Note that there were many more high profile celebrity deaths this year than the ones I've listed here. I'm only including the ones I recognize or who had an impact on my life.
Died January 1, 2025 at age 73.
Singer-songwriter, and one fifth of The Osmond Brothers band in the 1970s.
The band began as a barbershop quartet, consisting of brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay. It wasn't until the addition of younger brother Donny that The Osmonds really took off, scoring numerous chart-topping hits and becoming teen idols.
Died January 9, 2025 at age 86.
Character actor who played Bobby in the various Ernest movies.
I have to confess that while I've seen a clip here and there, I've never actually at through any of the Ernest movies.
Sam Moore
Died January 10, 2025 at age 89.
One half of the award-winning soul duo Sam & Dave.
Died January 10, 2025 at age 89.
One half of the award-winning soul duo Sam & Dave.
The two were a huge influence on many modern singers and groups, and their music defined the sound of the 1960s. Among their hits were Hold On I'm Comin', You Got Me Hummin', When Something Is Wrong With My Baby and their biggest success, Soul Man.
Jeannot Szwarc
Died January 15, 2025 at age 85.
French film director, who helmed such movies as Jaws 2, Supergirl and Somewhere In Time. Wow, talk about an uneven and checkered career!
Died January 15, 2025 at age 85.
French film director, who helmed such movies as Jaws 2, Supergirl and Somewhere In Time. Wow, talk about an uneven and checkered career!
Died January 15, 2025 at age 78.
Avant-garde director of flawed but fascinating films that straddled the line between arthouse and mainstream. Lynch wrote (or co-wrote) and directed The Elephant Man, Dune (1984), Blue Velvet, Wild At Heart, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive and Inland Express.
Ouch, this one hurts. I've been a fan of Lynch's work since 1980's The Elephant Man-- his flawed but fascinating look at the life of Joseph Merrick. Like all biopics it's 80% bullshit (even going so far as to get the subject's name wrong!), but Lynch's stylized and dreamlike direction makes it well worth a look.
Then came 1984's Dune, Lynch's flawed but fascinating attempt at adapting Frank Herbert's "unfilmable" scifi epic. It's an ambitious train wreck of a film, filled with peculiar props and setpieces, and features inexplicably bizarre performances by its stacked cast. Unfortunately it was also the subject of endless studio interference, which caused Lynch to swear off directing any more big budget blockbusters. Despite its many flaws, it's still better than the new version, and one of my favorite films.
I didn't see his flawed but fascinating first film, 1977's Eraserhead, until well into the 1990s-- during my pretentious indie cinema phase. It quickly became one of my all-time favorite movies (no, really!), and is his best and most personal work.
By the way, Lynch never revealed just how he constructed the horrifying malformed baby in Eraserhead, or what it was made of. Sadly, it looks like he took the secret to the grave with him.
Lynch's greatest success was on TV, where he co-created the flawed but fascinating Twin Peaks (with Mark Frost). For those of you not around back in 1990, Peaks was a MASSIVE, massive hit. Peaks Mania was EVERYWHERE-- the actors' faces were plastered all over hundreds of magazine covers, it was written up in newspapers, discussed on late night talk shows and even spoofed on SNL. Heck, even the soundtrack made the Top 10. And all that before the internet existed.
Lynch was also a musician and occasional actor.
Oh, and Lynch was famously approached by George Lucas to direct Return Of The Jedi (!). Unfortunately he turned him down. Pity! Somewhere in a parallel world, the inhabitants are enjoying a Lynch-directed Jedi.
Sadly, I'm not seeing anyone with Lynch's talent or style step up to take his place.
Died January 16, 2025 at age 90.
Former baseball player turned sportscaster turned actor.
After an unremarkable career as a catcher for various baseball teams, Uecker became an announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers. He then began appearing on the late night talk show circuit, where he famously made fun of his time in Major League Baseball. In fact Uecker actually became more famous after he retired from sports.
He then started a third career, dabbling in commercials and guest starring on TV series. He was eventually cast as George Owens on 1980s sitcom Mr. Belvedere, which ran for six seasons.
Died January 30, 2025 at age 78.
English singer, songwriter and actress, best known for the song As Tears Go By. At one point she was also famously involved with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.
Died February 2, 2025 at age 100 (!).
The last of the Tuskegee Airmen-- the all-black group of pilots who fought in WWII.
Died February 3, 2025 at age 83.
Graphic designer and illustrator whose work defined the psychedelic look of rock in the 1960s.
