Death is a weird thing in the digital age. One minute you're scrolling through a feed of jokes and the next, a headline drops that feels like a gut punch. January has barely found its footing, yet the 2026 "In Memoriam" list is already growing in ways that feel incredibly heavy.
If you've been seeing "RIP" all over your timeline and wondering who exactly we just lost, you aren't alone. From comic strip legends to the quiet, heartbreaking passing of family members tied to Hollywood royalty, the last few days have been a lot to process. Honestly, it’s been a rough start to the year.
Scott Adams: The End of an Era for Dilbert
On January 13, 2026, Scott Adams, the man behind the cubicle-dwelling icon Dilbert, passed away at 68. He had been fighting a very public and very grueling battle with prostate cancer since mid-2025.
Adams was a polarizing figure, especially in his later years. You can't talk about his death without acknowledging how much his public persona shifted from "funny office guy" to a vocal political commentator. But for most people, he’ll always be the guy who perfectly captured the soul-crushing absurdity of corporate life.
His ex-wife, Shelly Miles, shared his final message on Rumble. It was heavy. Adams wrote the note on New Year's Day, knowing his time was short. In a move that surprised many of his long-time followers, he used his final words to share that he had accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. Whether you loved his cartoons or disagreed with his YouTube rants, his passing marks the end of a massive chapter in American satire.
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What really happened in his final months?
Adams didn't go quietly. He was open about the pain—so much so that he actually applied for California’s legal assisted suicide program. He ended up withdrawing that application when testosterone blockers started helping with the physical agony, but it gives you a window into how difficult those final weeks were. He died at his home in Pleasanton, California.
The Sudden Loss of John Forté
Just a day before Scott Adams passed, the music world lost a genuine talent. John Forté, the Grammy-nominated artist who basically helped define the sound of the late 90s through his work with The Fugees, was found dead in his home in Massachusetts on January 12.
He was only 50.
That’s the kind of news that stops you mid-scroll. No foul play is suspected, but the "sudden" nature of it has left fans reeling. Forté was a bit of a prodigy—started on the classical violin before jumping into hip-hop and becoming a key architect of the album The Score.
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If you remember the track "Rumble in the Jungle," that was him. He lived a massive life: a presidential pardon from George W. Bush after a drug conviction, a career as a composer for the Brooklyn Nets, and a reputation as one of the most intelligent voices in the industry.
Other Notable Losses This Week
It’s not just the household names. Several other figures who shaped their respective industries have left us in this first half of January.
- Kristen Pierce-Sherrod: The CEO of Harold’s Chicken—a literal institution in Chicago—died on January 15 at age 55. If you’ve ever lived in the Midwest, you know Harold’s isn't just a restaurant; it’s a culture. She was the daughter of the founder and had been leading the brand’s massive expansion.
- Bob Weir: The Grateful Dead founding member passed on January 10 at 78. He actually beat cancer in 2025, which makes his death from underlying lung issues feel particularly cruel. He was a pillar of the jam band scene and a guy who literally never stopped touring until he couldn't walk anymore.
- T.K. Carter: Best known for The Thing and Punky Brewster, Carter was found dead on January 9 at age 69.
- Victoria Jones: This one hit the celebrity news cycle hard on New Year's Day. The 34-year-old daughter of Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones was found deceased at the Fairmont San Francisco Hotel.
Dealing With the "Death Hoax" Cycle
Whenever a celebrity dies, the internet goes into a frenzy, and unfortunately, 2026 hasn't stopped the "fake news" machine. You might see names like Dick Van Dyke or David Attenborough trending on social media with "RIP" tags.
Check the source. Always.
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As of January 15, both of those legends are still with us. The "DeathList" for 2026 includes them as people to "watch" because of their age (both are near or at 100), but trending doesn't always mean passing. Usually, it's just a bunch of fans getting ahead of themselves or a viral hoax designed to farm clicks.
Why these losses feel different now
We’re in an era where we "know" these people through podcasts and social media updates. When Scott Adams died, he had been narrating his own decline for months. When an influencer like Sara Bennett (who died of ALS this week at 39) passes, they've often pre-recorded their own goodbyes.
It makes the mourning process feel more intimate, but also more constant. You aren't just reading an obituary; you're watching a final vlog.
Next Steps for Staying Informed:
If you want to keep track without falling for the hoaxes, stick to primary sources like the Associated Press or the "Celebrity" vertical on People. Avoid clicking on those "You won't believe who died today" ads on the side of websites—those are almost always clickbait leading to a 50-page slideshow of people who died three years ago. If a major star passes, it will be the top story on every legitimate news outlet within thirty minutes.