TV Stars We've Lost In 2026

The calendar year is far from over, but it's certainly brought some difficult goodbyes to beloved entertainers.

As 2026 rolls on, TVLine is remembering the television stars and behind-the-scenes personalities that we've lost thus far, a list that includes several longtime staples of the TV industry. Entertainment icon Catherine O'Hara, best remembered on the small screen as "Schitt's Creek" matriarch Moira Rose, died in January of a pulmonary embolism amid a rectal cancer diagnosis; she was remembered by her many collaborators, including director Ron Howard, as a "brilliant" performer.

"Dawson's Creek" star James Van Der Beek and "Grey's Anatomy" vet Eric Dane are also among this year's late TV stars, following battles with colorectal cancer and ALS, respectively. Other dearly departed performers include "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere, "Peaky Blinders" actor Sam Neill, and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" alumni Nicholas Brendon and Anthony Stewart Head.

Keep scrolling to see more of the Hollywood names we've lost this year, including a look back at their careers, then drop a comment with your remembrances.

T.K. Carter

Actor T.K. Carter, best known to TV fans for his role on "Punky Brewster," died in January at the age of 69. His cause of death was later determined to be systolic heart failure, according to documents from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

On the small screen, Carter was best remembered for playing teacher Mike Fulton in the sitcom "Punky Brewster," appearing in two of the show's four seasons (and 24 total episodes). In addition to longer stints on shows like "The Sinbad Show" and "Good Morning, Miss Bliss," Carter made guest appearances on many series, including "Moesha," "The Nanny," "The Steve Harvey Show," "NYPD Blue," "Everybody Hates Chris," and "How to Get Away With Murder." His final TV appearances came in 2023 on FXX's "Dave" and ABC's "The Company You Keep."

On the film side, Carter's notable credits included "The Thing," "Doctor Detroit," and "Space Jam."

Catherine O'Hara

Legendary actress Catherine O'Hara, who enjoyed a multi-decade career in both film and television, died on January 30 at the age of 71. As first reported by TMZ, O'Hara died of a pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer as an underlying cause.

O'Hara's breakout gig was the Canadian sketch-comedy series "SCTV," on which she was an original cast member for the first two seasons. She would go on to guest-star in numerous TV series, including "The Larry Sanders Show," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "30 Rock," before landing the career-defining role of matriarch Moira Rose on "Schitt's Creek." O'Hara played the melodramatic, wig-loving Moira for all six seasons and won the 2020 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. In the months before her death, O'Hara also appeared on HBO's "The Last of Us" and Apple TV's "The Studio," both of which earned her Emmy nominations.

She held a number of beloved film roles over the years, too, including Kate McCallister — mother of Macaulay Culkin's Kevin McCallister — in Christmas favorites "Home Alone" and "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York." She frequently worked with director Christopher Guest on the silver screen — "Best in Show" and "Waiting for Guffman" were among their collaborations — while other film credits included "Beetlejuice," "Dick Tracy," and the animated "Nightmare Before Christmas," where she voiced Sally.

Grady Demond Wilson

Grady Demond Wilson, star of the NBC sitcom "Sanford and Son," died in January at the age of 79. Per Wilson's son (via TMZ), the actor died of complications from cancer.

Wilson's claim to fame was the role of Lamont Sanford, son of Redd Foxx's Fred Sanford, on "Sanford and Son." The show ran for six seasons from 1972 to 1977, and Wilson held the role of Lamont for its entire run. After the series wrapped, Wilson starred as Raymond Ellis in CBS' one-and-done sitcom "Baby... I'm Back!" He then followed that up with "The New Odd Couple," ABC's 1982 remake of "The Odd Couple," with Wilson playing Oscar Madison opposite Ron Glass' Felix Unger; the show ran for just one season.

Wilson's other TV credits included episodes of "The Love Boat" and "Girlfriends." More recently, he co-starred in "Eleanor's Bench," a six-episode drama led by Karen Abercrombie and Cameron Arnett.

James Van Der Beek

James Van Der Beek, who rose to fame as the title character on late-'90s teen drama "Dawson's Creek," died in February, just over a year after sharing his colorectal cancer diagnosis. He was 48.

