Despite 2025 being far from over, we have already had to say goodbye to several well-known figures this year.
From celebrated musicians and actors to renowned athletes and artists, these individuals left a lasting impact on culture and won the hearts of millions.
Now, it has been announced that iconic actor Gene Hackman has passed away alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa.
Here, we pay tribute to those we’ve lost in 2025.
Wayne Osmond of the Osmond Brothers died on New Year’s Day
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At the age of 73, the smooth American baritone of the pop group the Osmond Brothers, and thereafter the Osmonds, passed away. According to his brother Merrill Osmond, Osmond died at a Salt Lake City, Utah, hospital following a “massive stroke” on January 1.
Merrill Osmond wrote on Facebook: “I’ve never known a man that had more humility. A man with absolute no guile. An individual that was quick to forgive and had the ability to show unconditional love to everyone he ever met.”
Jeff Baena married Aubrey Plaza in 2021
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Medical examiner documents show that Jeff Baena committed suicide on January 3 at his home in Los Angeles, California. He was 47.
Baena was an American screenwriter and film director. He wrote and directed Life After Beth, Joshy, The Little Hours, Horse Girl and Spin Me Round and co-wrote I Heart Huckabees. He was known for his frequent collaborations with actresses Alison Brie, Molly Shannon and his wife Aubrey Plaza.
Emilio Echevarría was known for his roles in Amores Perros and James Bond
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Emilio Echevarría, the Mexican actor best known for his roles in Amores Perros, The Alamo and the James Bond franchise, died aged 81 on January 4.
After starting his career in theatre, Echevarría switched to film in the 1980s, securing parts in critically acclaimed films including Babel, Y Tu Mama Tambien, and Amores Perros. In the 2004 production of The Alamo, he also portrayed Antonio LoÁpez de Santa Anna, the president of Mexico.
Comedian Jim Short has died aged 58
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Comedian Jim Short, who appeared on TV shows such as Late Night with Conan O’Brien, died aged 58 on January 5.
Short also appeared on other American chat shows, including The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and The Late Show with David Letterman.
James Lee Williams – ‘The Vivienne’
Drag queen The Vivienne during a catwalk show at RuPaul’s DragCon UK
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RuPaul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne, also known as James Lee Williams, passed away aged 32, their publicist said on January 5.
According to authorities, there were “no suspicious circumstances” surrounding the death.
The Wales-born Williams assumed the drag moniker because of their reputation for wearing Vivienne Westwood clothing.
Peter Yarrow was part of the US folk group Peter, Paul, and Mary
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The US folk group Peter, Paul, and Mary’s singer, Peter Yarrow, passed away at age 86 on January 7. Yarrow had been diagnosed with bladder cancer four years before.
Sam Moore passed away at the age of 89
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The surviving half and lead singer of the 1960s duet Sam & Dave, known for such renowned songs as Soul Man and Hold On, I’m Comin’, passed away at age 89 on January 10.
Actors Leslie Charleson and Jill Larson in 2003
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The renowned American soap opera veteran Leslie Charleson, who played Dr Monica Quartermaine in the long-running General Hospital series, passed away at age 79 on January 12. She portrayed the character for over four decades, becoming one of the most beloved figures in daytime television.
Tony Book was one of Manchester City’s most influential figures
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Tony Book, who captained Manchester City to four major trophies in the late 1960s and early 1970s before later managing the club, passed away on January 13, aged 90.
He was one of the club’s most influential figures, having dedicated decades of his life to the current Premier League champions as a player, manager, and ambassador.
Tony Slattery appeared on multiple shows including Whose Line Is It Anyway?
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British comedian Tony Slattery passed away at age 65 after suffering a heart attack on January 14. Slattery starred on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, a comic improvisation program on Channel 4, and the comedies Have I Got News For You and Just A Minute.
Director David Lynch was best known for being the Twin Peaks co-creator
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“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” his family wrote in a Facebook statement on January 16.
The American’s death came five months after Lynch revealed that he had been diagnosed with emphysema, a chronic lung disease, due to “many years of smoking”.
Linda Nolan was an integral member of the Irish pop band the Nolans
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Two decades after receiving her initial cancer diagnosis, singer Linda Nolan, who was an integral part of the Irish pop band Nolans (previously the Nolan Sisters), passed away at age 65 on January 15.
Alongside sisters Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise, and Anne, Nolan rose to stardom in the 1970s.
They achieved success with songs including the disco classic I’m In The Mood for Dancing. After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis in 2005 and receiving the all-clear in 2011, she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017. By 2023, it had spread to her brain.
TV presenter Coleen Nolan posted on Instagram that she was “utterly devastated” by her sister’s death, describing Linda as a “beacon of love, kindness and strength”.
