Dennis Hastert: key obituary facts
Is Dennis Hastert dead? Yes. Dennis Hastert died on October 5, 2026, at age 84.
Cause of death: Dennis Hastert's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Dennis Hastert known for?
He was an American politician (born 1942).
More about Dennis Hastert
Born: 2 January 1942.
Place of birth: Aurora.
Gender: male.
Occupation: politician, teacher, coach, businessperson, lobbyist.
Nationality: United States.
Education: Wheaton College, Northern Illinois University, Oswego High School.
Employer: Yorkville Community Unit School District 115, Dickstein Shapiro.
Awards: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown, Dr. Nathan Davis Award for United States Representatives, Commander's Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, honorary citizen of Vilnius.
Also known as: Denny Hastert, John Dennis Hastert, John Dennis "Denny" Hastert.
Dennis Hastert, the American politician who served in the U.S.
House of Representatives from 1987 to 2007 and as speaker from 1999 to 2007, died October 5, 2026, aged 84. A Republican from Illinois, he represented the state’s 14th Congressional District and became the sixth longest-serving speaker in House history and the longest-serving Republican in that post.
Born John Dennis Hastert in Aurora, Illinois, he worked as a high school teacher and wrestling coach before entering electoral politics, and he later held roles as a businessperson and lobbyist. His career ended under the shadow of a 2016 federal sentence for financial offenses connected to efforts to conceal past sexual misconduct.