Musicians, actors and entertainers we lost in 2025

The entertainment industry lost many heavy-hitters in 2025, from the deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, to filmmaker David Lynch and Sundance founder Robert Redford, to heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, which came just weeks after his farewell concert.

Here is a look back at the singers, actors and other entertainment industry icons who died in 2025. 

Wayne Osmond, 73: The singer and guitarist was a founding member of The Osmonds, a million-album-selling family act known for such 1970s teen hits as “One Bad Apple,” “Yo-Yo” and “Down By the Lazy River.” Jan. 1.

Brenton Wood, 83. The soulful R&B singer behind the 1960s hit “The Oogum Boogum Song,” which peaked at 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 19 on the Billboard R&B charts and made a modern resurgence as a trending sound on TikTok. Jan. 3.
 
Jeff Baena, 47. The writer, producer and director was known for comedies like “The Little Hours,” “Life After Beth” and “Joshy.” Jan 4. 

Peter Yarrow, 86. The singer-songwriter was best known as one-third of Peter, Paul and Mary, the folk music trio whose impassioned harmonies transfixed millions as they lifted their voices in favor of civil rights and against war. Jan. 7.

Sam Moore, 89. He was the higher voice of the 1960s duo Sam & Dave, known for such definitive hits of the era as “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin.’” Jan. 10.

Leslie Charleson, 79. The actor was known for playing Monica Quartermaine on “General Hospital.” Jan 12.

David Lynch, 78. The filmmaker was celebrated for his uniquely dark and dreamlike vision in such movies as “Blue Velvet” and “Mulholland Drive,” and the TV series “Twin Peaks.” Jan. 16.

Garth Hudson, 87. The Band’s virtuoso keyboardist and all-around musician drew from a unique palette of sounds and styles to add a conversational touch to such rock standards as “Up on Cripple Creek,” “The Weight” and “Rag Mama Rag.” Jan. 21.

Marianne Faithfull, 78. The British pop star, muse, libertine and old soul inspired and helped write some of the Rolling Stones’ greatest songs and endured as a torch singer and survivor of the lifestyle she once embodied. Jan. 30.

Irv Gotti, 54. A music mogul who founded Murder Inc. Records, he was behind major hip-hop and R&B artists such as Ashanti and Ja Rule. Feb. 5.

Tony Roberts, 85. The versatile, Tony Award-nominated performer in plays and musicals appeared in several Woody Allen movies — often as Allen’s best friend. Feb. 7.

Gene Hackman, 95. The Oscar-winning actor whose studied portraits ranged from reluctant heroes to conniving villains and made him one of the industry’s most respected and honored performers. Feb. 18. Found dead with his wife Betsy Arakawa.

Roberta Flack, 88. The Grammy-winning singer and pianist’s intimate vocal and musical style made her one of the top recording artists of the 1970s and an influential performer long after that. Feb. 24.

Michelle Trachtenberg, 39. A former child star in the hit 1996 movie “Harriet the Spy,” she went on to co-star in two buzzy millennial-era TV shows — “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl.” The cause and manner of her death were officially listed as undetermined. Feb. 26.

David Johansen, 75. the wiry, gravelly-voiced singer and last surviving member of the glam and protopunk band the New York Dolls who later performed as his campy, pompadoured alter ego, Buster Poindexter. Feb. 27. 

Angie Stone, 63. The Grammy-nominated R&B singer, a member of the all-female hip-hop trio The Sequence who was known for the hit song “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” died when her van crashed. March 1.

Joey Molland, 77. The last living member of Welsh rock band Badfinger, best known for “Baby Blue,” “No Matter What You Do,” “Day After Day,” “Come and Get It” and “Rock of All Ages.” March 2. 

George Lowe, 67.  The voice behind the irreverent animated superhero on Adult Swim’s “Space Ghost Coast to Coast.” March 2. 

Carl Dean, 82. Dolly Parton’s devoted husband of nearly 60 years avoided the spotlight and inspired her timeless hit “Jolene.” March 3.

Roy Ayers, 84. The jazz vibraphonist, keyboardist, composer and vocalist was known for his spacy, funky 1976 hit “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” sampled by such R&B and rap heavyweights as Mary J. Blige, N.W.A., Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Mos Def and Ice Cube. March 4.

D’Wayne Wiggins, 64. He co-founded the Grammy-nominated group Tony! Toni! Tone! behind the classic songs “Anniversary,” “It Never Rains (In Southern California)” and (Lay Your Head on My) Pillow.” March 7.

