In Memoriam 2025: Celebrities We Lost This Year

As 2025 comes to a close, the entertainment world is reflecting on the lives and legacies of the many public figures who passed away this year. From legendary actors and musicians to influential cultural icons, these losses left a lasting impact on fans around the world.

Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner

Hollywood was stunned by the tragic deaths of acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle, who were found slain in their Los Angeles home on December 14. Their 32-year-old son, Nick Ryder, was arrested in connection with the killings and had not entered a plea by the end of the year. Reiner, celebrated for his decades-long career as a filmmaker and actor, was remembered for his creative vision and deeply personal storytelling.

Diane Keaton (79)

Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton passed away in October from pneumonia at the age of 79. Best known for her iconic role as Annie Hall, which earned her an Academy Award in 1978, Keaton enjoyed a career spanning more than five decades. Her work in films such as The Godfather trilogy cemented her place as one of Hollywood’s most distinctive performers.

Robert Redford (89)

Actor, director, and activist Robert Redford died peacefully in his sleep in September at age 89. While celebrated for classic films including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and The Way We Were, Redford was especially proud of founding the Sundance Film Festival, which transformed independent cinema worldwide.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner (54)

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, beloved for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, died in July after drowning while on vacation with his family in Costa Rica. He was 54. Warner became an Emmy nominee as a teenager and was remembered for his warmth, talent, and close bond with his family.

Val Kilmer (65)

Val Kilmer, whose career included iconic roles in Top Gun, Tombstone, and Batman Forever, passed away in April from pneumonia at age 65. Despite years of health struggles following throat cancer, Kilmer made an emotional return as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick in 2022.

Gene Hackman (95) and Betsy Arakawa

Two-time Academy Award winner Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe home in February. Hackman died from heart disease complicated by advanced Alzheimer’s, while Arakawa passed away from a rare respiratory illness. Hackman’s celebrated career spanned decades, from The French Connection to The Royal Tenenbaums.

Ozzy Osbourne (76)

Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne died in July at age 76 following a heart attack after living for years with Parkinson’s disease. A founding member of Black Sabbath, Osbourne redefined heavy metal and performed a farewell show just days before his passing.

Other Music Legends

Several influential musicians were also lost in 2025, including:

Roberta Flack (88), who died after battling ALS
D’Angelo (51), who passed away from pancreatic cancer
Brian Wilson (82) of The Beach Boys, who died from respiratory arrest
Sly Stone (82), funk pioneer, who passed after long-term lung illness

Hulk Hogan (71)

Wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan died in July at age 71 from cardiac arrest. The six-time heavyweight champion had undergone neck surgery weeks earlier and was remembered as one of the most recognizable figures in sports entertainment history.

Michelle Trachtenberg (39)

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg died in February at age 39 due to complications from diabetes. She was widely known for roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gossip Girl, and Harriet the Spy.

Loni Anderson (79)

Television icon Loni Anderson, best known for WKRP in Cincinnati, passed away in August from a rare form of cancer. She was a two-time Emmy nominee and a defining figure of 1970s television.