In Memoriam: Celebrities Who Died in 2025

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The world will never be the same.

2025 was a year of both joyful moments and sad losses. We celebrated events like Taylor Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce and the arrival of Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly’s daughter, Saga Blade Fox-Baker, but also mourned the passing of several beloved Hollywood figures.

October brought sad news for the entertainment world. First, Hollywood was shocked by the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. Then, fans around the world mourned the unexpected death of Diane Keaton from pneumonia, and many of her friends shared tributes to her.

As someone who lives and breathes movies, my heart truly aches – we’ve lost an incredible talent. I admired her ability to be so vulnerable and authentic in every role, truly bringing stories to life. And personally, as a woman, I’m devastated to have lost a friend of nearly four decades. It’s a loss that feels deeply personal.

Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who played the daughter in Father of the Bride, also shared a heartfelt memory of working with Diane Keaton. In an Instagram post, Williams-Paisley wrote that working with Keaton was a highlight of her life, praising her kindness, generosity, talent, and especially her wonderful laughter.

Diane wasn’t the only Academy Award winner to pass away recently. In February, Gene Hackman died at his home in Arizona, and in September, Robert Redford – famous for playing the Sundance Kid – passed away at his home in Sundance, Utah, a town named after his well-known character.

It felt like a year of saying goodbye to some truly iconic figures. We lost Giorgio Armani, a real innovator in fashion, and Jane Goodall, who changed the way we understand the natural world. And for music fans, it was particularly tough – we mourned Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath, who passed away in July after bravely battling Parkinson’s disease. It was a reminder of how much these individuals shaped our culture and left a lasting impact.

Kelly Osbourne shared her grief on Instagram, quoting her father’s 1972 song “Changes” and writing, “I’m so sad. I lost my best friend.”

Two months after his death, Sharon Osbourne shared on social media that she’s still struggling to find the right words to thank her late husband’s fans. She said their support has helped her get through many difficult nights.

The sports world mourned several losses this year. NFL player Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away in November at just 24 years old, and in February, Howard Twilley, a Hall of Famer for the Miami Dolphins, died at the age of 81.

We lost many beloved figures this year, including Olympic champions and Diane Ladd, the mother of actress Laura Dern. Here’s a look back at the stars who passed away in 2025.

The Waterloo Road actor died on Dec. 17, his mother Debbie Rush confirmed.

“As a family, our hearts are completely broken,” she wrote on Instagram, “and there are no words that can truly capture the depth of our loss.”

He was 31.

 

NBC News has learned that the director and producer were discovered dead at their home on December 14th, seemingly victims of a homicide, according to a family source.

Police and her agent have confirmed that the actress known for her roles in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Girls5eva, and New Amsterdam died in New York City on December 8th after being hit by a car. She was 60 years old.

Debra Wilson, a comedian and voice actress famous for voicing characters in Jimmy Neutron and Happy Feet, passed away on December 10th at the age of 50, her son, Jojo Garcia, announced.

Sophie Kinsella, author of the popular Confessions of a Shopaholic series, passed away in December after fighting glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer.

Honestly, it’s just… impossible to think about a world without Sophie. Her light just filled everything, and she loved life so much. Even when she was so sick, she was unbelievably brave. She always said she felt incredibly lucky – she had the most amazing family and friends, and she was so grateful for everything she achieved with her writing. It was more than just success, it was… everything to her. I feel so lucky to have been able to read her work and witness her spirit.

The German entertainment duo died by assisted suicide on November 17th, according to the German Society for Humane Dying. The 89-year-old twins became famous in 1959 when they performed for Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest.

 

A gold medalist in Paralympic cycling passed away on November 16th at the age of 28 after experiencing a medical issue, according to officials in South Australia and confirmed by AusCycling.

Paige was incredibly special to our family,” said Paige’s mother, Natalie Greco, in a statement. “Her kindness, strength, and loving nature brightened every day. She filled our lives with happiness and pride, and we will always feel the deep sadness of losing her.

 

Jimmy Kimmel’s bandleader died on November 11th at the age of 59, Kimmel announced on social media. In an Instagram post, Kimmel said he was utterly heartbroken by the loss of his friend.

 

Yvette Mimieux, the actress famous for her role in the 1987 film Anna, passed away on November 11th at the age of 84. Her representative, Michael Greene, confirmed the news to TMZ. She had been receiving hospice care in Palm Springs, California, after living with dementia for a year.