Mike Patrick, 80. The longtime ESPN play-by-play announcer called countless college football and basketball games, and was best known for his work on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Football” from 1987 through 2005. March 22.

Richard Chamberlain, 90. The handsome hero of the 1960s television series “Dr. Kildare” came out as gay four decades later and was known as the “king of the miniseries” for his roles in “The Thorn Birds” and “Shogun.” March 29.

Val Kilmer, 65. The brooding, versatile actor who played fan favorite Iceman in “Top Gun,” donned a voluminous cape as Batman in “Batman Forever” and portrayed Jim Morrison in “The Doors,” died of pneumonia. April 1.

Jay North, 73. He starred as the towheaded mischief-maker on TV’s “Dennis the Menace” for four seasons starting in 1959. April 6.

Clem Burke, 70. His versatile drumming propelled the iconic rock group Blondie during its decades performing everything from new-wave punk to disco-infused tunes. April 6.

Wink Martindale, 91. The genial host of such hit game shows as “Gambit” and “Tic-Tac-Dough” also did one of the first recorded television interviews with a young Elvis Presley. April 15.

Sophie Nyweide, 24.  The former child actor appeared in films alongside Jessica Alba, Michelle Williams and Russell Crowe. April 14. 

Jill Sobule, 66. The award-winning singer-songwriter whose witty and poignant writing attracted widespread attention with the gay-themed song “I Kissed a Girl,” died in a house fire. May 1.

Ruth Buzzi, 88. She rose to fame as the frumpy and bitter Gladys Ormphby on the groundbreaking sketch comedy series “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” and made more than 200 television appearances during a 45-year career. May 1.

Johnny Rodriguez, 73. The country music star was a popular Mexican American singer whose 1970s hits included “I Just Can’t Get Her Out of My Mind,” “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico” and “That’s the Way Love Goes.” May 9.

Robert Benton, 92. The Oscar-winning filmmaker co-created “Bonnie and Clyde,” and received mainstream validation as the writer-director of “Kramer vs. Kramer” and “Places in the Heart.” May 11.

George Wendt, 76. An actor with an everyman charm, he played the affable barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy “Cheers” and performed on Broadway in “Art,” “Hairspray” and “Elf.” May 20.

Phil Robertson, 79. The “Duck Dynasty” patriarch turned his small duck-calling interest in the sportsman’s paradise of northern Louisiana into a big business and conservative cultural phenomenon. May 25.

Rick Derringer, 77, Formed the McCoys with his brother, Randy, and found fame singing “Hang On Sloopy,” a No. 26 hit about lovers from different socioeconomic circumstances. May 27. 

Loretta Swit, 87. She won two Emmy Awards playing Maj. Margaret Houlihan, the demanding head nurse of a Korean War surgical unit on the pioneering hit TV series “M.A.S.H.” May 30.

Valerie Mahaffey, 71. Her stage, film and television work ranged from Shakespeare to the hit 1990s series “Northern Exposure. May 31. 

John Brenkus, 54. The Emmy-winning host and founder of “Sport Science,” a show that explored the intersection of athletics and technology and physics. June 2.

Renée Victor, 86. She voiced the no-nonsense, sandal-throwing Abuelita in Disney’s animated hit “Coco” and played the wisecracking Lupita on Showtime’s “Weeds.” June 2. 

Sly Stone, 82. The revolutionary musician and dynamic showman led Sly and the Family Stone, transforming popular music in the 1960s and ’70s and beyond with such hits as “Everyday People,” “Stand!” and “Family Affair.” June 9.

Brian Wilson, 82. The Beach Boys’ visionary and fragile leader whose genius for melody, arrangements and wide-eyed self-expression inspired “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls” and other summertime anthems, becoming one of the world’s most influential recording artists. June 11.

Ananda Lewis, 52. The former MTV and BET host who became a beloved television personality in the 1990s with her warmth and authenticity died of breast cancer. June 11.

Chris Robinson, 86. The veteran actor’s career spanned eight decades, working in more than 100 TV shows and films, and best known for his longtime role as Dr. Rick Webber on “General Hospital.” June 11.

Loren Ruch, 55. He co-hosted “HGTV House Party” and was head of content on the home improvement channel. June 12.

Anne Burrell, 55. The TV chef coached culinary fumblers through hundreds of episodes of “Worst Cooks in America.” June 17.

