{"id":6492,"date":"2026-07-06T15:10:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T15:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=6492"},"modified":"2026-07-06T15:10:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T15:10:11","slug":"the-year-in-review-influential-people-who-have-died-in-2026-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=6492","title":{"rendered":"The year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FILE – Music producer Clive Davis attends the special screening of \u201cWestern Stars\u201d at Metrograph in New York on Oct. 16, 2019. (Evan Agostini\/Invision\/AP, File)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

Clive Davis<\/a> , the legendary music executive who helped launch the careers<\/a> of some of the industry\u2019s biggest stars, was among the noteworthy and influential people who died in June.<\/p>

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And Davis saw his influence seem to grow as he got older. His exclusive pre-Grammys gala, held the Saturday night before the Sunday award show, continued to be an institution.<\/p>\n

June also saw the death of former U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan. In his time at the Fed, Greenspan presided over a breathtaking surge in stock prices and a 10-year economic boom that started in March 1991. But his reputation began to suffer almost as soon as he left in 2006. American housing prices tumbled, causing losses for banks that had repackaged mortgage loans into an array of complex securities.<\/p>\n

The growing financial crisis pushed the U.S. economy into the Great Recession of 2007-2009<\/a> . Critics blamed the devastation on Greenspan\u2019s easy money policies and his support for deregulated financial markets.<\/p>\n

Other noteworthy people who died in June include Iranian-French cartoonist and filmmaker Marjane Satrapi, R&B singer Peabo Bryson, Hollywood star Ann Blyth, former MI6 spy chief Alex Younger and Afghan cosmonaut Abdul Ahad Momand.<\/p>\n

Here is a roll call of some influential figures who have died this year (the cause of death is cited, if available):<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

JANUARY ___<\/p>\n

Diane Crump<\/a> , 77. In 1969, she became the first woman to ride professionally in a horse race and a year later became the first female jockey in the Kentucky Derby. Jan. 1.<\/p>\n

Ahn Sung-ki<\/a> , 74. He was one of South Korean cinema\u2019s biggest stars whose prolific 60-year career and positive, gentle public image earned him the nickname \u201cThe Nation\u2019s Actor.\u201d Jan. 5.<\/p>\n

Aldrich Ames<\/a> , 84. The CIA turncoat who betrayed Western intelligence assets to the Soviet Union and Russia in one of the most damaging intelligence breaches in U.S. history died in prison. Jan. 5.<\/p>\n

B\u00e9la Tarr<\/a> , 70. The celebrated Hungarian filmmaker directed such works as \u201cS\u00e1t\u00e1ntang\u00f3\u201d and \u201cThe Turin Horse\u201d and was the recipient of numerous awards for his long and often darkly comic films. Jan. 6.<\/p>\n

Glenn Hall<\/a> , 94. Nicknamed \u201cMr. Goalie,\u201d he was a Hockey Hall of Famer whose ironman streak of 502 starts as a goalkeeper remains an NHL record. Jan. 7.<\/p>\n

Bob Weir<\/a> , 78. The guitarist and singer was an essential member of the Grateful Dead who helped found the sound of the San Francisco counterculture of the 1960s and kept it alive through decades of endless tours and marathon jams. Jan. 10.<\/p>\n

John Fort\u00e9<\/a> , 50. The Grammy-nominated musician was known for his work with the Fugees and the Refugee Camp All-Stars, among others. Jan. 12.<\/p>\n

Scott Adams<\/a> , 68. His popular comic strip \u201cDilbert\u201d captured the frustration of beleaguered, white-collar cubicle workers and satirized the ridiculousness of modern office culture until he was abruptly dropped from syndication in 2023 for racist remarks. Jan. 13.<\/p>\n

Claudette Colvin<\/a> , 86. Her 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus helped spark the modern Civil Rights Movement. At age 15, she was arrested nine months before Rosa Parks gained international fame for also refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. Jan. 13.<\/p>\n

Valentino Garavani<\/a> , 93. He was the jet-set Italian designer whose high-glamour gowns \u2014 often in his trademark shade of \u201cValentino red\u201d \u2014 were fashion show staples for nearly half a century. Jan. 19.<\/p>\n

Ota Zaremba<\/a> , 68. He won a weightlifting gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics before admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs under a secret program run by the totalitarian regime in the former Czechoslovakia. Jan. 23.<\/p>\n

