The past year saw the loss of a remarkable group of cultural figures whose work shaped film, music, literature, and popular culture for decades.
From Hollywood royalty such as Robert Redford and Gene Hackman to visionary artists like David Lynch and Sir Tom Stoppard, their deaths marked the end of eras in their respective crafts.
Music, too, lost some of its great architects. Funk revolutionary Sly Stone, reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, soul mastermind Steve Cropper and Grammy-winning singer Roberta Flack were among those whose influence still runs through everything from pop and hip-hop to rock and R&B, whether listeners realise it or not.
In fashion, Giorgio Armani’s death closed the book on a designer who changed not just what people wore, but how power, glamour and elegance looked.
In publishing, saying goodbye to Dame Jilly Cooper and Sophie Kinsella meant losing two very different voices who nonetheless helped define British popular fiction in their own unmistakable ways.
Television and screen culture also bade farewell to figures who became fixtures of everyday life, from Diane Keaton and Val Kilmer to Andre Braugher, June Lockhart and The Vivienne — performers whose work spanned generations, genres and shifting ideas of fame itself.
Here is a look back at some of the most significant cultural losses of 2025, and the legacies that continue long after the curtain has fallen.
Robert Redford – actor/director/activist – 89
Few figures in modern American cinema cast as long a shadow as Robert Redford, whose death at 89 marked the passing of one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons.
The New York Times was the first to report the news on September 16, announcing it in a statement without a specific cause of death.
Emerging in the 1960s as a new kind of leading man, Redford became the face of a generation in films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting and All the President’s Men.
But Redford’s influence went far beyond his own performances.
As the founder of the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival, he reshaped the landscape of independent cinema, creating a platform that nurtured new voices and launched the careers of countless filmmakers.
His commitment to championing stories outside the studio system remains one of his most significant legacies, helping define what ‘indie film’ means today.
Behind the scenes, he was also a filmmaker of quiet precision, directing the Oscar-winning Ordinary People, among others.
Gene Hackman – actor – 95
Gene Hackman’s death was certainly one of the most baffling and tragic of the year.
Hackman and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the end of February, sparking a police investigation into what caused their deaths.
It was later revealed that the French Connection actor died of heart disease with advanced Alzheimer’s disease listed ‘as a significant contributory factor’.
The classical pianist, 65, battled hantavirus – a rare, infectious condition- before her death.
A legendary actor, Hackman received two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globes, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and the Silver Bear throughout his six-decade career.
The couple had been married since 1991 and moved to New Mexico from Los Angeles in 2004. They were last seen out in the Santa Fe area together in February 2025.
Born in California in 1930, Hackman enlisted in the army after lying about his age at 16, serving for four-and-a-half years in the Marines before deciding to pursue a career in acting.
Hackman appeared in countless iconic roles but will perhaps be best remembered for his two Academy Award Winning parts.
He won his first Oscar for the part of Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in William Friedkin’s thriller The French Connection (1971) and the other for Best Supporting Actor for his role as ‘Little’ Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s Western film Unforgiven (1992).
His other Oscar-nominated roles were in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), I Never Sang for My Father (1970), and Mississippi Burning (1988).
The versatile performer played over 100 roles throughout his career, including as Lex Luthor in Superman movies in the 1970s and 1980s.
Diane Keaton – actress – 79
On Saturday, October 11, a family spokesperson confirmed Diane Keaton died in California.
Keaton, who is said to have died ‘very suddenly’, is survived by her two children Dexter, 29, and Duke Keaton, 25.
The late screen star was best known for her roles in classic movies such as The Godfather and Annie Hall, for which she won an Academy Award in 1977.
Keaton was born Diane Hall in Los Angeles in 1946, and she started her career on Broadway in the late 1960s, scooping up a Tony nomination for her role in Woody Allen’s play Play it Again, Sam.
After her silver screen debut in Lovers and Other Strangers in 1970, her breakout happened when Francis Ford Coppola cast her as Kay Adams – the love interest of Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone – in 1972’s The Godfather, which won Best Picture.
She went on to appear in the full trilogy between the 70s and 90s – all three of which received critical acclaim.
Her other beloved movies include The First Wives Club, Father Of The Bride, The Family Stone and the Book Club movies.
David Lynch – filmmaker – 78
The death of David Lynch at 78 marked the loss of one of cinema’s most visionary and uncompromising auteurs.
The celebrated filmmaker behind Mulholland Drive, The Elephant Man, and the era-defining television phenomenon Twin Peaks, Lynch reshaped the boundaries of surrealist storytelling, bringing dream logic, psychological horror, and small-town Americana into the mainstream.
