The year 2025 saw the passing of numerous influential figures across film, music, literature, and fashion. Among those remembered were filmmakers David Lynch and Robert Redford, actors Gene Hackman, Diane Keaton, Val Kilmer, and Andre Braugher, and musicians Chris Rea, Sly Stone, Jimmy Cliff, and Roberta Flack. The fashion world mourned the loss of Giorgio Armani, while literature bid farewell to Dame Jilly Cooper and Sophie Kinsella.
Chris Rea, known for his Christmas hit "Driving Home for Christmas," passed away at 74 after a short illness. Actor James Ransone, best known for his role in "The Wire," died by suicide at 46. Filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were tragically found murdered in their home. Heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne died at 76 due to cardiac arrest.
Robert Redford, an enduring Hollywood icon, died at 89, leaving a significant legacy through his acting and his establishment of the Sundance Institute. Gene Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, passed away at 95 from heart disease, with Alzheimer's as a contributing factor. His wife, Betsy Arakawa, also died from a rare infectious condition. Diane Keaton, an Oscar-winning actress celebrated for her roles in "The Godfather" and "Annie Hall," died suddenly at 79. Visionary filmmaker David Lynch, acclaimed for "Mulholland Drive" and "Twin Peaks," died at 78 from cardiac arrest related to COPD.
Stone Roses bassist Gary "Mani" Mounfield died at 63. Playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, an Oscar winner for "Shakespeare in Love," died at 88. Fashion designer Giorgio Armani, a transformative figure in modern style, died at 91. Actor Val Kilmer, known for "Top Gun" and "Batman," died at 65 from pneumonia complications. Actress Diane Ladd, a three-time Oscar nominee, died at 89. Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, who brought the genre to global audiences with "The Harder They Come," died at 81 after a seizure. Funk pioneer Sly Stone, frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, died at 82. Grammy-winning singer Roberta Flack, famed for "Killing Me Softly," died at 88. Author Dame Jilly Cooper, known for her vibrant novels, died at 88 after a fall. "Shopaholic" author Sophie Kinsella died at 55 after a battle with glioblastoma. Wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan died at 71 from cardiac arrest. Kiss lead guitarist Ace Frehley died at 74 from injuries sustained in a fall. Actress June Lockhart, a star of Hollywood's Golden Age, died at 100. Drag queen The Vivienne died at 32 from cardiac arrest due to ketamine use. Guitar legend and songwriter Steve Cropper, a foundational figure in soul and R&B, died at 84. Singer Linda Nolan of The Nolans died at 65 from secondary breast cancer. Actor Julian McMahon, known for "Nip/Tuck," died at 56 after a private battle with cancer. Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull, a counterculture icon of the 1960s, died at 78.