Died February 7, 2025 at age 85.
Actor who was a staple in many of Woody Allen's films.
Tom Robbins
Died February 9, 2025 at age 92.
Novelist who wrote such books as Even Cowgirls Get The Blues, Jitterbug Perfume and Still Life With Woodpecker.
Died February 11, 2025 at age 87.
Animator primarily known for his work on various Hanna-Barbera shows, such as The Flintstones, Secret Squirrel and many more.
Died February 14, 2025 at age 81.
Founder of Panera Bread.
No doubt his casket was ridiculously small and outrageously overpriced.
Died February 17, 2025 at age 95.
Oscar-winning actor who starred in hundreds of high profile films, including The French Connection, Superman The Movie, Mississippi Burning, The Birdcage and Unforgiven.
Tragically, Hackman wasn't the only one who died-- his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their dogs were also found dead in their New Mexico home on February 17. The story became increasingly unsettling and disturbing as more facts were uncovered, as it appears they likely died days or even weeks before their bodies were found. A sad ending for an amazing actor, who deserved a better sendoff.
Died February 21, 2025 at age 78.
Actress best known for playing Miss Yvonne, The Most Beautiful Girl In Puppetland on Pee-wee's Playhouse. She also played Charlie's mom on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
Died February 24, 2025 at age 79.
Singer whose hits included Sad Eyes and The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
Died February 24, 2025 at age 88.
Grammy-winning singer whose smooth, evocative voice blended numerous genres, from R&B to pop. Her hits included Killing Me Softly With His Song, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and more.
Died February 25, 2025 at age 51.
Mexican-American screenwriter and producer who worked with Alex Kurtzman on dozens of genre projects. He had a VERY checkered career, churning out numerous hits, and just as many misses.
On the good side, he gave us The Legend Of Zorro, Mission: Impossible III, Watchmen, Star Trek and Cowboys & Aliens. Over on TV he also co-created fan favorite series Fringe.
Unfortunately he was also responsible for The Island, Transformers, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, Star Trek Into Darkness, Ender's Game and The Mummy (the Tom Cruise one). Yikes.
Died February 26, 2025 at the much, MUCH too young age of just 39.
Trachtenberg starred in Harriet The Spy, but was probably best known as Buffy's younger sister Dawn in Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
According to the New York Medical Examiner, she died from complications due to diabetes.
Died February 27, 2025 at age 88.
Russian chess grandmaster and world champion from 1969 to 1972.
In 1972 Spassky faced off against American player Bobby Fischer in the World Chess Championship. For some reason the media picked up on this event, hyping it as the "Match Of The Century" and really played up the whole "U.S. vs Russia" angle. It was impossible to not be aware of the Fischer/Spassky faceoff, as it was plastered all over newspapers, magazines and TV.
Spassky ultimately lost the match to Fischer.
Joseph Wambaugh
Died February 28, 2025 at age 88.
Author of The Onion Field and The Blue Knight.
Joseph Wambaugh
Died February 28, 2025 at age 88.
Author of The Onion Field and The Blue Knight.
Died February 28, 2025 at age 75.
Johansen was a member of the New York Dolls singing group, and later adopted the persona of Buster Poindexter, singer of the perennial hit Hot Hot Hot. He occasionally dabbled in acting as well.
Died March 2, 2025 at age 67.
Voice actor best known for Space Ghost Coast To Coast (in which he voiced the title character) and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
Died March 3, 2025 at age 82.
Dean was the husband of singer/songwriter/actress/philantropist Dolly Parton. They were married for nearly sixty years (!). Dean preferred staying out of the spotlight, so there are very few photos of him out there.
Dean was a quiet man who owned his own paving company, and helped keep Parton grounded in a flashy industry. Supposedly Parton's hit Jolene was inspired by a bank teller who relentlessly flirted with Dean.
Dean would reportedly visit Parton's Dollywood amusement park, going in undercover and observing and listening to visitors, to see what improvements could be made.
After Dean's death, Parton wrote a song titled If You Hadn't Been There to commemorate him and their special relationship.
Died March 4, 2025 at age 88.
Producer of numerous Saturday morning teen sitcoms, including Saved By The Bell.
Died March 16, 2025 at age 83.
Singer for The Youngbloods, and songwriter of Darkness, Darkness.
Died March 17, 2025 at age 58.
TV writer, best known for Courage The Cowardly Dog and Parker Lewis Can't Lose.
Died March 19, 2025 at age 67.
