Sir Patrick Stewart and Dolly Parton were among the most prominent figures whose deaths made headlines during a year that saw the loss of performers, musicians, athletes and cultural pioneers across the world.
Stewart, the acclaimed British actor best known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, died aged 86.
His death was announced on 29 October. His spokesperson said he had experienced a short illness involving Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Patrick Stewart and other major names remembered
Stewart’s career stretched across more than six decades, taking in Shakespearean theatre, television, cinema and Broadway. He became an international star after taking the role of Picard, returning to the character in films and the series Star Trek: Picard.
Tributes came from colleagues including Hugh Jackman, William Shatner and George Takei, as well as from Marvel Studios. Stewart’s final screen appearances included a return as Professor X.
Earlier in the year, the entertainment world mourned Dolly Parton, who died in Nashville on 25 August at the age of 80. Her family confirmed the death in an official statement, describing the country music legend as a singer, songwriter, actress, author and philanthropist.
Parton’s career lasted almost seven decades and included enduring hits such as Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You. She also founded the Imagination Library, which provides books to children, and became closely associated with Dollywood in Tennessee.
Other notable deaths included Oscar-winning actors Eva Marie Saint, who died aged 102, and Robert Duvall, who was 95. Saint was celebrated for films including On the Waterfront and North by Northwest, while Duvall’s career included landmark roles in The Godfather and Tender Mercies.
Catherine O’Hara, whose comic performances made her a favourite across generations, died aged 71 following a brief illness. She was known for Beetlejuice, Home Alone and the television series Schitt’s Creek.
The year also brought the deaths of actors Tim Curry, Sam Neill, Brenda Fricker, Shelley Fabares and Peter Cullen. Curry was best known as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, while Neill became internationally recognised as Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park.
Fricker, who was 81, won an Academy Award for My Left Foot and later appeared as the pigeon lady in Home Alone 2. Cullen, who died aged 85, was the voice of Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise.
Musicians and cultural figures
Music lost a number of influential performers and industry figures. Bob Weir, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died aged 78 after joining the band as a teenager and spending decades touring with Jerry Garcia.
Clive Davis, the record executive credited with helping launch the careers of Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen and Aerosmith, died aged 94. David Clayton-Thomas, the Grammy-winning frontman of Blood, Sweat & Tears, was 84.
Other musicians reported to have died during the year included jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, R&B singer Peabo Bryson, salsa pioneer Willie Colón, country star John Anderson and singer Freddie Jackson.
Fashion designer Bob Mackie, celebrated for his flamboyant costumes and work with stars including Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross and Madonna, died aged 87. He won nine Emmy Awards and a Tony Award during a career spanning television, film and stage.
The sports world also mourned baseball pitcher Tommy John, whose pioneering elbow operation became synonymous with a procedure that has helped extend the careers of countless players. He died aged 83.
Former NBA coach Don Nelson, Pro Football Hall of Famer Raymond Berry and Paralympic champion Alex Zanardi were among the other sporting figures remembered in 2026.
Together, the deaths marked the passing of figures whose work shaped popular entertainment, music, sport and public life across several generations.