Mick Ralphs, 81. The guitarist, singer and songwriter was a founding member of the classic British rock bands Bad Company and Mott the Hoople. June 23.

Bobby Sherman, 81. His winsome smile and shaggy mop top helped make him into a teen idol in the 1960s and ’70s with bubblegum pop hits like “Little Woman” and “Julie, Do Ya Love Me.” June 24.

Joe Marinelli, 68. The veteran actor entertained viewers as the cross-dressing mobster Bunny Tagliatti on NBC’s soap opera “Santa Barbara.” June 25. 

Michael Madsen, 67. The actor best known for his coolly menacing, steely-eyed, often sadistic characters in the films of Quentin Tarantino, including “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill: Vol. 2.” July 3.

Connie Francis, 87. The wholesome pop star’s 1950s and ’60s hits included “Pretty Little Baby” and “Who’s Sorry Now?” — the latter serving as an ironic title for a personal life filled with heartbreak and tragedy. July 16.

Felix Baumgartner, 56. The extreme athlete stunned the world in 2012 by skydiving faster than the speed of sound during a 24-mile leap from the stratosphere. He died in a paragliding crash. July 17.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, 54. His 40-year career as an actor and director began as teenage son Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” a cultural phenomenon that helped define the 1980s. He drowned in the Caribbean Sea. July 20.

Chuck Mangione, 84. The two-time Grammy Award-winning musician achieved international success in 1977 with his jazz-flavored single “Feels So Good” and later became a voice actor on the animated TV comedy “King of the Hill.” July 22.

Ozzy Osbourne, 76. The gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath became the godfather of heavy metal and then a doddering dad on reality TV. July 22.

Hulk Hogan, 71. The mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act. July 24.

Flaco Jimenez, 86. The legendary accordionist from San Antonio won multiple Grammys as he expanded the popularity of conjunto, Tejano and Tex-Mex music. July 31.

Jeannie Seely, 85. She was the soulful country music singer behind such standards as “Don’t Touch Me.” Aug. 1.

Loni Anderson, 79. She played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati.” Aug. 3.

Kelley Mack, 33.  She starred as Addy in Season 9 of “The Walking Dead.” The 33-year-old actress had credits in several commercials and TV shows, but her most significant role came as Penelope Jacobs on Season 8 of “Chicago Med.” Aug. 5. 

Eddie Palmieri, 88. The pianist, composer and bandleader was the first Latino to win a Grammy Award and would win seven more over a career that spanned nearly 40 albums. Aug. 6. 

Brandon Blackstock, 48. The music manager was the former husband of Kelly Clarkson and stepson of Reba McEntire. Aug. 7. 

Danielle Spencer, 60. The former child actress starred as Dee Thomas, the stereotypical annoying little sister, in the 1970s ABC sitcom “What’s Happening!!.” She became known for her catch phrase, “Ooooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!” Aug. 11. 

Tristan Rogers, 79. He played super spy Robert Scorpio on ABC’s “General Hospital.” Aug. 15.

Terence Stamp, 87. The British actor often played the role of a complex villain, including that of General Zod in the early Superman films. Aug. 17.

Frank Caprio, 88. A retired municipal judge in Rhode Island, he found online fame as a caring jurist and host of “Caught in Providence.” Aug. 20.

Jerry Adler, 96. The Broadway stage manager turned late-in-life actor appeared on “The Sopranos,” on which he played Tony Soprano adviser Hesh Rabkin across all six seasons, and “The Good Wife,” where he played law partner Howard Lyman. Aug. 24. 

Graham Greene, 73. A trailblazing Indigenous actor, his long career included an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Kicking Bird in “Dances with Wolves.” Sept. 1.

Rick Davies, 81. the lead singer and co-founder of British band Supertramp, who co-wrote the band’s music with Roger Hodgson, was “the voice and pianist behind Supertramp’s most iconic songs, leaving an indelible mark on rock music history,” the band said. Sept. 8.

Polly Holliday, 88. The Tony Award-nominated screen and stage actor turned the catchphrase “Kiss my grits!” into a national retort as the gum-chewing, beehive-wearing server on the long-running CBS sitcom “Alice.” Sept. 9.

Bobby Hart, 86. The songwriter was a key part of the Monkees’ multimedia empire, teaming with Tommy Boyce on such hits as “Last Train to Clarksville” and “I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone.” Sept. 10.