Basketball player for the Harlem Wizards and Harlem Globetrotters, and at 7' 8", the tallest man in the US.
Died March 21, 2025 at age 77.
Boxer, Olympic champion and entrepreneur. Aside from his boxing career, Foreman was probably best known for hawking his line of George Foreman grills. Oh, and for famously naming all five of his sons after himself, which had to be confusing.
Died March 21, 2025 at age 88.
Author and political figure, as well as wife of former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis.
Died March 26, 2025 at age 98 (!).
Eisman was a comic strip artist and writer who continued several legacy strips, such as Lil' Iodine, The Katzenjammer Kids, Little Lulu and Popeye.
Died March 29, 2025 at age 90.
Actor who starred in the TV series Dr. Kildare, as well as miniseries such as The Thorn Birds and Shogun.
Died March 31, 2025 at age 101 (!).
Last of the code breakers who worked at England's melodiously-named Bletchley Park facility during WWII.
Died March 31, 2025 at age 89.
Little person actress, who generally played small characters in full body suits. She appeared as Lumpy, Chewbaccaa's Wookiee son in The Star Wars Holiday Special, and as the alien Honk in Far Out Space Nuts. She also appeared in Married... With Children, Star Trek: Voyager and My Name Is Earl, as well as doing voice over work in various cartoons. She was often paired with fellow little person Billy Barty.
Died April 1, 2025 at age 65,
Actor who appeared in dozens of films, including Top Gun, The Doors and Batman Forever.
Kilmer's death, while sad, wasn't really a surprise, as he'd been in poor health for years.
Died April 5, 2025 at age 69.
English bassist for the punk band Gang Of Four, which he eventually left to form Shriekback (one of my favorite obscure bands of the 1990s).
Died April 6, 2025 at age 73.
Actor best known for playing the title role in the Dennis The Menace TV series in the 1960s.
Died April 9, 2025 at age 90.
Actor who starred in such action films as Game Of Death, Black Belt Jones and An Eye For An Eye. Novak was famous (or is that INfamous?) for his insistence on doing all his own stunts.
Died April 13, 2025 at age 90.
English actress best known for roles in Upstairs, Downstairs, Doctor Who and Willow. She was also an Emmy-winning writer.
Died April 15, 2025 at age 91.
Winston Conrad Martindale started out as a radio DJ, but rose to fame hosting various game shows, such as Gambit, Tic-Tac-Dough, High Rollers and many more. He was also a singer.
Pope Francis
Died April 21, 2025 at age 88.
Archbishop of Buenos Aires and Roman Catholic prelate. Francis was both praised and criticized for attempting to drag the Church into the 20th Century (see what I did there?).
Died April 21, 2025 at age 88.
Archbishop of Buenos Aires and Roman Catholic prelate. Francis was both praised and criticized for attempting to drag the Church into the 20th Century (see what I did there?).
Died April 25, 2025 at age 84.
One of the few professional golfers I've heard of .
Died April 28, 2025 at age 66.
Welsh lead singer of both The Alarm and Big Country, two alt-rock bands I used to listen to back in my misspent youth.
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Died May 1, 2025 at age 66.
Singer songwriter, best known for I Kissed A Girl and Supermodel. Tragically, she died in a house fire.
Died May 1, 2025 at age 63.
Comic book artist, who worked on dozens of titles including Superman and Captain America. He also co-created the X-Men villain Apocalypse (along with writer Louise Simonson).
Died May 1, 2025 at age 88.
Comedienne and actress, best known as a regular on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. She also appeared on the Sid & Marty Krofft series The Lost Saucer.
Jim Smith
Died May 2, 2025 at age 70.
Animator who worked on The Ren & Stimpy Show and Samurai Jack. He also co-founded animation studio Spumco (with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named).
James Foley
Died May 6, 2025 at age 71.
Director who helmed such films as Glengarry Glen Ross, Who's That Girl and Fifty Shades Darker. Now THAT'S a checkered resume!
Joe Don Baker
Died May 7, 2025 at age 89.
Big, beefy actor who starred in such films as Walking Tall, Cape Fear and GoldenEye.
Baker also starred in two terrible films-- Mitchell and Final Justice-- which were endless sources of jokes for the crew over at Mystery Science Theater 3000. In fact he became one of their favorite riffing targets on the show.
Greg Cannom
Died May 9, 2025 at age 73.
Oscar-winning Hollywood makeup artist who worked on such films as Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mrs. Doubtfire and The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button.