William Foege<\/a> , 89. As a doctor, he was a leader of one of humanity\u2019s greatest public health victories \u2014 the global eradication of smallpox. Jan. 24.<\/p>\n

Catherine O\u2019Hara<\/a> , 71. The gifted Canadian-born comic actor and \u201cSCTV\u201d alum starred as Macaulay Culkin\u2019s harried mother in two \u201cHome Alone\u201d movies and won an Emmy as the dramatically ditzy, wealthy matriarch Moira Rose in \u201cSchitt\u2019s Creek.\u201d Jan. 30.<\/p>\n

Demond Wilson<\/a> , 79. He found fame in the 1970s playing Lamont on \u201cSanford and Son\u201d and went on to become a minister. Jan. 30.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

FEBRUARY<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

X.J. Kennedy<\/a> , 96. He was an award-winning poet, author, translator and educator who schooled millions of students through \u201cThe Bedford Reader\u201d and other textbooks and engaged voluntary readers with his children\u2019s stories and intricate, witty verse. Feb. 1.<\/p>\n

Chuck Negron<\/a> , 83. He was a founding member of the soul-rock sensations Three Dog Night who sang lead on such hits as \u201cOne\u201d and \u201cJust an Old Fashioned Love Song\u201d and hollered the immortal opening line \u201cJeremiah was a bullfrog!\u201d on the chart-topping \u201cJoy to the World.\u201d Feb. 2.<\/p>\n

Mickey Lolich<\/a> , 85. He had three complete-game victories for the Detroit Tigers in the 1968 World Series, the last Major League Baseball pitcher to post the incredible feat. Feb. 4.<\/p>\n

James Van Der Beek<\/a> , 48. The heartthrob starred in coming-of-age dramas at the dawn of the new millennium, shooting to fame playing the titular character in \u201cDawson\u2019s Creek\u201d and in later years mocking his own hunky persona. He had revealed in 2024 that he was being treated for colorectal cancer. Feb. 11.<\/p>\n

Robert Duvall<\/a> , 95. He was an Oscar-winning actor of matchless versatility and dedication whose classic roles included the intrepid consigliere of the first two \u201cGodfather\u201d movies and the over-the-hill country music singer in \u201cTender Mercies.\u201d Feb. 15.<\/p>\n

Frederick Wiseman<\/a> , 96. He was the celebrated director of \u201cTiticut Follies\u201d and dozens of other documentaries whose in-depth, unadorned movies comprised a unique and revelatory history of American institutions. Feb. 16.<\/p>\n

The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson<\/a> , 84. A protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and a two-time presidential candidate, he led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after the revered leader\u2019s assassination. Feb. 17.<\/p>\n

Eric Dane<\/a> , 53. The celebrated actor was best known for his roles on \u201cGrey\u2019s Anatomy\u201d and \u201cEuphoria\u201d and later in life became an advocate for ALS awareness. He died from the disease less than a year after he announced his diagnosis. Feb. 19.<\/p>\n

Bill Mazeroski<\/a> , 89. The Hall of Fame second baseman won eight Gold Glove awards for his steady work in the field and the hearts of countless Pittsburgh Pirates fans for his historic walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. Feb. 20.<\/p>\n

Willie Col\u00f3n<\/a> , 75. He was a Grammy-nominated architect of urban salsa music and a social activist. Feb. 21.<\/p>\n

Robert Carradine<\/a> , 71. He was the youngest of his prolific Hollywood family, and his biggest hit was the 1984 comedy \u201cRevenge of the Nerds.\u201d Feb. 23.<\/p>\n

Sondra Lee<\/a> , 97. She was a dancer and actor discovered by the legendary choreographer-director Jerome Robbins and originated the role of Tiger Lily on Broadway in \u201cPeter Pan\u201d and played Minnie Fay in the original production of \u201cHello, Dolly!\u201d Feb. 23.<\/p>\n

Neil Sedaka<\/a> , 86. The hit-making singer-songwriter\u2019s boyish soprano and bright melodies made him a top act in the early years of rock \u2018n\u2019 roll and led to a second run of success in the 1970s. Feb. 27.<\/p>\n

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei<\/a> , 86. He assembled theocratic power in Iran over the decades as its top leader and sought to turn it into a regional powerhouse, bringing it into confrontation with Israel and the United States over its nuclear program while crushing democracy protests. He was killed in U.S. and Israeli military strikes. Feb. 28.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