Robert Redford, 89. The Hollywood golden boy became an Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema under the name of one of his best-loved characters. Sept. 16.

Brett James, 57. The Grammy award-winning country songwriter whose top hits included “Jesus, Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood and “When the Sun Goes Down” by Kenny Chesney died in a plane crash. Sept. 18.

Claudia Cardinale, 87. The acclaimed Italian actor starred in some of the most celebrated European films of the 1960s and 1970s. Sept. 23.

John Lodge, 82. The singer and bassist of British rock band The Moody Blues for more than 50 years. Oct. 10. 

Diane Keaton, 79. The Oscar-winning star’s quirky manner and emotional depth enthralled fans in movies including “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather” films and “Father of the Bride.” Oct. 11.

D’Angelo,  51. The Grammy-winning R&B singer recognized by his raspy yet smooth voice and for garnering mainstream attention with the shirtless “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” music video died of cancer. Oct. 14.

Ace Frehley, 74. The original lead guitarist and founding member of the glam-rock band Kiss captivated audiences with his elaborate galactic makeup and smoking guitar. Oct. 16.

Sir Mo, 58. Bobby Horne, the former professional wrestler best known to fans as Sir Mo from the WWE tag team Men on a Mission. Oct. 20. 

Michael DeLano, 84. The actor was best known for his role as a casino manager in “Ocean’s Eleven” and its 2004 sequel “Ocean’s Twelve.” Oct. 20. 

Dave Ball, 66. One half of the English electronic music duo Soft Cell, best known for their 1981 hit “Tainted Love.” Oct. 22.

June Lockhart, 100. She became a mother figure for a generation of television viewers, whether at home in “Lassie” or “Lost in Space.” Oct. 23.

Donna Jean Godchaux, 78. The singer was a part of the Grateful Dead from 1971 until 1979, appearing on six studio albums. Nov. 2.

Diane Ladd, 89. The actor was nominated three times for Academy Awards, as the brash waitress in “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” the scheming parent in “Wild at Heart” and her role with daughter Laura Dern in “Rambling Rose.” Nov. 3.

Sally Kirkland, 84. The stage, film and TV actor was best known for sharing the screen with Paul Newman and Robert Redford in “The Sting” and her Oscar-nominated title role in the 1987 movie “Anna.” Nov. 11.

Cleto Escobedo, 59. The band leader for Cleto and the Cletones on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was also Kimmel’s longtime friend. Nov. 12.

Dan McGrath, 61. An Emmy winning comedy writer best known for his work on “The Simpsons,” “Saturday Night Live” and “King of the Hill.” Nov. 14.

Todd Snider, 59. A longtime fixture of the alt-country and Americana scenes known for his sharp storytelling and humor, he was remembered by his team as a “Folk Hero” and “Poet of the World.” Nov. 15.

Jimmy Cliff, 81. The Jamaican singer and actor helped bring reggae music to audiences around the world. Nov. 24. 

Dharmendra, 89. One of the most beloved stars in Indian cinema and a defining face of Bollywood in the 1970s and 1980s. Nov. 24.

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, 75. The Japanese-American actor was best known for portraying the villainous sorcerer Shang Tsung in the “Mortal Kombat” franchise. Dec. 4.

Jeff Garcia, 50. The actor and comedian lent his voice to characters across a number of animated movies and series in the 2000s, most notably Sheen Estevez in the “Jimmy Neutron” franchise. Dec. 10.

Frank Gehry, 96. He designed some of most imaginative buildings ever constructed and achieved a level of worldwide acclaim seldom afforded any architect. Dec. 5.

Rafael Ithier, 99. He was a beloved musician and a founder of the legendary salsa band El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, whose hits have inspired Bad Bunny and other icons from the U.S. territory and beyond. Dec. 6.

Raul Malo, 60. He was the soulful tenor and frontman of the genre-defying, Grammy-winning band The Mavericks. Dec. 8.

Sophie Kinsella, 55. Her effervescent rom-com “Confessions of a Shopaholic” sparked a millions-selling series. She died after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Dec. 10.

Rob Reiner, 78. Long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work includes some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride.” Dec. 14

Michele Singer Reiner, 70. A photographer and producer who inspired the happy conclusion in the 1980s romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally…,” Dec. 14. 

Anthony Geary, 78. ‘General Hospital’ icon who played Luke Spencer for decades. Dec. 14. 

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