Last Days

On February 19, 2026, Eric Dane — the charismatic actor whose striking presence and emotional depth made him a fan favorite on television — died at 53 following a courageous battle with ALS. Best known for his roles as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy and Cal Jacobs on HBO’s Euphoria, Dane built a career defined by complex performances that blended confidence, vulnerability, and intensity, earning him a lasting place in modern TV drama. Even as ALS progressively limited his strength,
Dane continued working and became an advocate for awareness and research, facing his diagnosis with candor and resilience — a final act of determination that deepened the legacy he leaves behind.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman
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On November 24, 1991, Freddie Mercury — the electrifying frontman of Queen whose operatic voice and theatrical brilliance redefined rock stardom — died at the age of 45 from complications related to AIDS, just one day after publicly confirming his diagnosis. With towering anthems like Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are the Champions, Somebody to Love, and We Will Rock You, Mercury helped transform Queen into one of the most innovative and globally beloved bands in music history, blending hard rock, glam, opera, and pop into something entirely their own. His four-octave vocal range, magnetic stage presence, and fearless individuality shattered conventions and expanded what a rock performer could be. His death, coming at a time when the AIDS crisis was still shrouded in stigma and silence, marked the end of one of music’s most extraordinary voices — but cemented a legacy that continues to echo across generations.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman
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In this Look Back episode of Last Days, we revisit the life and final moments of Aaliyah, the groundbreaking R&B singer whose tragic plane crash shocked the world and left a lasting impact on music that still resonates today.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman

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On February 11, 2026, James Van Der Beek — the actor whose emotional vulnerability helped define a generation of teen television — died at the age of 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer. Rising to fame as Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek became the earnest, introspective face of late-1990s youth culture, anchoring a series that reshaped the teen drama with its sincerity, ambition, and unapologetic heart. He carried that momentum into films like Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction, later reinventing himself with self-aware comedic turns in Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 and dramatic roles like CSI: Cyber, proving a rare ability to evolve beyond early stardom. His death closes the chapter on a career that spanned three decades — one marked by reinvention, resilience, and an indelible imprint on pop culture that continues to resonate with the generation that grew up watching him dream from a dock in Capeside.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman
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On August 9, 1969, Sharon Tate — the luminous young actress and rising star of Hollywood’s new generation — was brutally murdered at the age of 26 in one of the most shocking crimes in American history. A symbol of 1960s glamour and promise, Tate embodied a fresh, modern screen presence: playful, stylish, and effortlessly charismatic. From her breakout performance in Valley of the Dolls to memorable roles in Eye of the Devil and The Fearless Vampire Killers, Tate’s career was cut tragically short just as she was emerging as a major talent, leaving behind a legacy defined as much by her unrealized potential as by the cultural rupture her death came to represent.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman
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