Notable Deaths in 2026

Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the USC Symphony at Bovard Hall, at his alma mater USC, Oct. 5, 2009. | Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times via A look back at the esteemed personalities who left us this year, who touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity. By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan. The Associated Press contributed to this gallery. For conductor and composer Michael Tilson Thomas (Dec. 21, 1944-April 22, 2026), known for his swashbuckling charm at the podium, performing was in his blood. His paternal grandparents, Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky, were considered the "Burton and Taylor" of Yiddish theater. But while he was surrounded by art and music from birth, and received lessons at an early age from the likes of Igor Stravinksy and Jascha Heifitz, the prodigy said his parents did not want him to go into the performing arts; they encouraged him to become a scientist instead. But in high school, he found his true calling when his music teacher failed to make class one day. Thomas put down his oboe and picked up the conductor's baton. He discovered he preferred being the orchestral leader. "I didn't like practicing very much," he told "Sunday Morning" in 2025 . "And I could get very good results as a conductor very quickly." At 25 he made his New York debut when he took over for an ailing conductor at a Boston Symphony concert. …