The entertainment world has lost a range of stars in 2025, including Diane Keaton, Robert Redford, The Vivienne, D'Angelo, Michelle Trachtenberg, David Lynch, Patricia Routledge, Roberta Flack and Ozzy Osbourne

The Vivienne/David Lynch/D’Angelo/Patricia Routledge/Brian Wilson/Diane Keaton/Michelle Trachtenberg/Ozzy Osbourne Robert Redford

(Roberta Flack?)

As the year draws to a close, many of us will be celebrating and looking forward to what lies ahead in 2026.

However, for others, this time of the year also means pausing for reflection, and remembering those who are no longer with us.

Over the last 12 months, we’ve lost many famous faces, including Hollywood legends Diane Keaton and Robert Redford, British acting greats like Dame Patricia Routledge and Prunella Scales and legendary musicians including Brian Wilson, Ozzy Osbourne, Roberta Flack and D’Angelo.

With that in mind, we’re paying tribute to the celebrities and public figures who died in 2025...

January

Wayne Osmond

Wayne Osmond, a founding member and guitarist for The Osmonds, died on 1 January in Salt Lake City.

As well as singing and playing guitar in the family band,

Wayne was a singer and guitarist for the family band, Wayne also co-wrote some of their best-known songs, including Crazy Horses, Let Me In and Down By The Lazy River.

Paying tribute on X, his brother Donny Osmond said: “Wayne brought so much light, laughter, and love to everyone who knew him, especially me. He was the ultimate optimist and was loved by everyone.”

Jeff Baena

The filmmaker Jeff Baenadied in January at the age of 47. Best known for his collaborations with his wife Aubrey Plaza, he directed Life After Beth, The Little Hours, and co-wrote I Heart Huckabees with David O. Russell.

“His juxtaposition of intellect and creativity challenged us,” Jeff’s family wrote in a tribute originally published by the Miami Herald. “He embraced independent filmmaking because of his unalterable distaste for institutional guardrails on creativity.”

The Vivienne

Drag performer and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne died at their home in Chester, aged just 32.

The performer, real name James Lee Williams, appeared on the first series of Drag Race UK and later returned for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 7 as the only contestant from a franchise outside of the US.

“With a broken heart, I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne – an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being,” RuPaul shared in an Instagram post dedicated to the Welsh-born performer.

Peter Yarrow

Peter Yarrow was part of the legendary folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. The guitarist and singer co-wrote the group’s most enduring song, Puff The Magic Dragon, and was a civil rights and anti-war activist.

Over the course of his career, Peter and his bandmates released three Top 30 singles and won five Grammys.

“Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life. The world knows Peter Yarrow the iconic folk activist, but the human being behind the legend is every bit as generous, creative, passionate, playful, and wise as his lyrics suggest,” his daughter Bethany said in a statement.

Sam Moore

Sam Moore was best known as one half of the R&B duo Sam & Dave. He died in January, after more than six decades of making music.

Best known for their 1968 songs Hold On, I’m Comin and Soul Man, Sam & Dave were Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, as well as being part of the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

Tony Slattery

British comedian Tony Slattery was best known for his work on the 1980s improvisational comedy Whose Line Is It Anyway.

Outside of his comedy work, he had serious roles in films such as The Crying Game, Peter’s Friends and How To Get Ahead In Advertising. He also earned an Olivier Award nomination for his performance as Gordon in Tim Firth’s 1995 play, Neville’s Island.

Linda Nolan

Linda Nolan died in January, two decades after first being diagnosed with cancer. Best known as part of the 1970s band The Nolans, alongside her sisters, they became the first Irish act to sell more than a million records worldwide, and went on to sell 30 million records.

After the group disbanded in the 80s, Linda appeared in a West End production of Blood Brothers, was a Daily Mirror columnist and wrote a best-selling memoir about her career and health struggles.

“Her wit, humour and laughter was infectious, her presence could light up any room,” her sister, Loose Women panellist Coleen Nolan, wrote on Instagram.

“Linda had a heart full of compassion and always knew how to bring comfort and joy to those around her,” Coleen added.

Jeannot Szwarc

Jeannot Szwarc was a prolific film and TV director whose career spanned over six decades before his retirement. The director is best known for making Jaws 2, 1984’s Supergirl film and Santa Claus: The Movie starring Dudley Moore.

