Looking Back on All the Devastating Celebrity Deaths From 2025

On the morning of October 1, Dr. Jane Goodall died passed away at the age of 91 while on a U.S. speaking tour. “Dr. Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” read a statement from her institute.

TMZ was the first to break the news about Joshua’s death, and it was later revealed that the So You Think You Can Dance season 4 winner was struck and killed by a train.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid star Robert Redford passed away in September at 89. In a statement, a rep for the actor/director confirmed that Robert died in “the place he loved surrounded by those he loved,” which was in his Utah home.

Legendary Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani passed away in September at the age of 91. Per a statement from Armani Group, Giorgio “passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones.” The press release also stated that the designer “worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects.”

Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband, former music manager Brandon Blackstock died in August after a three year battle with cancer. He and Kelly shared two children, River Rose, 11, and Remy Alexander, 8. He is also survived by his two children from a previous relationship, Savannah and Seth Blackstock.

WWE superstar-turned reality star-turned MAGA hype man Hulk Hogan passed away in July at 71. A WWE Hall of Famer, Hulk Hogan—né Terry Gene Bollea—was a controversial figure both in and out of the ring. He is survived by his daughter Brooke Hogan and son Nick Hogan.

Rocker Ozzy Osbourne died in July, just two weeks after he performed his farewell concert, “Back to the Beginning.” The Black Sabbath frontman and reality TV show pioneer was 76.

The Cosby Show star, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, died in July after accidentally drowning off the cost of Costa Rica. The actor is survived by his wife and daughter, as well as his mother, who remembered him in a touching Instagram post.

“Malcolm was an exceptional husband, father, and son—a man deeply in love with life, his wife, and his daughter. He was not only my son, but also my teacher, coach, confidant, business partner, and best friend,” she wrote.

Actor Julian McMahon died in early July at the age of 56, following a battle with cancer. Julian was best known for starring in the hit Nip/Tuck as well as Charmed.

“Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans,” his wife, Kelly McMahon, said in a statement. “His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible.” Julian is survived by his daughter, Madison McMahon.

Actor Jonathan Joss died in June after being shot by a neighbor in San Antonio in what his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, believed was a hate crime.

Jonathan's death shocked fans, who knew him as the voice of John Redcorn on King of the Hill and Chief Ken Hotate on Parks and Recreation. “Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate,” Nick Offerman said in a statement to People. “A terrible tragedy.”

If you watched television in the last twenty years, odds are you've seen Valerie Mahaffey's work. The actor starred in Northern Exposure, Desperate Housewives, and Young Sheldon, to name a few. She passed away following a battle with cancer in May. She was 71.

Cheers fans said goodbye to actor George Wendt in May. The actor, best known for playing Norm in the iconic sitcom, was 76. “George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” his family said in a statement.

Drag queen and RuPaul's Drag Race fan-favorite Jiggly Caliente died on April 27 after battling “a severe infection” that required a leg amputation, per a statement posted on her Instagram. In the statement, her family called the artist, also known as Bianca Castro, as “a luminous presence,” noting, “The joy she shared and the space she helped create for so many will remain for ever.”

Actor Val Kilmer, known for his work in Top Gun and Batman Forever died of pneumonia on April 1. The actor had taken a bit of a step back from the industry in recent years, ever since he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. He was 65 years old.

R&B singer Angie Stone died in early March, per a report by the AP, after the car she was riding in reportedly flipped over and was hit by a big rig. Angie was a Grammy-nominated singer and is survived by her children, Diamond and Michael Archer.

Dolly Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, passed away and will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with his immediate family attending. “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,” the pop culture icon wrote in a statement on Instagram.

Michelle Trachtenberg passed away on February 26 after complications from a recent liver transplant, per her rep.

“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” they said, per ABC. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”

The actor was known for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gossip Girl, and Ice Princess.

According to the Associated Press, Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead in their Santa Fe home when deputies went to check on their welfare on February 26. Their official cause of death is still being investigated.