For six seasons, Van Der Beek played aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery on The WB's "Dawson's Creek," which ran from 1998 to 2003 on the network. After that series concluded, Van Der Beek's TV work included "Don't Trust the B— in Apt. 23" (where he played a heightened version of himself), "CSI: Cyber," "One Tree Hill," "Pose," and the children's series "Vampirina," where he voiced Boris. He was also set to recur in Prime Video's upcoming "Legally Blonde" prequel series, "Elle"; TVLine has reached out to reps for the series regarding Van Der Beek's appearances as high school superintendent Dean Wilson.

On the film side, Van Der Beek's memorable credits included "Varsity Blues" and "The Rules of Attraction."

Robert Duvall

Oscar-winning film legend Robert Duvall died in February at the age of 95.

"To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything," Duvall's wife, Luciana, said in a statement. "His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all."

Though Duvall got his start on television — he appeared in episodes of such 1960s classics as "The Defenders," "The Fugitive," "The Outer Limits," and "The Twilight Zone" — he was better known for his work in film, namely the defining role of consigliere Tom Hagen in 1972's "The Godfather." He earned his first Oscar nomination for that portrayal, then went on to pick up five more nominations and one win (for "Tender Mercies") throughout his career. He's also remembered for his roles as Boo Radley in "To Kill a Mockingbird," Frank Hackett in "Network," and Lt. Col. William "Bill" Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now," among many others.

Eric Dane

Actor Eric Dane, best known for his roles on "Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria," died in February at the age of 53. He had previously shared his ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) diagnosis in April 2025.

Dane's breakout TV role was that of Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," a character he played from 2006 to 2012 before returning for a single episode in 2021. He also led TNT's action drama "The Last Ship" for five seasons and played Cal, the father of Jacob Elordi's Nate Jacobs, on HBO's "Euphoria."

Dane's TV work also included episodes of "The Fixer," "Las Vegas," "Charmed," "Gideon's Crossing," and, more recently, Prime Video's one-and-done "Countdown." Just months before his death, he appeared in an episode of NBC's "Brilliant Minds" as a character with ALS. Dane also appeared in such films as "X-Men: The Last Stand," "Marley & Me," "Valentine's Day," "Burlesque," and "Bad Boys: Ride or Die."

Robert Carradine

Robert Carradine, an actor who broke out in the "Revenge of the Nerds" film franchise and later played the title character's dad on "Lizzie McGuire," died by suicide in February. He was 71.

Following appearances in films like "Mean Streets," "Coming Home," and "The Long Riders," Carradine starred as nerd Lewis Skolnick in the 1984 comedy "Revenge of the Nerds," which ultimately spawned three sequels (the final two of which aired as TV movies). Carradine later teamed up with his "Revenge of the Nerds" co-star Curtis Armstrong to host the TBS reality competition "King of the Nerds," which premiered in 2013 and ran for three seasons.

Younger TV fans likely knew Carradine best as Lizzie's dad, Sam, on the Disney Channel series "Lizzie McGuire," a role he later reprised in 2003's "The Lizzie McGuire Movie." His other TV credits included guest appearances on shows like "ER," "NYPD Blue," and "The Practice."

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Todd Meadows

"Deadliest Catch" deckhand Todd Meadows died in February while Season 22 of the Discovery Channel reality series was being filmed. He was 25.

Meadows worked on the Alaskan crab fishing vessel the Aleutian Lady, but the exact nature of his death was not reported at the time. Production on Season 22 has since concluded.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows," a Discovery Channel spokesperson said in a statement. "This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time."

Aleutian Lady captain Rick Shelford added that Meadows' death was "the most tragic day" in the vessel's history. "Todd's love for his children, his family, and his life was evident in everything he did," he said. "He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him. Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can't fully express."

Kiki Shepard

Kiki Shepard, best known on the small screen as co-host of the "Showtime at the Apollo" variety show, died in March at the age of 74. Per Shepard's publicist, her cause of death was a heart attack.

Shepard served as "Showtime at the Apollo" co-host from 1987 to 2002, appearing alongside a roster of emcees that included Steve Harvey, Sinbad, Mo'Nique, Rudy Rush, Mark Curry, and Rick Aviles. Her television work also included appearances on shows like "A Different World," "Everybody Hates Chris," "Grey's Anatomy," "NYPD Blue," and "Yes, Dear."