Kafon
Died May 10, 2025 at age 42.
Tunisian rapper.
I know absolutely nothing about Kafon or his music, but included him here because I was surprised to find out there are apparently rappers in Tunisia.
Robert Benton
Died May 11, 2025 at age 92.
Oscar-winning director of Kramer Vs Kramer and Places In The Heart. Benton also wrote the script for Bonnie And Clyde.
George Wendt
Died May 20, 2025 at age 76.
Actor best known for his role as Norm Peterson on beloved 1980s sitcom Cheers.
Another one that really hurts. What horrible news! I was a huge Cheers fan back in the day, as I watched the show every week for its entire run. I loved Wendt's portrayal of loveable barfly Norm Peterson-- which earned him a whopping six Emmy nominations. Very sad to hear of his passing.
Jim Irsay
Died May 21, 2025 at age 65.
General Manager and owner of the Indianapolis Colts.
Jeff Margolis
Died May 23, 2025 at age 78.
Prolific director of numerous TV specials.
Peter David
Died May 24, 2025 at the much-too young age of just 68.
Comic book writer who had successful and well-regarded runs on The Incredible Hulk, Young Justice, Spider-Man 2099 and many more. He also authored numerous Star Trek novels.
Phil Robertson
Died May 25, 2025 at age 79.
Head of the Robertson clan of Duck Dynasty fame.
Mom always said if I can't say something nice about someone, then don't say anything at all, so....
OK, the hell with mom. Robertson was by all accounts a horrible, horrible prick. First off, he was one of these assholes who thinks all atheists all serial killers, because they don't fear divine punishment or retribution. Jesus Christ... if I had a dollar for every time I've heard that load of hogwash.
That actually speaks volumes about Robertson, as apparently the only reason he didn't go on a killing spree was so he'd get into heaven.
Robertson also spoke out against homosexuality, claimed STDs are the work of Nazis, communists and beatniks (?) and claimed blacks were happier before the civil rights era.
And at a prayer breakfast, he advised men to marry girls when they're fifteen or sixteen, and suggested picking a mate who could cook, clean and carry a bible.
He was a terrible, colossal asshole and the world's better off without him. Good riddance!
Robert Jarvik
Died May 26, 2025 at age 79.
Medical engineer who helped create the Jarvik-7 artificial heart.
Rick Derringer
Died May 26, 2025 at age 77.
Musician who wrote and sang such hits as Hang On Sloopy and Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo.
Sadly, in his later years Derringer became a rabid trumper and even appeared on Alex Jones' InfoWars propaganda fest.
Peter Kwong
Died May 27, 2025 at age 73.
Actor best known for playing Rain, one of the Three Storms in Big Trouble In Little China.
Ed Gale
Died May 27, 2025 at age 61.
Little person actor and stuntman, who appeared as various small characters in numerous sci-fi and horror films. He appeared as Chucky in Child's Play, as well as the title character in Howard The Duck.
Alf Clausen
Died May 29, 2025 at age 84.
Emmy winning composer best known for scoring for The Simpsons. He also composed music for ALF and Moonlighting, among many others.
Beans Morocco
Died May 29, 2025 at age 90.
A great example of one of those "Hey, It's That Guy" character actors, who appeared in dozens of films and TV shows.
Morocco was featured in such movies as Billy Jack, Blazing Saddles, The Big Bus, Used Cars, Eating Raoul and many more. Over on TV he guest starred on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, WKRP In Cincinnati and tons of others.
Prentis Hancock
Died May 30, 2025 at age 83.
British actor best known for playing Paul Morrow in Space: 1999.
Died May 30, 2025 at age 71.
Mahaffey wasn't a household name, but if you watched TV at all in the 1990s she was everywhere. She guest starred in Newhart, Quantum Leap, Cheers, Seinfeld, Northern Exposure, Wings, LA Law, Caroline In The City, ER, Ally McBeal, The West Wing, Frasier and many more.
I remember her best from Seinfeld, where she played Patrice, George's pretentious girlfriend who wore chopsticks in her hair, called everyone by their full name and worked in "pap-ee-yay mache." He used his "It's Not You, It's Me" routine to break up with her, inadvertently causing her to check herself into a mental hospital.
Although she had a prolific career, I always thought she should have been a much bigger star than she was.
Loretta Swit
Died May 30, 2025 at age 87.
Emmy-winning actress best known for playing Margaret Houlihan on M*A*S*H.