In addition to his film career, Jeannott had most recently directed episodes of shows including The Practice, Heroes and Grey’s Anatomy.

Donald Pelmear

Donald Pelmears was a prolific English stage actor who spent more than four decades performing, appearing as Thomas in A Man For All Seasons.

Aside from his work on stage, Donald also appeared in numerous British TV shows throughout his career, most notably playing Professor Joseph Rubeish in the 1974 Doctor Who serial The Time Warrior.

Paul Danan

Paul Danan rose to fame at the age of 19, playing tearaway Sol Patrick in Hollyoaks for four years.

In addition to his acting career, Paul also became known for his regular reality TV appearances, taking part in Celebrity Love Island in 2005 and 2006, as well as competing on Celebrity Coach Trip and Celebrity Big Brother.

David Lynch

David Lynch was one of the most iconic figureheads in postwar cinema. He made his debut with the experimental 1977 film Eraserhead, which launched him as one of the most exciting directors of the era.

Blue Velvet then launched him into the mainstream in 1986, while his TV whodunnit Twin Peaks cemented his status as a creative icon. The four-time Oscar nominee’s other work includes The Elephant Man, Mulholland Drive and Lost Highway.

His style even became immortalised as an adjective in the Oxford dictionary, with a “Lynchian” style being described as blurring “surreal or sinister elements with the mundane”.

Dame Joan Plowright

Dame Joan Plowright is one of the most iconic actors to ever come out of Britain. Her career spanned 60 years, and included an Oscar nomination for the 1991 film Enchanted April, as well as a Tony Award for her role in A Taste Of Honey.

Although committed to the stage, and closely associated with The National Theatre, she made numerous on-screen appearances throughout her career, with some of her notable credits including 1960’s The Entertainer, Equus, alongside Richard Burton, and the live-action adaptation of 101 Dalmatians.

Dame Joan’s most recent appearance was in the 2018 BBC documentary Nothing Like A Dame, in which a new generation fell in love with her shrewd wit.

In 1961, she wed Lawrence Olivier, with whom she was married until his death in 1989. She retired from acting in 2014 after being declared legally blind.

Lynn Ban

Bling Empire: New York star and Singaporean jewellery designer Lynn Ban died in January, following a skiing accident weeks earlier, on Christmas Eve.

She became a cult figure thanks to her long-running role as a cast member of the Netflix reality show Bling Empire and its spinoff, Bling Empire: New York.

As a designer, her work had been worn by the likes of Madonna, Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Cardi B and Billie Eilish.

Garth Hudson

Eric “Garth” Hudson was a musician best known for playing keyboards and saxophone for The Band, and was the last surviving member of the 60s and 70s rock group.

Garth was also the organist with the Hawks, who backed Bob Dylan on his tumultuous first tour, before he joined The Band in the late 1960s.

“He played brilliantly, in a more complex way than anybody we had ever jammed with,” The Band’s guitarist and songwriter Robbie Roberts wrote in his 2016 memoir. “Most of us had just picked up our instruments as kids and plowed ahead, but Garth was classically trained and could find musical avenues on the keyboard we didn’t know existed. It impressed us deeply.”

Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull was a singer-songwriter and actor, who became one of the most famous faces of 1960s Swinging London.

As a singer, she had four top 10 singles in 1965, including As Tears Go By, while her acting career included performing in Chekov on stage with Glenda Jackson, playing Ophelia in the 1969 adaptation of Hamlet and portraying Empress Maria Theresa in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette.

In 1979, she released the Grammy-winning Broken English, which is often cited as her best work.

February

Lee Joo-Sil

Lee Joo-Sil is best known for playing Hwang Jun-ho’s mother in the second season of Squid Game. The South Koren actor died at the age of 81, from stomach cancer.

Her career started on stage in 1965 before she moved on-screen for the last 30 years of her career.

Some of her on-screen work included 1993’s The Uninvited, playing Seok-woo’s mum in Train To Busan, as well as 2020’s The Uncanny Counter.

P.H. Moriarty

P.H. Moriarty

Character actor P.H. Moriarty became known with his iconic “bad guy” roles, which included playing Razors in The Long Good Friday and Hatchet Harry in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Born Paul Moriarty, he also played Gurney Halleck in the Sci Fi Channel’s 2000 miniseries adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune, and its 2003 sequel.