She was also a professional dancer throughout her entertainment career. In addition to serving as a charter member of the D.C. Repertory Dance Company while at Howard University, she later appeared in Broadway productions including "Bubbling Brown Sugar," "Comin' Uptown," and "Porgy and Bess."

Chuck Norris

Actor and martial arts enthusiast Chuck Norris died in March at the age of 86. Though the circumstances of Norris' death were kept private by his family, his loved ones said in a statement that he was "surrounded by his family and was at peace" at the time of his passing.

Norris' acting career began in the late 1960s and included films like "Missing in Action," "The Sidekicks," and "The Expendables 2." But to television fans, he was best known for the role of Cordell Walker in the CBS action drama "Walker, Texas Ranger," which ran for nine seasons from 1993 to 2001. (The show was later rebooted by The CW in 2021, with Jared Padalecki in the lead role.)

"While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and for the unforgettable moments we were blessed to share with him," Norris' family's statement continued. "The love and support he received from fans around the world meant so much to him, and our family is truly thankful for it. To him, you were not just fans, you were his friends."

Nicholas Brendon

Nicholas Brendon, best known for playing Xander Harris on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," died in March at the age of 54. According to a statement from his family, Brendon passed away in his sleep of natural causes.

"While it's no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing," the statement read. "Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart. Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support."

Brendon appeared as witty outcast Xander in all but one episode of "Buffy" during its seven seasons, which aired on The WB and UPN from 1997 to 2003. After "Buffy," Brendon co-starred with Bradley Cooper in the short-lived Fox series "Kitchen Confidential" and later recurred on the CBS procedural "Criminal Minds" as FBI analyst Kevin Lynch. Additional TV credits included "Private Practice" and "Without a Trace."

Carrie Anne Fleming

Actress Carrie Anne Fleming, whose many TV credits included "Supernatural" and "iZombie," died of breast cancer complications in February. She was 51.

Fleming was best known to TV fans as brain dealer Candy Baker in The CW's "iZombie," who popped up in a recurring capacity throughout the show's five seasons. She also appeared as Bobby Singer's (Jim Beaver) wife in two episodes of The CW's long-running "Supernatural." Her other television credits included "Smallville," "The 4400," "Continuum," "UnREAL," and "Supergirl."

On the film side, Fleming appeared in such movies as "Good Luck Chuck," "Married Life," and "Happy Gilmore."

Patrick Muldoon

Actor Patrick Muldoon died in April after suffering a heart attack. He was 57.

After a string of smaller roles on shows including "Saved by the Bell," "Who's the Boss?" and "Silk Stalkings," Muldoon broke out as aspiring boxer-turned-forensic accountant Austin Reed on the NBC/Peacock soap opera "Days of Our Lives." He originated the role in 1992 and held it through 1995; he later returned as Austin in 2011, then departed the show once more in 2012. In all, Muldoon appeared as Austin in nearly 500 "Days" episodes.

The actor also memorably recurred on Fox's "Melrose Place" as designer Richard Hart, a character that popped up across three of the show's seven seasons. On the silver screen, Muldoon was best known as Zander Barcalow in the 1997 sci-fi film "Starship Troopers."

Darrell Sheets

"Storage Wars" star Darrell Sheets died in April at the age of 67; per the Lake Havasu City Police Department, Sheets appeared to die of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Sheets appeared in 163 episodes of A&E's "Storage Wars" over the course of 13 years. The reality series — which has been on the air since 2010 — follows people who attend auctions at storage lockers and bid on goods they've only been able to assess for five minutes. Sheets' bio on the show's website calls him a "gambler" who'd been attending storage auctions for more than 30 years.

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Donald Gibb

Actor Donald Gibb, best known for playing Frederick Aloysius "Ogre" Palowaski in the "Revenge of the Nerds" franchise, died in May at the age of 71. His son Travis later attributed the death to throat cancer.

Gibb initially played Ogre in the first "Revenge of the Nerds" film in 1984, then reprised the role in the 1987 sequel "Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise" and the 1994 TV movie "Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love." Other major film roles included fighter Ray Jackson in "Bloodsport" (and its sequel "Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite"), Mad Dog in "Meatballs Part II," Mike Conroy in "U.S. Marshals," and Mountain Man Morris in "Durango Kids."