Lynch died on January 15, with his cause of death later confirmed as cardiac arrest due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The director had become housebound with emphysema in his final years after a lifetime of chain-smoking, and a death certificate released by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health noted COPD as an underlying condition.
His passing prompted a wave of tributes from filmmakers, actors and fans who saw in Lynch not just a director but an artist whose singular imagination reshaped the grammar of film and television.
Sir Tom Stoppard – playwright/screenwriter – 88
Sir Tom Stoppard, who died at 88, was one of Britain’s most celebrated playwrights and a defining voice of modern theatre.
Known for works such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Arcadia, and The Real Thing, he blended wit, philosophy, and emotional insight with unmatched elegance.
Beyond the stage, Stoppard also made a lasting mark on film, winning an Oscar for Shakespeare in Love and contributing to screenplays for Brazil and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Tributes hailed him as a towering intellect and a compassionate storyteller whose work reshaped contemporary drama.
The theatre legend won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the screenplay for Shakespeare in Love, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes and Dame Judi Dench.
The King and Queen led tributes to the playwright, describing him as ‘a dear friend who wore his genius lightly’.
Sir Mick Jagger described him as his ‘favourite playwright’ in a post on X.
Giorgio Armani – fashion designer – 91
Giorgio Armani was a fashion icon and the head of his eponymous brand, which reportedly generated $2.4billion in revenue last year, and dressed some of the biggest names in the world, including Lady Gaga, Julia Roberts, and George Clooney.
He was one of the most influential fashion designers of the modern era and a defining architect of contemporary style.
Rising to prominence in the 1970s and ’80s, he revolutionised fashion with his clean, fluid tailoring and minimalist aesthetic, reshaping how men and women dressed on both sides of the Atlantic.
The news of his death was confirmed in a statement by the fashion house in September. The news came months after he was forced to miss his traditional bow during a show at Men’s Fashion Week in June.
Tributes quickly flooded in on social media after the news broke, with Victoria and David Beckham penning touching tributes to the ‘legend.’
‘The fashion world has lost a true legend in Giorgio Armani – a visionary designer whose legacy will live on forever,’ the Spice Girl wrote.
‘I feel honoured to have called him a friend.’
Her footballer husband David added in a separate post: ‘A very sad day as we say goodbye to a very special man… Kind, generous, humble & a true gentleman… Giorgio Armani One of a kind 🤍’
Val Kilmer – actor – 65
Val Kilmer, star of films including Top Gun and Batman, died at the age of 65 in April after complications with pneumonia.
The legendary US actor rose to fame after starring as Iceman in the 1986 Tom Cruise action film and later played Batman in 1995’s Batman Forever.
He delivered one of his most celebrated roles as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors, immersing himself so completely in the part that he spent the year before filming dressed like the singer and frequenting his old Sunset Strip haunts.
Kilmer had a string of high-profile performances in the 90s: the mystery thriller Thunderheart, the action comedy The Real McCoy, and his turn as Elvis Presley in Tony Scott’s True Romance.
In 1995, he starred opposite Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Heat, now regarded as one of the greatest crime films ever made.
That same year, he stepped into the Batsuit for Batman Forever, though he declined to return for a sequel.
Other standout roles followed in The Ghost and the Darkness, The Saint and what Kilmer described as his most challenging performance in At First Sight.
Shannen Doherty – actress (90210, Charmed) – 53
Shannen Doherty died in July aged 53.
Her publicist confirmed the star, who was best known for roles in TV series including Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed, died after previously being diagnosed with breast cancer.
She was one of the defining television stars of the 1990s and early 2000s.
She achieved global fame as Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210, becoming a central figure in the era’s teen-drama boom, before reinventing herself as witch Prue Halliwell in the hit supernatural series Charmed.
Doherty’s death prompted tributes from across Hollywood, honouring a performer whose influence stretched far beyond her most famous roles.
Diane Ladd – actress – 80
Diane Ladd, who died at 89, was a formidable presence in American film and television.
Ladd died as a result of acute-on-chronic hypoxic respiratory failure, per her death certificate, which was obtained by People.
Perhaps best known for her role in 1974’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and its subsequent sitcom, Ladd was nominated for three Oscars and three Emmys during her career.
Ladd was also the mother of Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, 58, who announced her death.
Jurassic Park star Dern said in a heartfelt statement issued on November 3: ‘My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother, Diane Ladd, passed with me beside her this morning, at her home in Ojai, Calif.’
She added to People: ‘She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created.
‘We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.’
Tributes celebrated Ladd as a trailblazer whose career spanned generations and genres, from prestige dramas to cult favourites.
Jimmy Cliff – reggae singer – 81
Jimmy Cliff, who died at 81, was one of the towering figures of Jamaican music and a key architect in bringing reggae to global audiences.