MARCH<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Kermit Gosnell<\/a> , 85. He was an abortion clinic doctor sentenced to life for killing three babies who had been delivered alive. March 1.<\/p>\n

Lou Holtz<\/a> , 89. He was the College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national championship and won 249 games over 33 seasons at six schools. March 4.<\/p>\n

Bernard LaFayette<\/a> , 85. He was the advance man who did the risky groundwork for the voter registration campaign in Selma, Alabama, that culminated in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. March 5.<\/p>\n

\u201cCountry\u201d Joe McDonald<\/a> , 84. He was a hippie rock star of the 1960s whose \u201cI-Feel-Like-I\u2019m-Fixin\u2019-To-Die Rag\u201d was a four-lettered rebuke to the Vietnam War that became an anthem for protesters and a highlight of the Woodstock music festival. March 8.<\/p>\n

Alexander Butterfield<\/a> , 99. He was the White House aide who inadvertently hastened Richard Nixon\u2019s resignation over the Watergate scandal when he revealed that the president had bugged the Oval Office and Cabinet Room and routinely recorded his conversations. March 9.<\/p>\n

Nicholas Haysom<\/a> , 73. The white South African anti-apartheid activist was tapped by prisoner-turned-president Nelson Mandela to help draft the country\u2019s new constitution that enshrined equal rights for Black people, minorities and white people. March 17.<\/p>\n

Michael Bambang Hartono<\/a> , 86. He was Indonesia\u2019s richest man and helped turn the Djarum cigarette company into one of the country\u2019s largest business empires. March 19.<\/p>\n

Chuck Norris<\/a> , 86. A martial arts grandmaster and action star, his roles in \u201cWalker, Texas Ranger\u201d and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy \u2014 sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents. March 19.<\/p>\n

Umberto Bossi<\/a> , 84. He was the founder of Italy\u2019s populist Northern League and one of the most influential \u2014 and polarizing \u2014 figures of Italian politics. March 19.<\/p>\n

Robert S. Mueller III<\/a> , 81. He was the FBI director who transformed the nation\u2019s premier law enforcement agency into a terrorism-fighting force after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and who later became special counsel in charge of investigating ties between Russia and Donald Trump\u2019s presidential campaign. March 20.<\/p>\n

Nicholas Brendon<\/a> , 54. He was an actor best known for his role as a loveable underdog sidekick on the hit television series \u201cBuffy the Vampire Slayer.\u201d His family said he died in his sleep of natural causes. March 20.<\/p>\n

Lionel Jospin<\/a> , 88. He was a former French prime minister who gave France its 35-hour work week and then withdrew from politics after leading France\u2019s Socialist Party to an earth-shaking presidential election defeat against far-right firebrand Jean-Marie Le Pen. March 22.<\/p>\n

Darrell \u201cDash\u201d Crofts<\/a> , 87. The singer-songwriter teamed with childhood friend Jim Seals for such 1970s soft-rock hits as \u201cSummer Breeze,\u201d \u201cDiamond Girl\u201d and \u201cGet Closer.\u201d March 25.<\/p>\n

James Tolkan<\/a> , 94. The actor was known for his roles as a cigar-chomping naval commander in \u201cTop Gun\u201d and a gruff high school administrator in \u201cBack to the Future.\u201d March 26.<\/p>\n

Mary Beth Hurt<\/a> , 79. The Tony Award-nominated actor starred on Broadway in \u201cBenefactors\u201d with Glenn Close and reunited with Close for the movie \u201cThe World According to Garp.\u201d March 28.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

APRIL<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Jim Whittaker<\/a> , 97. In 1963, he became the first American to reach the top of Mount Everest. April 7.<\/p>\n

Sid Krofft<\/a> , 96. He was the Canadian-born entertainment wizard who teamed with his brother and fellow puppeteer Marty Krofft to create such cult favorites as children\u2019s 1960s TV show \u201cH.R. Pufnstuf.\u201d April 10.<\/p>\n

Lionel Rosenblatt<\/a> , 82. As a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, he carried out an unauthorized evacuation of hundreds of Vietnamese citizens before the 1975 fall of Saigon. April 11.<\/p>\n

Asha Bhosle<\/a> , 92. She was one of India\u2019s most versatile Bollywood singers whose performances shaped the country\u2019s musical memory and modern cinema. April 12.<\/p>\n

Bob Hall<\/a> , 74. A childhood polio survivor, he became known as the father of wheelchair racing after twice winning the Boston Marathon and then going on to build racing chairs for the generations of competitors that followed. April 12.<\/p>\n

