Key Takeaways:
- The entertainment industry lost many iconic figures in 2025, including David Lynch, Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, Ozzy Osbourne, and Hulk Hogan.
- The year saw the passing of legendary musicians such as Brian Wilson, Sly Stone, and Valerie Mahaffey.
- Actors and actresses who died in 2025 include Diane Keaton, Robert Redford, and Loretta Swit.
- The world of music was also impacted by the loss of iconic figures such as Roy Ayers, D’Wayne Wiggins, and Rick Derringer.
- Other notable deaths in 2025 included filmmakers, writers, and personalities from various fields, leaving a significant void in the entertainment industry.
Introduction to the Year’s Losses
The year 2025 was marked by the loss of many iconic figures in the entertainment industry. From legendary musicians to acclaimed actors and actresses, the year saw the passing of numerous individuals who left an indelible mark on their respective fields. This article pays tribute to some of the most notable deaths in 2025, remembering their contributions and celebrating their legacy.
January’s Notable Losses
The year began with the loss of several notable figures, including Wayne Osmond, a founding member of The Osmonds, and Brenton Wood, the soulful R&B singer behind the 1960s hit "The Oogum Boogum Song." January also saw the passing of Peter Yarrow, the singer-songwriter and member of Peter, Paul and Mary, as well as Sam Moore, the higher voice of the 1960s duo Sam & Dave. The month ended with the death of David Lynch, the celebrated filmmaker known for his dark and dreamlike vision in movies like "Blue Velvet" and "Mulholland Drive."
February’s Losses
February saw the passing of several notable figures, including Irv Gotti, the music mogul who founded Murder Inc. Records, and Tony Roberts, the versatile performer who appeared in several Woody Allen movies. The month also saw the death of Gene Hackman, the Oscar-winning actor known for his studied portraits of reluctant heroes and conniving villains. Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist, also passed away in February, leaving behind a legacy of intimate vocal and musical style.
March’s Notable Losses
March saw the passing of several notable figures, including Angie Stone, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer, and Joey Molland, the last living member of the Welsh rock band Badfinger. The month also saw the death of George Lowe, the voice behind the irreverent animated superhero on Adult Swim’s "Space Ghost Coast to Coast," and Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s devoted husband of nearly 60 years. Roy Ayers, the jazz vibraphonist and keyboardist, also passed away in March, leaving behind a legacy of spacy and funky music.
April’s Losses
April saw the passing of several notable figures, including Val Kilmer, the brooding and versatile actor known for his roles in "Top Gun" and "Batman Forever." The month also saw the death of Jay North, the actor who starred as the towheaded mischief-maker on TV’s "Dennis the Menace," and Clem Burke, the drummer who propelled the iconic rock group Blondie during its decades-long career. Wink Martindale, the genial host of hit game shows like "Gambit" and "Tic-Tac-Dough," also passed away in April.
May’s Notable Losses
May saw the passing of several notable figures, including Jill Sobule, the award-winning singer-songwriter known for her witty and poignant writing, and Ruth Buzzi, the actress who rose to fame as the frumpy and bitter Gladys Ormphby on the groundbreaking sketch comedy series "Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In." The month also saw the death of Johnny Rodriguez, the country music star known for his 1970s hits like "I Just Can’t Get Her Out of My Mind," and Robert Benton, the Oscar-winning filmmaker who co-created "Bonnie and Clyde" and directed "Kramer vs. Kramer."
June’s Losses
June saw the passing of several notable figures, including Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys’ visionary and fragile leader, and Sly Stone, the revolutionary musician and dynamic showman who led Sly and the Family Stone. The month also saw the death of Ananda Lewis, the former MTV and BET host who became a beloved television personality in the 1990s, and Chris Robinson, the veteran actor known for his role as Dr. Rick Webber on "General Hospital."
July’s Notable Losses
July saw the passing of several notable figures, including Michael Madsen, the actor known for his coolly menacing characters in the films of Quentin Tarantino, and Connie Francis, the wholesome pop star who endured a life filled with heartbreak and tragedy. The month also saw the death of Felix Baumgartner, the extreme athlete who stunned the world with his 24-mile leap from the stratosphere, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor and director who began his career as a teenager on "The Cosby Show."
August’s Losses
August saw the passing of several notable figures, including Ozzy Osbourne, the gloomy and demon-invoking lead singer of Black Sabbath, and Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed and headscarf-wearing icon of professional wrestling. The month also saw the death of Flaco Jimenez, the legendary accordionist who expanded the popularity of conjunto, Tejano, and Tex-Mex music, and Jeannie Seely, the soulful country music singer behind the standard "Don’t Touch Me."
September’s Notable Losses
September saw the passing of several notable figures, including Graham Greene, the trailblazing Indigenous actor who earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Kicking Bird in "Dances with Wolves," and Rick Davies, the lead singer and co-founder of the British band Supertramp. The month also saw the death of Polly Holliday, the Tony Award-nominated screen and stage actor who turned the catchphrase "Kiss my grits!" into a national retort, and Robert Redford, the Hollywood golden boy who became an Oscar-winning director and liberal activist.
October’s Losses
October saw the passing of several notable figures, including John Lodge, the singer and bassist of the British rock band The Moody Blues, and Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning star known for her quirky manner and emotional depth in movies like "Annie Hall" and "The Godfather" films. The month also saw the death of D’Angelo, the Grammy-winning R&B singer recognized by his raspy yet smooth voice, and Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of the glam-rock band Kiss.
November’s Notable Losses
November saw the passing of several notable figures, including Donna Jean Godchaux, the singer who was a part of the Grateful Dead from 1971 until 1979, and Diane Ladd, the actor who was nominated three times for Academy Awards. The month also saw the death of Sally Kirkland, the stage, film, and TV actor who was best known for sharing the screen with Paul Newman and Robert Redford in "The Sting," and Cleto Escobedo, the band leader for Cleto and the Cletones on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
December’s Losses
December saw the passing of several notable figures, including Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, the Japanese-American actor who was best known for portraying the villainous sorcerer Shang Tsung in the "Mortal Kombat" franchise, and Jeff Garcia, the actor and comedian who lent his voice to characters across a number of animated movies and series. The month also saw the death of Frank Gehry, the architect who designed some of the most imaginative buildings ever constructed, and Rafael Ithier, the beloved musician and founder of the legendary salsa band El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.