His final film role was in 2021’s Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins, before his death at the age of 86.

Irv Gotti

Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. – known professionally as Irv Gotti or DJ Irv – was one of the pioneers of 1990s hip-hop, and died in February at the age of 54.

Best known as the founder of the record label Murder Inc., the writer/producer’s signature sound shaped the music industry in the 1990s and 2000s. He was considered instrumental in the careers of Ja Rule, Ashanti and DMX, with his hits including Jennifer Lopez’s Ain’t It Funny, Ashanti’s Always On Time and Foolish and Fat Joe’s song What’s Luv?.

In a joint statement, his three children, Angie, Sonny and JJ remembered him as “an incredible man” and “a true visionary who transformed the hip-hop industry and changed the game for artists and fans alike”.

Tony Roberts

Frequent Woody Allen collaborator Tony Roberts appeared in six of the director’s films, most notably playing Alvy’s best friend in Annie Hall.

Tony also worked with Sidney Lumet, appearing inSerpico and Just Tell Me What You Want.

He made his Broadway debut in 1962 and was nominated twice for a Tony Award, for How Now, Dow Jones and Play It Again, Sam.

Peter “Navy” Tuiasosopo

The actor and former professional American footballer is known for his role as E. Honda in 1994’s Street Fighter. Due to his large stature, he often played guards and authority figures.

Peter also appeared in the 1991 football film Necessary Roughness as Manuman, starred as Willie Dumaine in 12 Rounds alongside John Cena and played two different characters in New Girl.

Biff Wiff

Gary Crotty – known professionally as Biff Wiff – had a career spanning decades, and is best known for his appearances on I Think You Should Leave Now.

He had a long and varied career, which included starring in Moonlighting, Night Court, Roseanne, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

More recently, he played a minor role in the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All At Once, and in 2023, portrayed a supporting character in Self Reliance.

Rick Buckler

Rick Buckler was most famous as the drummer in The Jam, who rose to fame in the late 1970s.

The Jam had 18 consecutive UK top 40 singles from their debut in 1977 to their break-up in December 1982, with their biggest hits including Going Underground and A Town Called Malice.

“I’m shocked and saddened by Rick’s passing,” his bandmate Paul Weller wrote on Facebook following Rick’s death at the age of 69.

Paul recalled: “I’m thinking back to us all rehearsing in my bedroom in Stanley Road, Woking. To all the pubs and clubs we played at as kids, to eventually making a record. What a journey!”

Gene Hackman

Two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, both died in February.

Gene was considered one of the most respected actors of all time, starring in films like The French Connection, playing Lex Luthor in 1978’s Superman and Wes Anderson’s The French Connection.

Chris Jasper

Chris Jasper was a member of the soul group The Isley Brothers, acting as a vocalist, keyboardist and percussionist. He also contributed to many of their hits, including Between The Sheets and For The Love Of You.

After the band parted ways, he formed Isley-Jasper-Isley with Ernie and Marvin Isley in 1984, releasing 17 albums in total.

In 2014, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022.

Following his death at 73, the Isley Brothers paid tribute to Chris, saying: “Chris Jasper wasn’t just a musician – he was a musical genius, a lyricist, an extended member of the Isley family, a pioneer, and a key part of the sound that shaped generations.”

Robert John

Singer Robert John, best known for his signature high-pitched vocals and his 1979 hit Sad Eyes, died in February 2025 at the age of 79.

Roberts’ first hit the charts in the late 1960s with If You Don’t Want My Love, before going on to achieve success with a cover of The Tokens’ classic The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

Roberta Flack

Killing Me Softly With His Song singer Roberta Flack died at the age of 88, after a 50-year career in the music industry.

The soul singer landed her first hit single when she was in her 30s, after her recording of Ewan MacColl’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was used to soundtrack 1971’s Play Misty For Me.

“The great thing about not having the ability to see with your eyes is the great opportunity of being able to even better see with your heart. And so I knew how beautiful Roberta was, not seeing her visually but being able to see and feel her heart,” Steve Wonder said during her memorial service.

Michelle Tratchenberg

Buffy The Vampire Slayer actor Michelle Trachtenberg died suddenly in February 2025, aged just 39 shocked.