Don Schlitz<\/a> , 73. He was the storied country music songwriter known for such hits as \u201cThe Gambler,\u201d \u201cOn the Other Hand\u201d and \u201cForever and Ever, Amen.\u201d April 16.<\/p>

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Oscar Schmidt<\/a> , 68. The Basketball Hall of Famer was known to his Brazilian compatriots as the \u201cHoly Hand.\u201d April 17.<\/p>\n

Nathalie Baye<\/a> , 77. The French actor was a fan\u2019s favorite for her down-to-earth charm and great versatility. April 17.<\/p>\n

George R. Ariyoshi<\/a> , 100. The former Hawaii governor was the nation\u2019s first Asian American governor. April 19.<\/p>\n

Dave Mason<\/a> , 79. The co-founder of the psychedelic British band Traffic, he was the songwriter behind classic rock hits \u201cFeelin\u2019 Alright\u201d and \u201cHole in My Shoe\u201d and a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. April 19.<\/p>\n

Alan Osmond<\/a> , 76. He was the eldest member of the chart-topping family act The Osmonds. April 20.<\/p>\n

Nedra Talley Ross<\/a> , 80. She was the last surviving member of the 1960s bee-hived pop band the Ronettes, who sang the enduring hits \u201cBe My Baby,\u201d \u201cBaby I Love You\u201d and \u201cWalking in the Rain\u201d alongside her cousins. April 26.<\/p>\n

David Allan Coe<\/a> , 86. He was the country singer-songwriter who wrote the working-class anthem \u201cTake This Job and Shove It\u2033 and had hits with \u201cYou Never Even Called Me By My Name\u201d and \u201cThe Ride\u201d among others. April 29.<\/p>\n

J. Craig Venter<\/a> , 79. He mapped the first draft of the human genome and helped scientists understand how genes shape our lives. April 29.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

MAY<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Alex Zanardi<\/a> , 59. He was the Italian auto racing champion-turned-Paralympic gold medalist whose career was marked by two life-altering accidents. May 2.<\/p>\n

Doris Fisher<\/a> , 94. She co-founded the iconic clothing chain The Gap Inc. in 1969 with her late husband Don. May 2.<\/p>\n

John Sterling<\/a> , 87. The longtime New York Yankees radio broadcaster was known for extravagant, individualized home run calls. May 4.<\/p>\n

Ted Turner<\/a> , 87. He was the brash and outspoken television pioneer who built a media empire and transformed the news business by creating CNN and introducing the 24-hour cable news cycle. May 6.<\/p>\n

Joni Lamb<\/a> , 65. With her late husband, she founded the Daystar Television Network and guided it to become one of the world\u2019s largest Christian TV networks. May 7.<\/p>\n

Bobby Cox<\/a> , 84. He was the folksy manager of the Atlanta Braves whose teams ruled the National League during the 1990s and gave the city its first major title as well as World Series trips that fell short. May 9.<\/p>\n

Abraham H. Foxman<\/a> , 86. He was a forceful advocate for American Jews as national director of the Anti-Defamation League for nearly three decades. May 10.<\/p>\n

Jim Colbert<\/a> , 85. He was renowned for wearing his bucket hat while winning eight times on the PGA Tour and 20 times on the PGA Tour Champions. May 10.<\/p>\n

Mark Fuhrman<\/a> , 74. He was the former Los Angeles police detective who was convicted of lying during testimony at the O.J. Simpson murder trial. May 12.<\/p>\n

Jason Collins<\/a> , 47. The NBA\u2019s first openly gay player, he went on to become a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league. He died after an eight-month battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. May 12.<\/p>\n

Clarence Carter<\/a> , 90. He was the blues and soul musician and singer-songwriter with the raspy, emotional vocals whose hits included the sentimental \u201cPatches\u201d and the salacious \u201cStrokin.\u2019\u201d May 13.<\/p>\n

Claudine Longet<\/a> , 84. She was a French singer and actor who was at the center of a highly publicized manslaughter trial after she was charged with the fatal shooting of her boyfriend, Olympic skier Vladimir \u201cSpider\u201d Sabich. May 14.<\/p>\n

Scott Hastings<\/a> , 61. He was the Scotland rugby great who played alongside his older brother Gavin for the national team and the British and Irish Lions. May 17.<\/p>\n

