Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reported at Legacy.com
in the fourth week of February, 2026. Visit Legacy.com to read full obituaries for most
of the people featured in this video, and leave your own condolences on their Legacy page.
Football player Mike Wagner died February 18, 2026, at the age of 76.
He was a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a member of their formidable
"Steel Curtain" defense of the 1970s. Wagner is being remembered for winning four
Super Bowls with the Steelers, and for going to the Pro Bowl twice.
Actor Eric Dane died February 19, 2026, of complications from ALS at the age of 53.
He starred in "Grey's Anatomy" as Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan,
and he had many other memorable roles in TV shows and movies like "Euphoria," "Charmed," "X-Men:
The Last Stand," and "Marley & Me." Dane is also being remembered as a prominent
advocate for ALS awareness and research. He worked to fundraise and increase visibility
of the disease, and he was honored by the ALS Network as Advocate of the Year in 2025.
Artist Isaiah Zagar died February 19, 2026, at his home in Philadelphia.
He died of complications from Parkinson's disease and heart failure at the age of 86.
He was best known for his mosaic art in Philadelphia, especially his Magic Gardens,
a sprawling installation that cobbles together colorful glass and ceramics,
discarded objects, and lines of verse. Zagar is being remembered for adding
quirky beauty to cities around the country with his mosaics.
Baseball player Bill Mazeroski died February 20, 2026, in Landsdale,
Pennsylvania at the age of 89. Affectionately known as “Maz,” he was a
10-time All-Star with the Pittsburgh Pirates whose walk-off home run in the 1960 World Series secured
a victory against the New York Yankees. Mazeroski is also being remembered for
his defensive prowess, winning eight Gold Gloves at second base.
Musician Willie Colón died February 21, 2026, in Bronxville, New York.
He died at the age of 75 after being hospitalized for breathing problems.
Often promoted as “El Malo,” he is known for his 1978 collaboration with Rubén Blades,
“Siembra,” one of the top selling salsa albums of all time.
Colón is being remembered as a Grammy-winning innovator of salsa, and as a member of the
Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.
2026, by suicide after fighting bipolar disorder at the age of 71.
He was well known for starring in all four of the "Revenge of the Nerds" films,
playing Lewis Skolnick, a leader of a group of misfits who form a fraternity.
Carradine is also being remembered for his role in the Disney Channel series "Lizzie
McGuire" and "The Lizzie McGuire Movie," in which he portrayed Lizzie's dad.
Football player Rondale Moore died February 21, 2026, in New Albany,
Indiana. He died by suicide at the age of 25. He was a wide receiver with the Arizona Cardinals
and Atlanta Falcons, then spent the 2025 season with the Minnesota Vikings.
Moore is also being remembered for his college career at Purdue, where he was widely honored,
including being named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2018.
Basketball player Kara Braxton died February 21, 2026, in Cobb County, Georgia. She
died in a car accident at the age of 43. She was a WNBA star of the 2000s and 2010s who
won two championships with the Detroit Shock. Braxton is also being remembered for her seasons
with the New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury.
Football player Ronyell Whitaker died February 22, 2026, at the age of 46.
He was a cornerback for such NFL teams as the Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
as well as in NFL Europe and the Canadian Football League.
Whitaker is being remembered for playing college football at Virginia Tech,
where he was an All-American and was ranked among the top cornerbacks in the U.S.
A note to remember: Sometimes, personal information – such as someone's cause of
death – is not announced immediately by their family or the authorities. When a
cause of death has not been officially confirmed,
we do not report on rumors. Every family has a right to their privacy.
Actress Lauren Chapin died February 24, 2026, after fighting cancer at the age of 80.
She was a child star of the 1950s, best known for playing Kathy "Kitten" Anderson,
the youngest daughter on "Father Knows Best." Chapin is being remembered for overcoming
a difficult young life to become a talent manager and a minister.