On the small screen, Gibb's most notable work was on the 1984-91 sitcom "1st & Ten," which ran for six seasons on HBO. Other credits included "Step by Step," "The Facts of Life," "The X-Files," "Cheers," and "Seinfeld."

Grizz Chapman

Grizz Chapman, who played Tracy Jordan's friend and bodyguard Grizz on NBC's "30 Rock," died in May at the age of 52. An official cause of death has yet to be reported, though Chapman had battled kidney disease for many years.

Chapman appeared on all seven seasons of "30 Rock," with his Grizz and Kevin Brown's Dot Com serving as Tracy Jordan's (Tracy Morgan) personal protectors and sounding boards during the NBC comedy's 2006-13 run. Other TV credits included "Blue Bloods," "The Blacklist," and "The Good Fight."

James Handy

James Handy, a longtime character actor whose TV credits included "Alias" and "NYPD Blue," died in June after he was stabbed in the chest. He was 81. (Michael Gledhill, the 44-year-old son of Handy's girlfriend, later told police he was responsible for the stabbing; he was charged on one count of murder.)

Handy held dozens of roles over his multi-decade career. On television, he was perhaps best known as Captain Jim Haverill on ABC's "NYPD Blue" (a role he filled for seven episodes) and CIA director Arthur Devlin on ABC's "Alias" (a role he filled for eight episodes). Among his many other TV credits: "The Closer," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Cold Case," "Quantum Leap," "Melrose Place," and "Castle" (pictured above).

On the silver screen, Handy appeared in such films as "Logan," "Top Gun: Maverick," "Unbreakable," and "Guarding Tess."

Anthony Stewart Head

Anthony Stewart Head, who held major roles on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Ted Lasso," died in June due to complications from pneumonia. He was 72.

Head was best known for playing Rupert Giles, Buffy Summers' Watcher and father figure on The WB/UPN's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" — a role he filled for all seven seasons of the show's run and later reprised in the 2023 Audible audio series "Slayers: A Buffyverse Story." More recently, he played the villainous Rupert Mannion — ex-husband of Hannah Waddingham's Rebecca Welton — on Apple TV's "Ted Lasso," where he appeared for the show's first three seasons.

Other TV credits included "Motherland," "Jack Ryan," "Doctor Who," "Galavant," and "Warehouse 13." Head was also a staple of the stage, appearing in such productions as "The Rocky Horror Show" in the West End, "Chess," "Six Degrees of Separation," and "The Heiress."

Gilad Janklowicz

Fitness icon Gilad Janklowicz, whose ESPN show "Bodies in Motion" helped fuel the '80s exercise boom, died in June at the age of 71. A cause of death has yet to be confirmed.

After an injury derailed his Olympic ambitions, Janklowicz — known professionally as "Gilad" — built a loyal following as a fitness instructor in Los Angeles, prompting the creation of his show "Gilad's Bodies in Motion" in 1983. The series featured Gilad and a team of other exercisers demonstrating at-home workout moves on the beaches of Hawaii; it aired on ESPN for more than a decade, then moved to Fox Sports, and now airs on Jewish Life Television (JLTV) to this day.

Gilad also hosted a series of workout videos and DVD sets like 2003's "Gilad's Quick Fit System" and 2007's "Gilad's Ultimate Body Sculpt." He was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame and earned its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

Gene Shalit

Gene Shalit, the mustachioed film critic who shared his movie reviews on NBC's "Today" for four decades, died in June at the age of 100.

Initially a print journalist, Shalit began contributing to "Today" part-time in 1970, then was promoted to a full-time role three years later, standing out from the pack of other movie critics with his frizzy hair, sizable mustache, and pun-filled reviews. He appeared regularly on "Today" — where he also interviewed showbiz icons — until he left the daytime series in 2010. His fame led to appearances on "SpongeBob SquarePants" (as critic "Gene Scallop") and "The Critic," as well.

Ronnie Schell

Character actor Ronnie Schell, who played Pvt. Duke Slater on the CBS sitcom "Gomer Pyle: USMC," died in June of natural causes. He was 94.

"Gomer Pyle: USMC" was an "Andy Griffith Show" spin-off that followed Mayberry's auto mechanic as he joined the Marines. The series ran for a total of five seasons and 150 episodes, but Schell — who played the title character's best friend — left during Season 4 to star in his own CBS sitcom, "Good Morning World." That show was canceled after just 26 episodes, though, and Schell returned to "Gomer Pyle" for its fifth and final season.

