The Stars That Stayed With Us
Media clipped from abc7chicago.com
Right off the bat, 2026 has become a year of loss and remembrance for many influential individuals in film, television, music, and sports. From pop hitmakers to comedy legends, these stars have shaped popular culture over the decades, leaving lasting legacies in their industries and among their countless fans.
The Grace Church community is full of film lovers, and many mourned these celebrity deaths after they became publicized. Some of these actors were childhood favorites, others inspired personal passions, and others were simply familiar faces people were sad to see go.
One of the most recent deaths was actor James Van Der Beek, who passed on February 11, 2026 at 48 years old after battling colorectal cancer. Most know Van Der Beek from playing the main character Dawson Leery in the 1990s hit television show Dawson’s Creek. The series ran for six seasons over five years and was one of the most successful shows among teenagers and young adults in the 90s, and is still popular today. “He was one of my favorite side characters in How I Met Your Mother,” said Audrey W. ‘27. “He was so funny.”
Another unfortunate loss in Hollywood was actress and comedy legend, Catherine O’Hara. O’Hara died at 71 years old on February 11, 2026, after suffering from a pulmonary embolism. Not many expected O’Hara’s death to be heartbreaking to so many different age groups due to her wide range of roles. Young adults and even a much older audience reacted to her passing, as she had initially gained significant fame for her role as Kevin’s mother in the timeless classics Home Alone 1 and 2. “O’Hara was iconic,” said Olivia S. ‘27. “The original Beetlejuice was one of my childhood favorites.”
The film industry also said its goodbyes to Robert Duvall, whose passing is controversial, as there is much speculation as to his real cause of death. Duvall died at 95, and he appeared in some of the most famous American films, including The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. Both of these films had very different yet huge impacts on Hollywood and their audiences. These two films will never die, and they will carry on Duvall’s legacy for years to come.
Other notable deaths include Eric Dane, who passed immediately after wrapping Season 3 of Euphoria, and many other famous actors who suspiciously played mafia bosses… Could there be some secret meaning there? Many more deaths still need to be investigated, but as we know, many incredible stars passed too soon due to medical emergencies.
To all who have passed, the Grace Church community thanks you for being the stars we looked up to from childhood or discovered recently, and for leaving such a lasting impression in so little time. Bari E. ‘27 shares a closing thought: “We will miss all of these stars who shaped our childhood and current lives.”
Olivia C. ‘27, the author, is a Staff Writer and Podcast Director for the Grace Gazette.