Toshifumi Suzuki<\/a> , 93. The Japanese businessman was credited with creating the 7-Eleven convenience-chain global retail empire. May 18.<\/p>\n

Barney Frank<\/a> , 86. The longtime Democratic congressman and leading liberal brought new visibility to gay rights and crafted the most significant reforms to the financial system in a generation. May 19.<\/p>\n

Kyle Busch<\/a> , 41. He was a two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than anyone across NASCAR\u2019s three national series. His family said he died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis<\/a> . May 21.<\/p>\n

Rob Base<\/a> , 59. The rapper was one half of the Harlem hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, best known for the 1988 chart-topper \u201cIt Takes Two.\u201d He died after a battle with cancer. May 22.<\/p>\n

Raymond Berry<\/a> , 93. The Hall of Fame wide receiver teamed with Baltimore quarterback Johnny Unitas for one of the NFL\u2019s greatest passing combinations and helped lead the Colts to victory over the New York Giants in the storied 1958 championship game. May 25.<\/p>\n

Sonny Rollins<\/a> , 95. He was the tenor saxophonist and restless genius whose bold, distinctive tone and constant experimentation kept him on the cutting edge of jazz for more than 50 years. May 25.<\/p>\n

Marcia Lucas<\/a> , 80. She won an Oscar as editor of the original 1977 \u201cStar Wars\u201d and was part of a group of women whose editing was essential to film\u2019s New Hollywood era. May 27.<\/p>\n

Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi<\/a> , 80. He was the internationally recognized president of Yemen who led a fractured government mostly from exile for eight years as the country descended into civil war and famine before stepping down in 2022. May 28.<\/p>\n

Claude Lemieux<\/a> , 60. He was a four-time Stanley Cup champion whose ferocious, hard-hitting style of play angered opponents and sometimes overshadowed his prodigious skills and ability to deliver in the biggest games. Authorities said he took his own life. May 28.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

JUNE<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Rick Adelman<\/a> , 79. The Basketball Hall of Fame inductee played for seven NBA seasons before becoming one of the game\u2019s all-time winningest coaches. June 1.<\/p>\n

Peabo Bryson<\/a> , 75. The two-time Grammy Award-winning R&B singer was best known as the voice behind the Oscar-winning Disney film duets \u201cBeauty and the Beast\u201d with Celine Dion and \u201cA Whole New World\u201d with Regina Belle from \u201cAladdin.\u201d June 2.<\/p>\n

Alex Younger<\/a> , 62. The former MI6 spy chief led the U.K.\u2019s foreign espionage agency, also known as the Secret Intelligence Service, from 2014 to 2020, and was one of the first holders of the post \u2014 code-named C \u2014 to be publicly named. June 2.<\/p>\n

Ned Jarrett<\/a> , 93. He was a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and longtime broadcaster. June 4.<\/p>\n

Marjane Satrapi<\/a> , 56. The acclaimed Iranian-French cartoonist and filmmaker was a prominent advocate for women\u2019s rights and author of \u201cPersepolis,\u201d a coming-of-age tale set against the Islamic Revolution in her native Iran. June 4.<\/p>\n

Carlos Alberto Solari<\/a> , 77. He was the Argentine singer-songwriter known as \u201cthe Indio\u201d who led Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota, one of the country\u2019s most popular and influential rock groups. June 5.<\/p>\n

Bernadette Chirac<\/a> , 93. She was the steel-willed former first lady of France who spent 12 years at the \u00c9lys\u00e9e Palace from 1995 to 2007 beside President Jacques Chirac \u2014 weathering his notorious infidelities with dry humor while building her own political power base in rural France. June 5.<\/p>\n

Bob Packwood<\/a> , 93. The former U.S. senator was a moderate Oregon Republican whose reputation as a champion of abortion and women\u2019s rights was spoiled at the end of his career by allegations of sexual harassment. June 6.<\/p>\n

Yohei Kono<\/a> , 89. He was a veteran Japanese politician who as top government spokesperson offered a historic apology to Asian women over sexual abuses by Japan\u2019s wartime military. June 8.<\/p>\n

David Hockney<\/a> , 88. He was a treasured British artist whose paintings of shimmering pools and colorful iPad drawings became icons of contemporary art. June 11.<\/p>\n

Ronnie Schell<\/a> , 94. He played the best friend to the title character on the 1960s sitcom \u201cGomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.\u201d and his gradual ascendancy in show business earned him the title of \u201cAmerica\u2019s Slowest Rising Comedian.\u201d June 12.<\/p>\n

