Actors who Died of Cancer

Cancer has taken the lives of many gifted performers from every era of film and television. Their work shaped genres, launched cultural touchstones, and left characters that audiences still revisit and quote today. While each story is different, the path from diagnosis to legacy often includes quiet battles, public advocacy, and a determination to keep working as long as possible.

This list looks at male actors whose deaths were caused by cancer, highlighting the cancer types involved, key milestones in their careers, and the ways their legacies continue. You’ll find signature roles, major awards, and notable projects, along with brief details about treatment journeys and posthumous tributes that keep their names alive.

Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020) died from complications of colon cancer after a private four-year fight. He continued working through surgeries and chemotherapy, delivering lead performances in ‘Black Panther’, ‘Marshall’, ’21 Bridges’, and ‘Da 5 Bloods’, and earned a posthumous Best Actor nomination for ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’.

His death at age 43 drew global attention to colorectal cancer risk and screening, especially for younger adults and communities of color. The character of T’Challa became a cultural landmark, and colleagues established scholarships and foundations in his name while ‘Black Panther’ was continued without recasting his role.

Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze (1952–2009) died of pancreatic cancer after publicly discussing his diagnosis and treatment. He remained active professionally, appearing in television work and developing projects while managing the disease.

Swayze’s career spanned dance-driven hits and action films, including ‘Dirty Dancing’, ‘Ghost’, ‘Point Break’, and ‘Road House’. His candor about symptoms and clinical trials helped increase awareness of pancreatic cancer’s aggressive course and the importance of early detection research.

Paul Newman

Paul Newman (1925–2008) died of lung cancer. Beyond acting, he built a far-reaching philanthropic legacy through Newman’s Own and serious support for pediatric medical camps, directing profits to charity.

Newman’s filmography includes ‘The Hustler’, ‘Cool Hand Luke’, ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’, and ‘The Color of Money’, for which he won an Academy Award. His final years combined selective screen work with racing, philanthropy, and advocacy that continues to fund medical and community programs.

Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen (1930–1980) died from mesothelioma, a cancer often associated with asbestos exposure. He pursued both conventional and alternative treatments and underwent surgery in Mexico near the end of his life.

Known as the “King of Cool,” McQueen led box-office hits such as ‘Bullitt’, ‘The Great Escape’, and ‘The Towering Inferno’. His mesothelioma case remains one of the most cited celebrity examples used in public health education about occupational exposure risks.

John Wayne

John Wayne (1907–1979) died of stomach cancer after an earlier, separate bout with lung cancer years before. He underwent multiple surgeries and publicly encouraged cancer screenings, becoming a prominent figure in cancer awareness.

Wayne’s roles in ‘True Grit’, ‘The Searchers’, and numerous Westerns defined a screen archetype for decades. A cancer research institute bearing his name has supported clinical and surgical innovation, extending his influence well beyond film.

Yul Brynner

Yul Brynner (1920–1985) died of lung cancer. Before his death he recorded a message that was later used in an anti-smoking public service announcement, urging viewers to avoid tobacco.

Brynner won an Academy Award for his portrayal in ‘The King and I’ and starred in epics like ‘The Ten Commandments’ as well as the science-fiction landmark ‘Westworld’. His posthumous PSA became a widely referenced example of celebrity-driven public health communication.

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957) died from esophageal cancer. He underwent surgery and radiation therapy, but the disease progressed and significantly affected his health in his final year.

Bogart’s legacy includes ‘Casablanca’, ‘The Maltese Falcon’, and ‘The African Queen’. His case is frequently cited in discussions of esophageal cancer risk factors and symptom recognition, helping bring attention to head-and-neck oncology.

Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman (1946–2016) died of pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis he had kept private while continuing selective creative projects. He was also a stage director and an advocate for arts education.

Rickman’s screen work ranged from ‘Die Hard’ and ‘Sense and Sensibility’ to the ‘Harry Potter’ films, where he portrayed Severus Snape. His papers, performances, and diaries have been used to study craft, production histories, and the working lives of modern British actors.

John Hurt

John Hurt (1940–2017) died of pancreatic cancer after announcing treatment and a period of remission. He continued acting, including screen and voice roles, during and after therapy.

His credits include ‘The Elephant Man’, ‘Alien’, ‘1984’, and ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’. Hurt’s career is often discussed in film studies for its range across genre cinema and literary adaptations, with his cancer journey underscoring the realities of long careers intersecting with serious illness.

Andy Whitfield

Andy Whitfield (1971–2011) died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma after an 18-month illness. Cast as the lead in ‘Spartacus: Blood and Sand’, he was diagnosed following the first season, paused work for treatment in Australia, and later withdrew from the series on medical advice.

His death prompted an outpouring from colleagues and fans, and the production documented his journey in the feature ‘Be Here Now’ (The Andy Whitfield Story). The show continued with a prequel and a new lead, while his case drew wider attention to lymphoma symptoms, treatment options, and the importance of timely specialist care.

Telly Savalas

Telly Savalas (1922–1994) died of bladder cancer. He received treatment in the final months of his life while continuing to make limited public appearances.

Savalas is widely recognized for the television series ‘Kojak’ and for film roles in ‘The Dirty Dozen’ and ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. His distinctive persona and long-running TV success made his illness and passing a focal point for media coverage of urologic cancers.

Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor (1952–2020) died from leukemia after extended treatment in New York and a return to Mumbai. He spoke intermittently about recovery and setbacks while receiving care.

A leading figure in Hindi cinema, his work spans ‘Bobby’, ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’, ‘Karz’, and later character roles that earned critical praise. His illness brought attention in India to hematologic cancers, international treatment pathways, and the importance of follow-up care.

Richard Harris

Richard Harris (1930–2002) died of Hodgkin’s disease. He was hospitalized in his final weeks but remained attached to projects until shortly before his death.

Harris’s career covered stage and screen, including ‘This Sporting Life’, ‘Camelot’, ‘Gladiator’, and the first two ‘Harry Potter’ films, in which he originated the role of Albus Dumbledore. His passing required a high-profile recasting and is often noted in discussions of continuity planning on major franchises.

Peter Cushing

Peter Cushing (1913–1994) died of prostate cancer. He had a long association with British horror cinema and continued to appear at conventions and retrospectives late in life.

Cushing’s notable roles include Van Helsing in ‘Horror of Dracula’ and Grand Moff Tarkin in ‘Star Wars’. His archives, interviews, and memoirs are frequently used in studies of mid-century British film production and genre history.

Alec Guinness

Alec Guinness (1914–2000) died of liver cancer. He received treatment near his home and stepped back from public life in his final months.

Guinness starred in ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’, ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’, and ‘Star Wars’. His career demonstrates a rare span from Ealing comedies to global franchises, and his illness and passing are part of retrospectives on postwar British acting traditions.

If there’s an actor you feel should be included, share your thoughts—and the roles you remember them for—in the comments.