Schell's other TV credits included "The Patty Duke Show," "Sanford & Son," "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Mork & Mindy," and "The Love Boat," among others.

Anne Schedeen

Anne Schedeen, best known for playing Kate Tanner on NBC's sitcom "ALF," died in June at the age of 77. A cause of death has not been disclosed.

Schedeen portrayed the Tanner family matriarch for all four seasons of "ALF," which aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990. Prior to that show, Schedeen's first series-regular role was on the ABC primetime soap "Paper Dolls" — based on the 1982 TV movie of the same name — where she played Sara Frank. Other TV work included roles on "Ironside," "The Bionic Woman," "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "Emergency!" and "Judging Amy."

James Burrows

James Burrows, whose prolific TV career included the creation of "Cheers," died in June following a brief illness. He was 85.

Burrows became a legendary TV comedy director over the course of his multi-decade career, which began when he directed four episodes of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." He went on to helm such iconic sitcoms as "Will & Grace" (246 episodes), "Cheers" (236 episodes; he also co-created the show), "Taxi" (75 episodes), "Mike and Molly" (49 episodes), "Frasier" (36 episodes), and "Friends" (15 episodes). He also served as an executive producer on many of those series, as well as "Mid-Century Modern," "Man With a Plan," and others. He was nominated for a total of 48 Primetime Emmys and walked away with 11 trophies.

"Jimmy Burrows was the man behind the curtain. He knew how to make us laugh, what buttons to push, and was the absolute master of getting the most out of every joke," a statement from NBC read upon Burrows' passing. "His loss to the television comedy world is immeasurable. Every time you have a smile on your face watching 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show,' 'Taxi,' 'Cheers,' 'Will & Grace,' 'Friends,' and countless others, think of Jimmy and know he made all our lives funnier."

Daveigh Chase

Actress Daveigh Chase, whose memorable showbiz credits included voicing Lilo in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" franchise, died in June at the age of 35. She reportedly passed away as a result of meningitis and a blood infection.

On the small screen, Chase was perhaps best known for playing schemer Rhonda Volmer on HBO's "Big Love," a role she played from 2006 to 2011. She also appeared in episodes of "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," "Charmed," "ER," and "Touched by an Angel." But she's better recognized for her film work, which included the aforementioned "Lilo & Stitch" movies and spin-off series, as well as the key role of Samara — the terrifying girl in the well — in the 2002 horror flick "The Ring."

Louise Lasser

Actress Louise Lasser, who starred in TV's "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," died of natural causes in July. She was 87.

After stints on shows like "The Bob Newhart Show," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," and "McCloud," Lasser landed the title role in "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," a sendup of daytime soap operas that aired in syndication from January 1976 to July 1977. Afterward, Lasser starred in the second season of long-running comedy "It's a Living" and guest-starred on such series as "Taxi," "Laverne & Shirley," and "St. Elsewhere." More recently, she appeared in three episodes of HBO's "Girls."

Sam Neill

Sam Neill, an actor with notable roles in both TV and film, died in July at the age of 78. His cause of death was later revealed to be pneumonia.

Neill was best known for his work on the silver screen, namely his turn as paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in "Jurassic Park," a role he later reprised in "Jurassic Park III" and "Jurassic World: Dominion." His other film credits included "The Piano," "Event Horizon," "Wimbledon," "The Vow," and "The Horse Whisperer."

On the television side, Neill memorably played the villainous Major Chester Campbell in "Peaky Blinders," as well as Cardinal Wolsey in "The Tudors." More recent small-screen work included "Invasion," "Apples Never Fall," "Untamed," and Australia's "The Twelve."

Theo Burrell

Theo Burrell, who regularly appeared as an expert on the U.K. edition of "Antiques Roadshow," died in July after a four-year battle with brain cancer. She was just 39 years old.

A ceramics and glass connoisseur who worked for Lyon & Turnbull auctioneers in Edinburgh, Burrell debuted as an expert on "Antiques Roadshow" in 2018, appraising the worth of objects brought in by everyday people. She also worked as an advocate for other brain cancer patients, serving as a patron of the U.K. charity Brain Tumour Research.

Scott Bryce

Actor Scott Bryce, best known for his work on the CBS soap opera "As the World Turns," died in July at the age of 68, following a long battle with cancer.