Composer Éliane Radigue died February 23, 2026, in Paris. She died of
complications from a fall at the age of 94. She became known for her electronic compositions:
minimalist drones that sent waves of sound washing over the listener.
Radigue is being remembered as a pioneer of electronic music, who expanded the
boundaries of composition.
died February 23, 2026, at his home in Las Vegas. He died of
complications from COPD at the age of 86. Performing with Disco Tex & His Sex-Lettes,
he had disco hits in the '70s with "Get Dancin'" and "I Wanna Dance Wit' Choo (Doo Dat Dance)."
Rock is also being remembered as a frequent talk show guest and for his cameo as the DJ
in "Saturday Night Fever."
OIiver "Power" Grant died February 23, 2026, at the age of 52.
He was closely associated with the hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan – he funded their debut,
and he was a producer on platinum albums like "Wu-Tang Forever" and "The W."
Grant is also being remembered for launching the groundbreaking Wu Wear clothing line,
and for appearing in the movies "Belly" and "Black and White."
One thing we’ve learned here at Legacy is that real history is happening all around us,
all the time, in regular people’s lives. February is Black History Month,
and here are just a handful of the real, local people whose families have commemorated their
life stories at Legacy.com recently: This 96-year-old great-great-grandfather
and Marine Corps veteran, who was the very first Black mailman in his Tennessee hometown...
This beloved grade school and Sunday school teacher,
who went on to become the first Black female principal in the Columbus Public Schools...
And this Florida father, grandfather, and U.S. Army veteran whose family commemorates
him as the first black Wildlife Officer in the state of Florida.
At Legacy.com, ANY family can publish an obituary in honor of a loved one’s memory, online and
in local newspapers everywhere. Just visit Legacy.com, and select your local community.
In addition to featuring current deaths in the news, Legacy.com also honors the lives and
legacies of notable people who died in the past. Here are some of this week’s anniversaries.
One year ago this week, singer and pianist Roberta Flack died at the age of 88. Her
beloved hit songs of the '70s and '80s include "Killing Me Softly with His Song,"
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," and "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love."
Twenty years ago this week, President Gerald Ford died at the age of 93. He was the 38th
president of the United States, as well as the former vice president and a longtime
member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Twenty years ago this week, actor Don Knotts died
at the age of 81. He was a comedic great in "The Andy Griffith Show," "Three's Company,"
"The Incredible Mr. Limpet," and many more. Twenty-three years ago this week, TV host and
minister Fred Rogers died at the age of 74. He was the beloved host of "Mister Rogers'
Neighborhood," where he taught generations of children kindness, empathy, and self-worth.
Fifty years ago this week, singer Florence Ballard died at the age of 32. She was a
founding member of the Supremes, singing on hits like "Baby Love" and "Where Did Our Love Go."
Every week in the United States, flags are lowered to half-staff to honor the
lives of Americans whose communities are mourning their loss. Here are the
most recent half-staff memorial flag honors.
Flags in Nebraska have been lowered to honor the memory of Omaha business
and civic leader Mike Yanney. Flags in Alabama have been lowered to
honor the memory of former Bibb County Sheriff George Hardy Fleming Sr.
Flags in Maryland have been lowered in recognition of Civil Rights Heroes Day.
Flags in Arizona have been lowered to honor the memory
of Arizona Department of Public Safety State Trooper-Paramedic
Hunter R. Bennett and Pilot/Air Rescue Aviation Supervisor Robert B. Skankey,
both of whom died in the line of duty. Flags in Florida have been lowered to
honor the memory of former state representative Terry Fields.
Flags in Indiana have been lowered to honor the memory of Beech Grove Officer Brian Elliott,
who died in the line of duty. Flags in multiple states across the
U.S. are being lowered to honor the memory of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson.
Flags in Virginia have been lowered to honor the memory of Delegate Barry Knight.
You can read more about the lives of the people featured in this video on Legacy.com.
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