Honestly, the start of 2026 has felt heavy. We barely got through the New Year’s celebrations before the headlines started rolling in, and this particular stretch of January has been rough for fans of nostalgia, classic rock, and even the world of comedy. When you look at the celebrities who have died this week, it’s a weird mix. You have absolute legends who lived until nearly 100, and then you have these sudden, jarring losses that remind you how fragile everything actually is.
It’s never just a name on a screen. For most of us, these people represent specific eras of our lives. Maybe it was a movie you watched on repeat as a kid or a song that played at your wedding. This week, those connections feel a little more frayed.
The Heartbreaking Loss of Kianna Underwood
One of the most shocking reports hitting the wires on Friday involves Kianna Underwood. If you grew up in the late 90s or early 2000s, you likely knew her voice or her face from Nickelodeon. She was only 33.
The details are genuinely upsetting. Law enforcement sources told TMZ she was killed in a hit-and-run in Brooklyn early Friday morning. Apparently, she was struck and dragged for nearly two blocks. The driver didn't stop.
Underwood was a staple for a specific generation. She voiced Fuchsia Glover on Little Bill for over 20 episodes and was part of the final season of the legendary sketch show All That in 2005. Most recently, she had been doing incredible work on stage, even touring with Hairspray. It’s a massive loss for the theater community and for anyone who remembers her as a bright spot on Saturday night TV.
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Grateful Dead Legend Bob Weir
We also lost a titan of the music world. Bob Weir, the founding member and guitarist of the Grateful Dead, passed away on January 10 at the age of 78. While he had reportedly beaten cancer in the summer of 2025, his lungs eventually gave out due to underlying complications.
Weir wasn't just a guitar player; he was the architect of a culture. He spent decades on the road, most recently with Dead & Company, keeping that "long strange trip" going for millions of fans. For Deadheads, it feels like the end of a very long, very beautiful chapter. He stayed active until the very end, proving that for some, the music never really stops—it just changes form.
T.K. Carter and the Faces of Character Acting
Character actors are often the backbone of the industry, and T.K. Carter was one of the best. He died on January 9 at the age of 69. Most people recognize him from John Carpenter’s The Thing, where he played Nauls, or from his role as Mike Fugleman on Punky Brewster.
Authorities mentioned that no foul play was suspected, but it’s still a gut-punch. Carter had this energy that could shift from high comedy to intense drama in a heartbeat. He was one of those guys where you’d see him on screen and think, "Oh, I love this guy," even if you didn't always know his name.
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Other Notable Names We Lost This Week
The list of celebrities who have died this week spans every industry.
- Scott Adams: The creator of the Dilbert comic strip passed away on January 13 after a long struggle with prostate cancer.
- John Forté: The Grammy-nominated artist and producer died on January 12 at age 50.
- Anne Marie Prince: A Dutch powerhouse in the world of theater and experimental performance. She was 93 and reportedly passed away via euthanasia on January 13.
- Greg Biffle: The NASCAR world is currently in mourning following a plane crash that claimed the life of the former driver and several of his family members. A memorial service was held in Charlotte this Friday to honor them.
The Tragic Tale of Gene Hackman’s Estate
While Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa actually passed away last year, their story resurfaced this week in a dark way. Their 53-acre compound in New Mexico hit the market on Friday for $6.25 million.
The sale has brought back the tragic details of their final days. Reports suggest Betsy may have contracted hantavirus from the estate, and the couple’s bodies weren't discovered for nine days. Seeing the listing photos now feels heavy for fans who spent decades watching Hackman dominate the silver screen. It’s a reminder that even for Hollywood royalty, the end can be incredibly private and, unfortunately, quite sad.
Why This Week Feels Different
Usually, celebrity deaths come in waves, but this week has been particularly eclectic. We're seeing the passing of "social media celebrities" alongside old-school legends.
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Sara Bennett, an influencer who documented her journey with ALS, announced her own death on Instagram on January 13. She was only 39. She basically planned her own "End of Life Ceremony" and shared it with her followers, trying to strip away the stigma of terminal illness.
Then you have someone like Marcus Gilbert, the British actor known for Army of Darkness and Rambo III, who died of throat cancer at 67. The range of people we are losing right now highlights how much the definition of "celebrity" has changed, but the impact of their absence remains the same.
What to Do When the News Feels Overwhelming
Processing the deaths of people we admire—even if we didn't know them personally—can take a toll. It’s okay to feel a sense of loss when someone who soundtracked your youth or entertained you for years passes away.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Revisit their work: The best way to honor a creator is to engage with what they left behind. Watch an episode of All That for Kianna, or put on Europe '72 for Bob Weir.
- Support the causes they loved: Many of these individuals, like Sara Bennett, spent their final years advocating for health research. A small donation to ALS or cancer research goes a long way.
- Be mindful of the "Scroll": If the news is becoming too much, step away. The 24-hour news cycle often focuses on the tragedy of the death rather than the vibrance of the life lived.
The reality is that the list of celebrities who have died this week will continue to grow as the year progresses, but for now, we remember the voices and faces that shaped our world until this very moment.