Gene Shalit<\/a> , 100. A movie critic and arts reporter for the \u201cToday\u201d show over four decades, he was known for his puffy hair, oversized handlebar mustache and affection for groan-inducing puns. June 12.<\/p>\n

Oliver Tree<\/a> , 32. The eccentric American musician was known for viral stunts, alt-pop tracks like \u201cAlien Boy\u201d and \u201cLife Goes On,\u201d and his unconventional style. He died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro<\/a> . June 14.<\/p>\n

Abdullah Ibrahim<\/a> , 91. He was the globally celebrated South African jazz icon who performed at Nelson Mandela\u2019s 1994 presidential inauguration. June 15.<\/p>\n

Daveigh Chase<\/a> , 35. The former child actor was known for her youthful voice in Disney\u2019s \u201cLilo & Stitch\u201d and her villainous performance in the horror film \u201cThe Ring.\u201d A medical examiner\u2019s office said her death was caused by AIDS. June 16.<\/p>\n

Tom Dreesen<\/a> , 86. Along with partner Tim Reid, he formed one of America\u2019s first interracial stand-up comedy duos and later spent years as Frank Sinatra\u2019s opening act. June 17.<\/p>\n

Francisco Guterres<\/a> , 71. Widely known by his nom de guerre \u201cLu Olo,\u201d the former president of East Timor was a leading figure in the country\u2019s independence movement. June 21.<\/p>\n

Abdul Ahad Momand<\/a> , 67. The cosmonaut was Afghanistan\u2019s first citizen in space. June 21.<\/p>\n

Alan Greenspan<\/a> , 100. The jazz-playing U.S. Federal Reserve chair was celebrated for engineering a decade of prosperity but later shared the blame for a devastating financial crisis. June 22.<\/p>\n

Clive Davis<\/a> , 94. The record company lawyer became one of the music industry\u2019s most powerful figures, launching or resurrecting the careers of such superstars as Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana and Alicia Keys. June 22.<\/p>\n

Ann Blyth<\/a> , 98. The versatile Hollywood star received an Oscar nomination at 17 as Joan Crawford\u2019s wayward daughter in \u201cMildred Pierce,\u201d sang opposite Mario Lanza and Howard Keel in such MGM musicals as \u201cThe Great Caruso\u201d and ended her film career before age 30. June 24.<\/p>\n

David Clayton-Thomas<\/a> , 84. He was the lead singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears whose husky, high-strung tenor on \u201cSpinning Wheel,\u201d \u201cAnd When I Die\u201d and other hits helped make the so-called \u201cbrass rock\u201d band among the most popular acts of the late 1960s. June 24.<\/p>\n

Victor Willis<\/a> , 74. He co-founded the Village People, co-wrote the disco group\u2019s classic hits \u201cY.M.C.A.,\u201d \u2033Macho Man\u201d and \u201cIn the Navy,\u201d and delighted crowds while dressed as the band\u2019s helmeted and mustachioed police officer. June 30.<\/p>

Read more Belgian federation to challenge FIFA\u2019s decision to let Folarin Balogun play in World Cup match<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A powerful figure in the music industry, Clive Davis is credited with launching the careers of some of its biggest stars<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6489,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"\nThe year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026 - Moving Insider USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=6492\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026 - Moving Insider USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A powerful figure in the music industry, Clive Davis is credited with launching the careers of some of its biggest stars\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=6492\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Moving Insider USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-06T15:10:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/53831221692fd1cb38d95b2efae9b4c8-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1704\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"17 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=6492#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=6492\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/22d40ab81790f6a361021763bb56ef03\"},\"headline\":\"The year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-06T15:10:11+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=6492\"},\"wordCount\":3494,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=6492#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/d2b46a4cca4816545f54373e5321d088-scaled.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Interesting\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=6492#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=6492\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=6492\",\"name\":\"The year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026 - Moving Insider USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=6492#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=6492#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/d2b46a4cca4816545f54373e5321d088-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-06T15:10:11+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/22d40ab81790f6a361021763bb56ef03\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=6492#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=6492\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=6492#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/d2b46a4cca4816545f54373e5321d088-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/d2b46a4cca4816545f54373e5321d088-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1704,\"caption\":\"FILE - Music producer Clive Davis attends the special screening of \\\"Western Stars\\\" at Metrograph in New York on Oct. 16, 2019. 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