Actress Diane Langton as Mama Morton during a photocall for the hit West End musical Chicago in 1998
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She played Nana McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. Throughout her 70-plus-year career, she starred in several famous UK television series, including EastEnders.
Paul Danan was ‘known for his television presence, exceptional talent, and unwavering kindness’
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The British actor’s management company, Independent Creative PR, released a statement announcing his death.
It read: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of Paul Danan at just 46 years old. Known for his television presence, exceptional talent, and unwavering kindness, Paul was a beacon of light to so many.”
According to the Daily Mail, Danan was thought to have died after a “slip and fall” in his Bristol flat.
The police claimed that the star’s death was not “suspicious”. It added: “During this difficult time, we kindly request respect and privacy for Paul’s family, friends, and colleagues. No further comments will be made at this time.”
The actress was known for her performances in TV biopic Stalin and Enchanted April
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She was known for appearing in the TV biopic Stalin and the films Enchanted April, The Entertainer and 101 Dalmatians.
Her family said: “It is with great sadness that the family of Dame Joan Plowright, the Lady Olivier, inform you that she passed away peacefully on January 16, 2025, surrounded by her family at Denville Hall aged 95.
“She enjoyed a long and illustrious career across theatre, film and TV over seven decades until blindness made her retire.
“She cherished her last 10 years in Sussex with constant visits from friends and family, filled with much laughter and fond memories.”
Law, pictured during his Manchester United days, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in 2021
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The man called the ‘The King’ and ‘The Lawman’ spent 11 years at Old Trafford, with his 237 goals in 404 appearances placing him third in United’s history behind Wayne Rooney and Bobby Charlton.
His is the only Scottish player to have won the Ballon d’Or, the annual football award presented by France Football to the world’s best player, based on performances over the previous year.
His family said: “It is with a heavy heart that we tell you our father Denis Law has sadly passed away. He fought a tough battle, but finally, he is now at peace.
“We know how much people supported and loved him and that love was always appreciated and made the difference.”
The Aberdeen-born football star was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in 2021.
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Claire van Kampen died on her husband’s 65th birthday
Daniel Hambury
Mark Rylance confirmed the passing of his wife, the British director, composer, and playwright, Claire van Kampen, aged 71, on January 18.
Her family said in a statement: “Claire has died of cancer on Mark Rylance’s 65th Birthday. Her youngest daughter having died in 2012, she leaves her eldest daughter, Juliet Rylance, her two husbands, and countless beloved friends in England and America.
“We thank her for imbuing our lives with her magic, music, laughter, and love.”
Van Kampen spent about 20 years at Shakespeare’s Globe in various roles.
Guitarist John Sykes made a lasting mark with bands including Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake
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On January 20, John Sykes, the renowned guitarist who made a lasting mark with bands including Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, passed away at age 65.
A statement on Sykes’s social media said: “It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer. He will be remembered by many as a man with exceptional musical talent but for those who didn’t know him personally, he was a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic man whose presence lit up the room.”
Sykes joined Thin Lizzy for their 1983 album Thunder and Lightning. After Thin Lizzy broke up, Sykes joined the hard-rock group Whitesnake.
However, Sykes was asked to leave Whitesnake before the 1987 album’s release because of conflicts with frontman David Coverdale. Sykes formed his own band, Blue Murder, in 1988.
Faithfull found fame with the song As Tears Go By, written by Rolling Stones members Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, with whom she had a well-publicised romance
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British singer and actress Marianne Faithfull died aged 78, her music promotion company revealed on January 30.
It said: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull.
“Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.”
Faithfull found fame with the song As Tears Go By, written by Rolling Stones members Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, with whom she had a well-publicised romance.
She starred in The Girl on a Motorcycle and Irina Palm (2007 version), for which she received a Best Actress nomination at the European Film Awards.
Paquita la del Barrio was known as a defender of women
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Mexican artist Paquita la del Barrio (real name Francisca Viveros Barradas), known best for her fierce defence of women and songs in which she incorporated themes of heartbreak and betrayal with which she captivated audiences, died on February 17.
The musician, who faced struggles with her health, was in her Veracruz home when she passed away at age 77.
“With deep pain and sadness we confirm the sensitive passing of our beloved ‘Paquita la del Barrio’ at her home in Veracruz,” a statement on her official social media accounts said. “She was a unique and unrepeatable artist who will leave an indelible mark in the hearts of all of us who knew her and enjoyed her music.”
Rick Buckler of The Jam in London in 2007
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His former bandmate Paul Weller confirmed the news on Instagram: “I’m shocked and saddened by Rick’s passing. I’m thinking back to us all rehearsing in my bedroom in Stanley Road, Woking.”
Buckler, who died after a short illness, was a founding member of the three-piece mod-punk band in 1972, with which he featured on six studio albums.
