It has been a heavy few days for film buffs and TV fans alike. Honestly, it feels like every time we check our feeds lately, there’s another name that shaped our childhoods or filled our Friday nights now etched into an obituary. This week hasn't been any different. From a tragic accident in Brooklyn to the quiet passing of a British heartthrob, the industry is feeling a massive void.
Losing a star isn't just about losing a person we didn’t know personally. It’s about losing the characters they gave us. You know that feeling when you see a face on screen and it instantly takes you back to being ten years old in front of a grainy tube TV? That’s what we’re navigating this week.
The Tragic Loss of Kianna Underwood
If you grew up in the early 2000s, this one hits particularly hard. Kianna Underwood was a burst of energy on Nickelodeon. She was only 33. On Friday morning, January 16, 2026, she was killed in a horrific hit-and-run accident in Brooklyn.
She was just leaving a bodega in the Brownsville neighborhood around 7 a.m. when a grey sedan struck her. The details coming from the NYPD are gut-wrenching—she was reportedly dragged for two blocks. Kianna was a staple for a generation, voicing Fuchsia Glover on Little Bill and appearing in the final season of the legendary sketch show All That. It’s a senseless loss of a woman who still had so much life and career ahead of her.
T.K. Carter: A Versatile Legend Gone at 69
We also lost T.K. Carter this week. He passed away on January 9 at his home in Duarte, California. If you’re a horror fan, you know him as Nauls from John Carpenter’s The Thing. That role alone cemented him in cinema history, but he was so much more than just the guy in the snow.
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He was Mike in Punky Brewster. He was in The Bobby Brown Story. He had this natural, effortless comic timing that made every guest spot or supporting role feel like the most important part of the project. His close friend, Joe "Hollywood" Hart, mentioned that T.K. had been battling some serious health issues and actually passed away while they were on the phone together in the early morning hours. That’s a heavy goodbye.
The Passing of Marcus Gilbert
For the British drama fans and those who remember the 80s action era, the death of Marcus Gilbert on January 11 is another significant blow. He was 67. Gilbert was best known as the dashing Rupert Campbell-Black in the 1993 adaptation of Riders.
He had that classic, broad-shouldered leading man look that almost got him the role of James Bond before Timothy Dalton took the mantle. Beyond the suave roles, he was a veteran of the screen with credits in Rambo III and Doctor Who. He’d been fighting cancer for a while. His fans and peers remember him as someone who never took himself too seriously, despite being one of the most handsome faces on television for a decade.
Remembering Derek Martin and the EastEnders Legacy
British soap opera royalty also said goodbye to a patriarch this week. Derek Martin, famous for playing Charlie Slater on EastEnders, died at 92 on January 10. He wasn't just a soap actor; he was a "tough guy" staple in British TV for years before he ever stepped into Albert Square.
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He played cabbies, coppers, and mob bosses in shows like King & Castle and Law and Order. But as Charlie Slater, he became a father figure to millions of viewers. He was the kind of actor who felt like a neighbor. He died after a short illness, leaving behind a career that spanned more than 60 years.
Other Notable Figures We Lost This Week
It’s a long list, and while they might not all be "movie stars" in the traditional Hollywood blockbuster sense, their impact on the arts was massive.
- Sheila Bernette: The English actress and singer, known for The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins, passed at 94.
- John Forté: The producer and musician (linked to the Refugee Camp All-Stars) died at 50 on January 15.
- Jefery Levy: The American filmmaker behind cult hits like S.F.W. passed at 67.
- Catherine Samie: A titan of French cinema and the Comédie-Française, she died at 92 on January 12.
- Jayashree Kabir: The Indian actress known for the classic Pratidwandi died at 73.
What Movie Stars Died This Week: Why This Keeps Happening in Waves
People often ask why celebrities seem to pass away in clusters. Is it just a coincidence? Or is it something about the time of year? Honestly, experts usually point to "clustering" as a psychological phenomenon—we notice it more when several people we recognize die in a short span.
But there’s also the reality of the "Silver Tsunami." The icons from the golden age of 80s and 90s television are reaching an age where health issues become more prevalent. When we look at what movie stars died this week, we see a mix of elderly legends and tragic, early departures like Kianna Underwood. It reminds us that Hollywood, for all its glitz, is just as vulnerable as the rest of us.
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Actionable Ways to Pay Tribute
If you're feeling the weight of these losses, there are meaningful ways to keep their legacies alive:
- Watch the "Underrated" Work: Instead of just watching The Thing, go find T.K. Carter's guest spots on Punky Brewster. See the range.
- Support Arts Charities: Many of these actors, like Marcus Gilbert, were vocal about supporting young talent. Donating to a local theatre program or film school in their name is a great gesture.
- Check Social Archives: Many fans are currently uploading "lost" commercials or interviews of stars like Derek Martin. Engaging with these helps keep their digital footprint active for future generations.
- Advocate for Road Safety: In the wake of Kianna Underwood’s death, many are pushing for better pedestrian safety in Brooklyn. Supporting local advocacy groups can turn a tragedy into a catalyst for change.
The industry feels smaller this week. It’s quiet. But the movies stay. The episodes stay. And that’s basically the best way to honor them—just keep watching.
To stay updated on memorial services or upcoming tribute screenings, you can follow the official social media pages of the Screen Actors Guild or check the trades like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter daily, as they often post details for public memorials.