gene would be sensitive to some of the things about it that were sensitive to her. It was still a news interview. Gene was articulate and sensitive, but also got the story," Ludwig recalled.

At the time of his retirement, Ludwig joked that Shalit's role at "Today" was that of "foxy grandpa." "He's been the foxy grandpa for... probably 30 years," he said. In real life, Shalit was both a father and grandfather. (And yes, he maintained his iconic 'stache up until the end.) 

Legendary music producer Clive Davis died on June 22. Speaking to USA Today, Davis' rep confirmed the 94-year-old producer died as a result of "age-related illness." In the wake of Davis' passing, a number of stars shared an outpouring of grief. Alicia Keyes penned a touching Instagram post thanking him for believing in her early on, as did Bruce Springsteen, who gushed, "He treated me with the same respect and kindness as a 22-year-old nobody as he did after all my success." Dionne Warwick also lauded his "magical ability to know a hit when he heard a song." Warwick added, "The entire music industry I'm sure will mourn his passing" (via AP). 

While Davis was known to the outside world as a producer who worked with some of the music industry's biggest names, and propelled a number of artists to superstardom, he was also a father and grandfather, and his family pointed that out in their own touching statement. "To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives ... To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the center of our lives, the source of wisdom, strength, encouragement, and unconditional love," the emotional Instagram caption read. 

The statement also shared that despite being high-profile, his family always remained his top priority and they felt it. According to Davis' rep, the family had been present when he passed away, as had close friends. Davis' legacy will live on through the music he helped bring to life, and his family ended their statement by noting that on top of that, they'd "carry his love with us for the rest of our lives."

Two days after Clive Davis' passing, fellow nonagenarian Ann Blyth died, too. Blyth was 98 years old and ABC7's George Pennacchio shared in a Facebook post that she'd died of natural causes. 

Blyth got her start as a performer on radio, and 10 years later (at the age of 16), she earned an Oscar nomination for her part in the 1945 film "Mildred Pierce." Over the years, she would continue to work steadily in projects like "A Woman's Vengeance," "The Twilight Zone," and "Murder, She Wrote" in the 1980s. However, after marrying her husband Dr. James V. McNulty and becoming a mom, she became more selective with the roles she chose. 

While many Old Hollywood stars married several times, Blyth wed just twice, both times to the same man. Unlike most celebrities who divorced and remarried, however, Blyth's second wedding was a vow renewal to honor her and McNulty's 21st wedding anniversary. Speaking to Lodi News-Sentinel about the renewal, Blyth gushed, "We've been most fortunate for 21 years, and you never know what the next year or day may bring." Blyth and McNulty remained together until his death in 2007, four years after he and Blyth celebrated 50 years together. As was noted by Pennacchio, Blyth was the matriarch of a large family, In addition to her five children, she was also a grandmother of 10 and a great-grandmother of five.

Music fans across the globe mourned on July 8 when news broke that singer Bonnie Tyler had passed away. The "Holding Out for a Hero" singer was 75 years old. Her family shared in a Facebook post, "Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for." Tyler had been facing ill health for some time, first undergoing emergency surgery on her intestine in early May, then being placed in an induced coma two days later. She had some slight improvements in mid-June, but her social media team emphasized she was still not out of the woods. "Bonnie is no longer in a coma but remains very unwell and in intensive care in hospital in Portugal," a statement on her Tyler's website read. 

in addition to her music accolades, which included Grammy, American Music Award, and Brit Award nominations, Tyler was revered for her music, and was honored with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire, two rankings beneath damehood) in 2022. When speaking about her MBE, which was presented to her by Prince William, she told Hello the honor was "magnificent."

Tyler is survived by her husband, Robert Sullivan. Their relationship predated her fame, and she once told The Guardian, "I am still very much in love with him and he with me." The couple did not have kids of their own, but she also told the outlet, "I have five godchildren, 16 nieces and nephews, and 12 great nieces and nephews, so there is no shortage of children in my life." Catherine Zeta-Jones, who was related to the singer by marriage, also posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, writing, "Thank you Bonnie for the joy you brought so many. Sleep tight beautiful lady."

"Emergency" star Randolph Mantooth died on July 9 at age 80. Speaking to The New York Times, the late actor's sister shared that he'd died of pneumonia complications. Randolph's brother also told The Hollywood Reporter the actor had been sick for many years, having been diagnosed with more than one form of cancer, and was living in hospice at the time of his death. 

Randolph's passing prompted a look back at his legacy on emergency services in the U.S. "Emergency" was believed to have had a direct impact on the number of paramedics in the country. Of his part in such a monumental cultural moment, Mantooth once said, "The stars just lined up with this show perfectly for a purpose" (via The Hollywood Reporter). The actor also said of his part on the show, "I could be remembered for driving a car that has a name like the General Lee, not that there's anything wrong with that show. Instead, I'm remembered for something that changed emergency medicine, forever. How lucky can any one person be?" That said, he didn't believe he deserved undue credit. Speaking to EMS 1 in 2014, he explained, "I am a little uncomfortable with it. I didn't do anything; I haven't done anything. These people save lives; I don't." 

Randolph would remain passionate about emergency services throughout his life, making speeches at events like Great Saves and lauding workers for their service. However, in his EMS 1 interview he reiterated that he preferred to remain distinct from them. "When people say, 'You're my hero,' I say, 'I'm not a hero. You're the hero.' And I mean that sincerely," he said. Given Mantooth's obvious impact, we'll agree to disagree. 

"Jurassic Park" fans were left heartbroken on July 13 when actor Sam Neill's family issued a statement confirming the 78-year-old actor's death to Instagram. "Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole life. The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free," the statement read, in part. 

Fans of Neill may know he opened up about his cancer diagnosis a few years prior to his passing. As reported by The Guardian, Neill wrote in his memoir "Did I Ever Tell You This?" that he'd been diagnosed with blood cancer. By the time of the book's release, however, Neill was in remission and as his family's statement noted, that continued to be the case. According to Neill's friend Rima Te Wiata, his death had been a result of pneumonia complications, which she said he'd probably be irritated by. "I'm sure, as he said in the press once ... you know, he's not scared of death but he'd be annoyed. So I think yeah, he would be like, 'Oh, for goodness sake. I got over my cancer and now look, now I get pneumonia. What next?'" she told The New Zealand Herald. Sure enough, Neill had said the idea of death annoyed him in the past, and the outlet shared a clip of him clarifying, "I'm not in any way frightened of dying ... But I would be annoyed. I'd be annoyed because there are things I still want to do."

While it's devastating that Neill died before he could do everything he'd hoped to, there's no question he made a serious impact on fans and those who knew him alike. From his family to his community and colleagues who are heartbroken by his death, that's one impressive legacy.