Michelle first rose to fame as a child actor, starring in a number of Nickelodeon projects including the film Harriet the Spy. Her other credits included EuroTrip, Ice Princess and playing Emma in Weeds.

She is still most well-known for playing Buffy’s little sister Dawn in the 90s supernatural show, as well as playing Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl.

Chris Hughes

Quizzer Chris Hughes was a resident expert on the gameshow Eggheads for over two decades, appearing on the original line-up when the show first aired in 2003 until 2023.

Before becoming one of the country’s leading quizzers, he worked as a train driver and railway worker.

He won Mastermind and International Mastermind in 1983 and was crowned Brain of Britain in 2005.

“Chris joined the show at the very start in 2003 and over the next 20 years gave us not only brilliant answers but very many laughs and happy memories,” an Eggheads spokesperson wrote on Facebook in tribute.

David Johansen

Singer and musician David Johansen was best known for being the frontman of the seminal punk band New York Dolls.

After the group disbanded in 1976, David started a solo career, which led to him supporting The Who on tour.

He also worked in film and television, playing the Ghost of Christmas Past in 1988’s Scrooged

opposite Bill Murray. He also appeared in Let It Ride, Mr. Nanny and the TV series, Oz.

March

Angie Stone

Hip-hop pioneer Angie Stone died in a road accident in March 2025, at the age of 63. Her girl band Sequence signed with Sugar Hill Records in the 1970s, and their 1979 hit Funk You Up went on to be sampled by the likes of Dr. Dre and En Vogue.

Angie’s 1990s solo work defined neo-soul and earned her three Grammy nominations. She also penned songs for artists such as D’Angelo, Erykah Badu and Raphael Saadiq, and appeared in films throughout the 2000s, including The Fighting Temptations and The Hot Chick.

Joey Molland

Muscian Joey Molland was the last surviving core member of rock band Badfinger. The band is most famous for penning Without You, the song covered by Harry Nilsson and Mariah Carey.

In addition to his work with Badfinger, he had a close relationship with The Beatles, playing on John Lennon’s Imagine, George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass and Ringo Starr’s It Don’t Come Easy.

Kathryn Apanowicz

British actor Kathryn Apanowicz first came to fame playing the role of caterer Magda Czajkowski in EastEnders during the late 1980s.

She also played Rose Butchins in the BBC medical drama Angels, while in the 2000s, she became better known for her role as a TV presenter, working on ITV’s daytime show Live Talk and BBC Radio Leeds.

Kathryn was the partner of former Countdown host Richard Whiteley until his death in 2005.

Writing on social media, her friend Carol Vorderman paid tribute: “Now, she will be with him again, at his side, where she was always at her happiest. Rest in peace my friend,” she said.

Pamela Bach

Former Baywatch star Pamela Bach was married to her co-star David Hasselhoff until 2006, after the pair met on the set of the TV series Knight Rider.

Pamela was best known for playing cafe owner Kaye Morgan in the popular lifeguard series Baywatch, alongside David

Her other acting credits included Cheers, The Fall Guy, T.J. Hooker and Superboy. In 2011, she finished ninth on 2011’s Celebrity Big Brother.

Brian James

Brian James was the founding guitarist of the trailblazing British punk band The Damned. He wrote the first British punk single, New Rose, and performed lead vocals on their pioneering debut 1977 album, Damned Damned Damned.

After leaving the group in the early 80s, Brian collaborated with Iggy Pop as a member of his touring band.

His The Damned bandmate Captain Sensible paid tribute to the guitarist on social media, remembering him as “a lovely bloke that I feel so lucky to have met all those years ago and for some reason chose me to help in his quest for the music revolution that became known as punk”.

Simon Fisher-Becker

Simon Fisher-Becker had a long career on stage and screen, but is best known for playing the Fat Friar in the Harry Potter franchise. He also played Dorium Maldovar in three episodes of Doctor Who.

“Simon was also a writer, a raconteur and a great public speaker. He helped me out enormously and was kind, gracious and interested in everyone. My condolences go to his husband Tony, his brother, nieces and nephews and his legion of fans,” his manager Kim Barry said in a statement.

Stedman Pearson

Stedman Pearson from the British pop group Five Star died in March, at the age of 60.

The band, which he performed in alongside his siblings Deniece, Lorraine, Doris and Delroy, were often considered the British equivalent to the Jackson Five.

In a statement, his family said: “He was a........

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