It is a strange, heavy feeling when you check your phone and see a name from your childhood trending for the wrong reasons. This week, that name was Marcus Gilbert. If you grew up watching 80s action movies or 90s cult classics, you’ve definitely seen his face. He was the dashing Lord Arthur in Army of Darkness and the Soviet pilot Tomask in Rambo III.
Honestly, it feels like the start of 2026 is already taking a toll on our collective nostalgia.
Gilbert passed away on January 11, 2026, at the age of 67. He had been fighting throat cancer for a long time. His family and fan sites confirmed the news, sparking a wave of tributes from co-stars and fans who remembered him as more than just a "villain" or a "knight." He was a classically trained actor who brought a specific kind of twinkle—a mix of charm and menace—to every role he touched.
What Celebrity Passed Away Recently: The Loss of Marcus Gilbert
When we talk about what celebrity passed away recently, Gilbert is the name on everyone’s lips in the UK and within the horror community.
He wasn't just a face in the background. In Army of Darkness, he was the medieval foil to Bruce Campbell’s Ash. He had that regal, almost Shakespearean presence that made the ridiculousness of the movie feel grounded.
Off-screen, his life was marked by both success and quiet dignity. He lost his wife, Dr. Homaa Khan-Gilbert, back in 2020. Since then, he had found love again with Lysette Anthony, his former co-star from the 1993 TV adaptation of Riders. Seeing the tributes from people like Russell T. Davies and Toby Hadoke really drives home how much he was respected in the industry. Hadoke called him "dashing" and "charming." It’s a loss that hits hard for anyone who spent their Friday nights at the local cinema in the late 80s.
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T.K. Carter: A Voice We Won't Forget
Another major blow came just a few days before Gilbert's passing. T.K. Carter, the veteran actor who many of us remember as Nauls the cook from John Carpenter's The Thing, died on January 9 at the age of 69.
He was found unresponsive in his home in Duarte, California.
While The Thing is his most famous credit for horror buffs, he was a staple of 80s television. He played Mike in Punky Brewster and appeared in Runaway Train. Carter had this energy—a fast-talking, vibrant way of existing on screen—that made him an instant fan favorite. There’s something deeply unsettling about losing the stars of the films that defined modern horror, especially so close together.
The Broadway Community Mourns John Cunningham
If you’re more into the theater scene, the news of John Cunningham’s death on January 6 was the big headline. He was 93.
Cunningham was a giant. He was in the original Broadway casts of Cabaret, Company, and Titanic. Most people might recognize his voice before they recognize his face; he did a massive amount of voiceover work for commercials over several decades.
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He died in his home in Rye, New York. He lived a long, full life—married for nearly 70 years—but in the world of musical theater, his absence leaves a void that’s impossible to fill. He was one of those "actor's actors" who could do anything from a lighthearted musical to a heavy drama like Dead Poets Society.
Beyond the Big Screens: Other Notable Losses
It isn't just the movie stars.
The start of the year has seen the passing of several influential figures across different niches:
- Sara Bennett: A content creator and advocate who documented her journey with ALS. She was only 39. She posted her own goodbye on Instagram, which was both heartbreaking and incredibly brave.
- Scott Adams: The creator of the Dilbert comic strip died on January 13 at 68. Regardless of how you felt about his later-in-life controversies, his impact on office culture and the world of syndication was undeniable.
- Eva Schloss: The stepsister of Anne Frank and a Holocaust survivor who spent her life educating people about the horrors of the past. She died at 96 on January 3.
Why These Losses Feel Different in 2026
We live in a world where we feel like we know these people. We follow their Instagrams. We watch their "behind the scenes" videos. When someone like Sara Bennett or Marcus Gilbert passes, it doesn't just feel like a news headline. It feels personal.
Google searches for what celebrity passed away recently often spike because we’re looking for a way to process the grief. We want to see the old clips. We want to read the tributes. It’s a way of holding onto the art they created.
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The reality of 2026 is that the icons of the "Golden Age" of 80s and 90s media are reaching an age where these headlines will become more common. It’s a sobering thought.
How to Honor Their Legacy
When a public figure passes, the best thing we can do is engage with the work they left behind.
If you want to remember Marcus Gilbert, go watch the "Battlefield" episode of Doctor Who or fire up Army of Darkness. If you're missing T.K. Carter, there's no better time to re-watch The Thing (just maybe not right before bed).
For those looking to stay updated on these stories without the noise of social media rumors, here are a few practical steps:
- Check Legacy-focused sites: Websites like The Hollywood Reporter or Variety usually have the most vetted, factual obituaries.
- Support their causes: Many of these celebrities, like Sara Bennett, had specific charities they championed. Donating to ALS research or cancer foundations is a tangible way to make their memory matter.
- Watch the originals: Avoid the "tribute" clips that are often just AI-generated slideshows. Go back to the source material to see why they were famous in the first place.
The loss of these individuals marks the end of various eras in entertainment. Whether it was the grit of 80s action, the magic of Broadway, or the resilience of those fighting illness, their stories are now part of history.