🏛️World Leaders & Politicians

Barney Frank

American · 86 years old · Died 22 January 2026

U.S. Congressman, co-author of the Dodd-Frank Act

Cause of death

Heart failure

Barney Frank served in the U.S. House of Representatives for over 30 years and was one of the first openly gay members of Congress. He co-authored the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act after the 2008 financial crisis — one of the most sweeping pieces of financial regulation in a generation. He died at 86 from heart failure.

How common is cardiovascular disease?

Barney Frank died of heart failure. Globally, cardiovascular disease kills 18,600,000 people every year — that is 50,959 per day, or roughly one person every 2 seconds. It accounts for 30% of all deaths worldwide.

Deaths / year

18,600,000

Deaths / day

50,959

Deaths / hour

2,123

Deaths / second

0.59

Share of all global deaths

30%

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease

High blood pressure
Smoking
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Unhealthy diet

Since Barney Frank died

Live count since 22 January 2026

Total deaths worldwide since then

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Deaths from same cause since then

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Other notable deaths in 2026