 

Dick Cheney, who served as Vice President under President George W. Bush, passed away on November 3rd at the age of 84, according to his family.

He died peacefully surrounded by his family, including his wife of 61 years, Lynne, and his daughters, Liz and Mary. According to a statement, the former Vice President passed away due to complications from pneumonia and heart and blood vessel disease.

 

The 24-year-old defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys died on Nov. 6, the team confirmed. 

The Cowboys released a statement saying Marshawn was a well-loved teammate and part of the organization. They didn’t share any details about his death, but expressed their sympathy to his girlfriend, Catalina, and his family.

Laura Dern announced the passing of her mother this morning, sharing that she was by her side. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Dern described her mother as an extraordinary daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, and artist—a truly empathetic and gifted person. She said her family was incredibly lucky to have known her, and that she is now at peace.

The actress from 9-1-1: Nashville passed away on October 19th at the age of 23 from a rare genetic condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which affects the nerves.

On Oct. 18, Limp Bizkit announced that their bassist had passed away at age 48.

The KISS guitarist died at age 74, his family confirmed on Oct. 16.

The celebrated actress, known for her roles in films like Annie Hall, Father of the Bride, and Something’s Gotta Give, passed away on October 11th at the age of 79 due to pneumonia, her family announced.

The trailblazing anthropologist died at age 91 on Oct. 1.

The actor and photographer, known for roles in shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Boy Meets World, passed away at 46 following a car accident in Los Angeles on September 14th.

Robert Redford, the acclaimed actor known for iconic films such as The Natural and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, passed away on September 16th at the age of 89.

Robert Redford died peacefully at his home in Sundance, Utah, on September 16, 2025, surrounded by family, according to his representative. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

Giorgio Armani, the famous fashion designer who started his brand in 1975, passed away at the age of 91, the company announced on September 4th.

The Armani Group announced with deep sadness that Giorgio Armani, its creator, founder, and the energy behind the brand, has passed away. He died peacefully, surrounded by family and those closest to him, and was known with respect and admiration by everyone who worked with him.

Actor Graham Greene, known for his Oscar-nominated role in Dances With Wolves, passed away on September 1st at the age of 73 after a private battle with an illness, his representative announced.

I was so incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of this amazing Spanish actress. She really captivated me in Apple TV+’s Love You to Death as Marta, and it breaks my heart to learn she lost her battle with cancer on August 24th at a hospital in Madrid. She was only 42, and will be deeply missed. Variety reported the news, and I’m just heartbroken.

Police have confirmed that comedian and stand-up performer, age 52, died on August 20th after a shooting in northern Mississippi. The incident occurred in Southaven, according to the Southaven Police Department.

On August 23th, Southaven police found a man with gunshot wounds. Officers and paramedics tried to save his life, but he died from his injuries, according to a Facebook post from authorities.

I was so saddened to hear about the passing of Bill Kelliher, the former guitarist from the incredible band Mastodon. He tragically died in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta on August 20th. He was only 51, and his talent will be deeply missed. It’s a tough reminder to cherish every moment, and my heart goes out to his family, friends, and fans.

The lead singer of the band Enigma Norteño was fatally shot in a parking lot in Zapopan, Mexico, on August 19th. He was 38 years old.

Ariela Mejia-Polanco, a 33-year-old influencer from the Dominican Republic, died on August 17th. Police in Westchester County, New York, confirmed she was shot and killed while driving on the Cross County Parkway.

The General Hospital star died in August at the age of 79 following a brief battle with lung cancer.

Kelly Clarkson’s former husband died in August at the age of 48 after privately fighting cancer for several years.

The television star from the 1980s died on August 3rd at the age of 79, according to her representative, Cheryl J. Kagan, who confirmed the news to several media sources.

Biathlon champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist died on July 28th in Pakistan after being hit by falling rocks while climbing down Laila Peak. Because of the mountain’s remote location, rescue teams couldn’t recover her body.

Rescuing Laura Dahlmeier’s body from Laila Peak is currently too dangerous for the team due to rockfalls and worsening weather, officials said. She had previously written that she didn’t want anyone to risk their lives attempting a recovery if something like this happened.

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2025-12-23 16:18