Oof, another one that hurts. My entire childhood's rapidly dying off! Although Swit had a handful of other credits, she was never able to recreate the massive success she had on M*A*S*H.
Jonathon Joss
Died June 1, 2025 at the much too young age of 59.
Joss was a Native American actor, who voiced John Redcorn on King Of The Hill. He was also a recurring character on Parks & Recreation, where he played Ken Hotate-- elder of the local Wamapoke Indian tribe.
Sadly, Joss-- who was gay and lived with his husband-- was the victim of a hate crime, killed by his homophobic asshole neighbor. What an awful tragedy. Jesus Fucking Christ, I thought we were beyond such vile and disgusting behavior by now. Apparently not.
Clifton Jones
Died June 4, 2025 at age 87.
Jamaican-British actor best known for playing David Kano in Space: 1999. Oddly enough, Jones was the second cast member of the show to die in the space of a week.
Kano was the Moonbase Alpha officer in charge of operating the wall-sized computer, and was apparently the only one who knew how to do it. Hey, it was the 1970s-- we didn't have laptops back then.
Sly Stone
Died June 9, 2025 at age 82.
Hall Of Fame musician and frontman for Sly And The Family Stone, where he wrote such hits as Everyday People and Family Affair.
Chris Robinson
Died June 9, 2025 at age 86.
Actor best known for playing Dr. Rick Webber on ABC soap General Hospital.
In 1982 Robinson appeared in a successful ad campaign for Vicks Formula 44 couch syrup, in which he uttered the catchphrase, "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." For some reason that line struck a chord with the public, and it was repeated and parodied for years afterward.
Frederick Forsyth
Died June 9, 2025 at age 86.
English novelist who wrote such books as The Day Of The Jackal, The Odessa File and The Fourth Protocol.
Harris Yulin
Died June 10, 2025 at age 87.
Character actor who starred in dozens of movies and TV series.
Yulin appeared in such films as Scarface, Ghostbusters II, Clear And Present Danger, Training Day and many more. On TV he guest starred in Kojack, Barnaby Jones, Ironside, Little House On The Prairie, Wonder Woman, As The World Turns, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Frasier, Murphy Brown, The X-Files and lots more.
Brian Wilson
Died June 11, 2025 at age 82.
Hall Of Fame musician, songwriter, producer and singer who co-founded The Beach Boys. His work was known for its high production values, including complex harmonies, orchestrations and vocal layering. Wilson was widely acknowledged as an innovative genius in the field of music.
He also suffered from various mental illnesses, possibly brought on by psychological abuse from his cruel and domineering father. Do yourself a favor and just listen to his music, and don't dive too deeply into his personal life.
Bobby Sherman
Died June 24, 2025 at age 81.
Singer and former teen idol, whose hits included Little Woman and Julie, Do Ya Love Me." He also dabbled in acting, starring in the TV series Here Come The Brides.
Lalo Schifrin
Died June 26, 2025 at age 93.
Grammy Award winning Argentinian composer who wrote numerous scores for TV and movies. He was best known for composing the Mission: Impossible theme.
Bill Moyers
Died June 26, 2025 at age 91.
Journalist, political commentator and former White House press secretary.
Died June 26, 2025 at age 79.
Character actor who starred in The Dukes Of Hazzard, Steel Magnolias and Earth Girls Are Easy.
Died June 27, 2025 at age 83.
Graphic designer and typographer who worked out of Oakland, California.
Parkinson specialized in hand-drawing logos. He's probably most famous for designing the logo for The Rolling Stone magazine.
Jim Shooter
Died June 30, 2025 at age 73.
Comic book writer and former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He also launched several other short lived comic companies, including Valiant, Defiant and Broadway. He was considered a controversial figure in the world of comic books.
Amazingly, Shooter began his career at the age of fourteen (!), writing The Legion Of Super-Heroes book for DC Comics. According to Shooter, he accepted the position out of necessity, in order to help his cash-strapped family.
Shooter created numerous Legion characters, such as Karate Kid, Ferro Lad and Princess Projectra. He also created Superman villain Parasite. Shooter would also occasionally draw rough pencil layouts of his plots.
In the 1970s, Shooter took over as editor-in-chief of Marvel, which at the time was suffering from a rash of late books and missed deadlines. He adopted a "dictatorial" leadership style, that whipped the company back into shape.
Shooter also instituted Marvel's creator royalty program, and started the big company-wide crossover events, such as Contest Of Champions and .
Shooter was considered a controversial figure in the world of comics, but his contributions and innovations can't be denied.
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