The year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026

In Memoriam: Prominent Figures Who Left Their Mark in January

The entertainment world mourned the loss of Emmy-winning actor Catherine O’Hara, who passed away on January 30 at age 71. O’Hara’s remarkable career began with the Second City comedy troupe in Toronto before she achieved widespread fame for her memorable role as Macaulay Culkin’s frantic mother in the first two “Home Alone” films. More recently, she captivated audiences with her portrayal of the flamboyant, vocabulary-challenged matriarch Moira Rose in the critically acclaimed series “Schitt’s Creek,” a performance that earned her an Emmy Award.

January also marked the passing of one of America’s most notorious traitors. Aldrich Ames, the former CIA officer whose espionage for the Soviet Union and Russia is considered among the most damaging breaches in U.S. intelligence history, died in prison on January 5 at age 84. Ames’ betrayal, which spanned nearly a decade before his 1994 arrest, led to the execution of numerous Western intelligence assets and significantly undermined American intelligence operations during the final years of the Cold War.

The world of fashion lost a true icon with the death of Valentino Garavani on January 19. The legendary Italian designer, known simply as Valentino to the fashion world, was 93. For nearly half a century, his elegant creations—particularly those in his signature “Valentino red”—adorned celebrities and socialites at red carpet events worldwide. His meticulous craftsmanship and timeless approach to glamour established him as one of the most influential figures in haute couture.

The entertainment industry also bid farewell to Demond Wilson, who died on January 30 at age 79. Wilson gained fame in the 1970s playing Lamont, the son in the groundbreaking sitcom “Sanford and Son” opposite Redd Foxx. After his acting career, Wilson transitioned to become a minister, dedicating his later years to spiritual work.

In the music world, Bob Weir, guitarist and founding member of the Grateful Dead, passed away on January 10 at age 78. Weir helped create the distinctive sound of San Francisco’s 1960s counterculture and maintained the band’s legacy through decades of touring and improvisational performances that garnered a devoted following of “Deadheads.”

The literary and comic world lost Scott Adams, creator of the hugely popular “Dilbert” comic strip, who died on January 13 at age 68. For decades, Adams’ work satirized corporate culture and resonated with office workers worldwide until controversy ended his syndication in 2023 following racist remarks.

Civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin died on January 13 at age 86. In 1955, at just 15 years old, Colvin was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery, Alabama bus—nine months before Rosa Parks’ similar act of defiance that catalyzed the civil rights movement. Though less recognized than Parks, historians note Colvin’s courage as a teenager represented a crucial early moment in the struggle for racial equality.

South Korean cinema mourned Ahn Sung-ki, who died on January 5 at 74. Affectionately known as “The Nation’s Actor,” Ahn’s 60-year career and gentle public persona made him one of the country’s most beloved performers.

The world of sports lost several notable figures, including Glenn Hall, the Hockey Hall of Famer nicknamed “Mr. Goalie,” who died on January 7 at 94. His ironman streak of 502 consecutive starts as a goaltender remains an unbroken NHL record. Diane Crump, who broke gender barriers as the first woman to ride professionally in a horse race in 1969 and the first female jockey in the Kentucky Derby the following year, passed away on January 1 at age 77.

Public health lost a giant with the January 24 death of Dr. William Foege at 89. As a physician and epidemiologist, Foege led one of humanity’s greatest medical achievements—the global eradication of smallpox—developing innovative vaccination strategies that have saved countless lives worldwide.