Carry On actor Julian Holloway with his daughter, Sophie Dahl
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British actor Julian Holloway passed away at age 80 on February 16. He enjoyed most of his success through his role in the Carry On films, which mainly aired between 1967 and 1976.
As tributes poured in, Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes said on Facebook: “Oh I am very sad. Wonderful man.”
Meanwhile, Sarah Douglas, who played Ursa in Superman I and II, said: “I lost a dear friend yesterday, and I’m so, so sad.
“I have known Julian Holloway since the early 70s and he has been the best of friends to me all these years. Julian was the wittiest of men and we would laugh and laugh.
She continued: “He was a friend through thick and thin, first in London then LA then back home again. He was also the associate producer of the Brute (1977) but I had first met him professionally in 1973 on a BBC drama called Secrets.
“There will be lots written about him and all his wonderful work but right now he is just a dear and sorely missed friend.”
Peter Jason was perhaps best known for his role in The Karate Kid
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Karate Kid and Deadwood star Peter Jason died at age 80 on February 20.
He had 270 acting credits across film, TV and video games in a career that spanned several decades after starting in the 1960s.
Jason made his acting debut as Lieutenant Forsythe in Rio Lobo. Following this success, he gained the part of the soccer coach in The Karate Kid (1984).
The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star died at age 78 on February 21, her close friend Cassandra Peterson confirmed on Instagram.
She wrote: “My heart is breaking upon hearing the news of my dear friend @lynnestewart78 Lynne Stewart’s passing. One of the kindest, sweetest, funniest women who ever lived. The iconic Miss Yvonne of Pee-wee’s Playhouse: She’ll always be ‘the most beautiful woman in Puppetland’.”
Stewart rose to fame in the 1970s as a member of The Groundlings, a Los Angeles-based improv and sketch comedy troupe.
Folk singer Bill Fay died on February 22, his record label confirmed in an Instagram post.
The statement by ‘Bill’s friends at Dead Oceans’ read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bill Fay, who died peacefully this morning in London, aged 81.”
It continued: “Bill was a gentle man and a gentleman, wise beyond our times. He was a private person with the biggest of hearts, who wrote immensely moving, meaningful songs that will continue to find people for years to come.”
The label noted that Bill’s first two albums, Bill Fay and Time of the Last Persecution, “found a modest but loving audience upon their release at the dawn of the 1970s”. While they did not garner much mainstream attention during that period, they are now considered overlooked.
Other Fay albums include Dead Oceans: Life is People (2012), Who is the Sender? (2015) and Countless Branches (2020).
The label also said a recent album was in the works only a month before Fay’s passing. It said: “Our hope is to find a way to finish and release it, but for now, we remember Bill’s legacy as the ‘man in the corner of the room at the piano’, who quietly wrote heartfelt songs that touched and connected with people around the world.”
Henry Kelly was the face of Going For Gold
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They said in a statement: “Henry will be sorely missed by his friends and family, including his partner Karolyn Shindler, their son Alexander, Henry’s daughter Siobhan and her mother Marjorie.”
Kelly, who passed away on February 28, had a decades-long career in journalism that began at the broadsheet newspaper The Irish Times. After rising to the role of editor, he relocated to London and became a reporter and presenter for BBC Radio 4’s long-running current affairs programme, The World Tonight.
He transitioned to television in the 1980s, gaining widespread recognition as the host of BBC One’s game show Going for Gold, which ran for an impressive 10 seasons.
Roberta Flack was known for her classics Killing Me Softly and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
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Her publicist, Elaine Schock, said of The Killing Me Softly singer: “We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning on February 24 2025.
“She died peacefully surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”
The music legend was discovered in the 1960s and continued to reach new heights in her career in the decades that followed as she released hit tunes, including one fan-favourite, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
Black Lively described her friend Michelle as ‘fiercely loyal… and brave’
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The city’s police department said a medical examiner will determine the cause of her death and that it is not being treated as suspicious.
Tributes have poured in for Trachtenberg, including those from former Gossip Girl costars Blake Lively and Ed Westwick who said he was “sending prayers” on a social media post.
Lively meanwhile wrote on her Instagram story: “Everything she did, she did 200%.
“She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself…”
Trachtenberg had an illustrious acting career and became a familiar face of the industry from only a young age as she secured roles in Harriet the Spy and Ice Princess, among others.
Actor Gene Hackman was found dead alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa
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Police, who have not revealed a cause of death, have said there are no signs of foul play, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.
“All I can say is that we’re in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant,” Adan Mendoza, the Santa Fe County sheriff said.
Hackman, who died at the age of 95, had a career that spanned decades and saw him secure huge roles, two of which landed him Oscars.
Back in 1991, he married his wife Betsy Arakawa, who has also been found dead, at the age of 63.
She was a classically trained concert pianist.
