10 Celebrity Deaths That Shook Us in July 2026

In July 2026, we had to say goodbye to several stars from the worlds of music, film, and sports. These 10 losses particularly shook us last month.

Just a few weeks after emergency surgery for a perforated bowel, Bonnie Tyler died in the hospital in early July 2026 at the age of 75. The Welsh singer had been in and out of a coma in May; her condition initially improved before the news of her death was announced. With songs like “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” her voice will never be forgotten.

At just 18 years old, deaf actress Kaylee Hottle died following a car accident in late July 2026, her father announced. According to him, her heart stopped beating on the way to the hospital. She became known for her role in “Godzilla vs. Kong.”

The film world is mourning the loss of Sam Neill, who died in Sydney at the age of 78, surrounded by his family. According to his official Instagram account, his death was sudden, though his family emphasized that Neill had been cancer-free until the very end. The cause of death was pneumonia. He became world-famous as Dr. Alan Grant in “Jurassic Park”; in 2023, he had publicly disclosed his diagnosis of a rare form of blood cancer.

Kris Jenner’s mother, Mary Jo Shannon, died on July 16, 2026, at the age of 91, just a few days before her 92nd birthday. Kris Jenner called her mother the heart of the family on Instagram, while Kim Kardashian described her grandmother as her safe haven. For years, Shannon appeared on the shows “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and “The Kardashians.”

In 1990, Brenda Fricker became the first Irish actress to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “My Left Foot.” She died at the age of 81, according to her agent. She was also remembered by a wide audience as the “Pigeon Lady” from “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”; most recently, she published her memoir, “She Died Young.”

Johannes Krisch, a versatile character actor, died in Vienna at the age of 59, according to a statement from the Theater in der Josefstadt. For many years, he was a member of the Burgtheater and the Theater in der Josefstadt, and he played memorable roles in the series “Braunschlag,” several episodes of “Tatort,” and the 2008 Oscar-nominated drama “Revanche.” He most recently appeared in the film “Märzengrund”; he had been battling health issues for some time prior to his death.

Also in July, Irish musician and actor Glen Hansard died at the age of 56 in a motorcycle accident in Dublin. According to Irish police, the accident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on the R109 Lower Road; Hansard was riding alone and was pronounced dead at the scene. He had once performed as a street musician with the band The Frames before gaining worldwide fame through the film “Once” and the Oscar-winning song “Falling Slowly.”

French DJ and producer Kavinsky, whose real name was Vincent Belorgey, was found dead in his Paris apartment at the age of 50. The public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation to determine the cause of death. He gained international fame in 2010 with the track “Nightcall,” which gained widespread exposure through the film “Drive” and was played at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Six league titles and three Champions League victories defined the career of Franco Baresi, who played exclusively for AC Milan and appeared in more than 700 competitive matches. He died at the age of 66, as reported by t-online.de, after the club had initially denied reports of his death. Baresi won the World Cup with Italy in 1982 and was named European Footballer of the Year in 1990.