Bryce played Craig Montgomery on "As the World Turns" (opposite Meg Ryan as Betsy Stewart) for nearly 300 episodes, earning back-to-back Daytime Emmy nominations for Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1986 and 1987. Later, he co-starred on Ryan Murphy's two-season WB series "Popular," playing the father of Leslie Bibb's Brooke.

Other TV credits included "The Facts of Life," "The Golden Girls," "Murphy Brown," "Homicide: Life on the Street," "30 Rock," "Reba," and "The Good Fight," among many others.

Wai Ching Ho

Wai Ching Ho, best known to television fans for playing Madame Gao in multiple Marvel TV series, died in July after reportedly suffering a stroke. She was 82.

The actress appeared as Madame Gao in Netflix's "Daredevil," "Iron Fist," and "The Defenders." Other TV work included roles in "Fresh Off the Boat," "Only Murders in the Building," "Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens," "New Amsterdam," and multiple "Law & Order" series.

Hal Williams

Actor Hal Williams, known for his turns on the NBC classics "227" and "Sanford and Son," died in July at the age of 91. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

After starting out with guest roles on shows like "Gunsmoke," "That Girl," and the original "Kung Fu," Williams memorably recurred as Officer "Smitty" Smith throughout all six seasons of the NBC sitcom "Sanford and Son," later reprising the role on the short-lived offshoot "Sanford." He then co-starred in all five seasons of fellow NBC comedy "227," where he played Lester Jenkins, husband of Marla Gibbs' Mary and father of Regina King's Brenda.

Other TV credits included the short-lived Fox comedy "The Sinbad Show" (his final series-regular role), "Moesha," "L.A. Law," "Moonlight," and "Parks and Recreation."

Vincent Pastore

Vincent Pastore, best known to TV audiences for his role as mobster Salvatore "Big Pu**y" Bonpensiero on HBO's "The Sopranos," died of natural causes in August. He was 80.

Prior to "The Sopranos," Pastore held small roles in the mob films "Goodfellas," "Men of Respect," and "Carlito's Way," plus a role in HBO's 1996 TV movie "Gotti." But his turn as Big Pu**y in David Chase's "Sopranos," the lifelong friend of Tony Soprano who was later revealed to be an FBI informant, would be Pastore's defining role. His character was killed off after 26 episodes, but Pastore returned for four additional guest appearances in the sixth and final season. Afterward, his TV résumé included guest stints on shows like "Blue Bloods," "Everybody Hates Chris," "The Practice," and "Wu-Tang: An American Saga"; he had most recently lent his voice to a Season 3 episode of Showtime's "Yellowjackets."

Ben Jones

Actor Ben Jones, best known for playing mechanic Cooter Davenport on CBS' "The Dukes of Hazzard," died of a heart attack in August. He was 84.

Jones played Cooter — an honorary Duke — on all seven seasons of "The Dukes of Hazzard," which ran from 1979 to 1985. He later reprised the role in the TV movies "Reunion!" (1997) and "Hazzard in Hollywood" (2000). Additional TV credits included "As the World Turns," "Sliders," "Dallas," and "CBS Summer Playhouse."

Hayden Panettiere

Hayden Panettiere, whose acting career included memorable roles on "Heroes" and "Nashville," died in August at the age of 36. A cause of death has yet to be confirmed.

Panettiere was just 4 years old when she booked her first major role as Sarah Roberts on the ABC soap opera "One Life to Live." She followed that up with CBS' "Guiding Light," where she played Lizzie Spaulding for nearly 50 episodes. Her most notable TV credits, though, were the NBC sci-fi drama "Heroes" (where she played indestructible cheerleader Claire Bennet from 2006 to 2010) and the ABC-turned-CMT musical drama "Nashville" (where she starred as country singer Juliette Barnes from 2012 to 2018). Other appearances included episodes of "Touched by an Angel," "Ally McBeal," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," and "Malcolm in the Middle."

The actress also held several film roles over the years, first breaking out in the sports drama "Remember the Titans," where she played the young daughter of Will Patton's Coach Yoast. Later credits included "Ice Princess," "Bring It On: All or Nothing," "Raising Helen," and the "Scream" horror movie franchise, in which she played Kirby Reed in the fourth and sixth installments.

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