The year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026
Summary
Several influential people have died in 2026, including U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and aviation pioneer Wally Funk. The article lists notable figures from various fields who passed away in the first half of the year.Key Facts
- Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican known for his political flexibility, died from a tear in his aorta in July 2026.
- Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer and the oldest woman to fly in space at age 82, also died in July 2026.
- Funk had trained as an astronaut in the 1960s in the Mercury 13 program but was not allowed to become a professional astronaut at that time.
- Other notable July 2026 deaths include former Qatari ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, singer Bonnie Tyler, former CIA director R. James Woolsey, cricketer Garry Sobers, and actor Sam Neill.
- Influential people who died earlier in 2026 include Diane Crump, the first female jockey in the Kentucky Derby, and Aldrich Ames, a CIA officer who betrayed U.S. intelligence.
- The article also mentions several entertainers, athletes, and cultural figures who passed away in January 2026.
- The list covers people from diverse backgrounds and professions, including politics, sports, intelligence, music, and film.
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