His breakout film and soundtrack The Harder They Come (1972) introduced millions to the genre and helped ignite a worldwide cultural movement.
He died after suffering from a seizure, his wife confirmed in November.
On Instagram, his wife Latifa Chambers said: ‘It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia.
‘I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his journey with him.
‘To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career…
‘Jimmy, my darling, may you rest in peace. I will follow your wishes.’
With hits such as You Can Get It If You Really Want and Many Rivers to Cross, Cliff’s music blended political consciousness, spiritual reflection and irresistible melody, earning him a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Sly Stone – funk musician – 82
Sly Stone, best known as the frontman of The Family Stone, died at age 82 in June, with tributes from icons like Questlove and Clairo pouring in shortly after.
He was a pioneer of funk music in the late 60s and early 70s, with Questlove saying the influence Stone had would ‘echo forever’, recalling how his music ‘reached him’ in the early 1970 and ‘became part of my soul.’
‘Sly was a giant — not just for his groundbreaking work with the Family Stone, but for the radical inclusivity and deep human truths he poured into every note,’ the Roots musician wrote.
As the frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, he created a sound that was fearless, joyful and radically inclusive, creating one of the most influential bands of the late 1960s and early 70s.
With era-defining hits such as Everyday People, Dance to the Music and Family Affair, Stone reshaped pop music and helped lay the foundation for everything from disco to hip-hop.
His technical innovations—electrified basslines, kaleidoscopic arrangements, and lyrics that blended optimism with social critique—remain deeply embedded in the DNA of contemporary music.
Roberta Flack – singer – 88
Roberta Flack, known for the hit Killing Me Softly, died at the age of 88 in November, with the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Celine Dion paying tribute.
The Grammy-winner and R&B legend was first catapulted to stardom in the early 1970s with tunes such as The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
In her early 30s at the time, Flack achieved stardom practically overnight when Clint Eastwood used the ballad as the soundtrack for an explicit scene starring Donna Mills in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me.
Following this, the tune reached number one on the Billboard chart and received a Grammy for record of the year.
She was a singular presence in American music, earning her four Grammy Awards over the course of her career and a place among the era’s most influential artists.
Trained as a classical pianist, Flack blended soul, jazz, folk and pop into something unmistakably her own. Her collaborations with Donny Hathaway remain among the most cherished duets in modern music.
Dame Jilly Cooper – author – 88
Dame Jilly Cooper died after suffering a head injury following a fall at her home in October.
The acclaimed author, who penned books including the best-selling Rivals, died unexpectedly aged 88, with a statement released by her children Felix and Emily explaining they’d been left in ‘complete shock.’
Known for countless books – including Rivals, which was made into a hit Disney+ show – Dame Jilly told exuberant tales of sex, class, and scandal, ultimately transforming the face of popular fiction in the UK.
The Common Years, her memoir of walking her dogs on Putney Common, remains a reader favourite, cherished for its warmth and self-deprecating humour.
She was appointed OBE in 2004 for services to literature, an honour that was upgraded in 2024 to full Damehood.
The Queen was among those paying tribute, saying in a statement that she was ‘so saddened’ to learn of Dame Jilly’s death.
She continued: ‘Very few writers get to be a legend in their own lifetime but Jilly was one, creating a whole new genre of literature and making it her own through a career that spanned over five decade.’
She added: ‘I join my husband The King in sending our thoughts and sympathies to all her family.’
Sophie Kinsella – author – 55
Sophie Kinsella, best known for writing the beloved Shopaholic book series, died aged 55, just two days before her birthday on December 10.
The author, whose real name was Madeleine Sophie Wickham, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in 2022.
A statement posted to her Instagram account read: ‘We are heartbroken to announce the passing this morning of our beloved Sophie (aka Maddy, aka Mummy). She died peacefully, with her final days filled with her true loves: family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy.
‘We can’t imagine what life will be like without her radiance and love of life.
‘Despite her illness, which she bore with unimaginable courage, Sophie counted herself truly blessed – to have such wonderful family and friends, and to have had the extraordinary success of her writing career. She took nothing for granted and was forever grateful for the love she received.
‘She will be missed so much, our hearts are breaking.’
Kinsella wrote 10 books in the Shopaholic series and sold over 45 million copies across 60 countries in more than 40 languages.
In 2009, her first two books — The Secret Dreamworld Of A Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad — were adapted into a film starring Isla Fisher called Confessions of a Shopaholic.
Hulk Hogan – professional wrestler – 71
Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan died at the age of 71 in July following cardiac arrest.
The former world champion, real name Terry Bollea, was one of the biggest names in the sport, and most recently worked as a WWE brand ambassador.
His family confirmed the news to Us Weekly, with the Clearwater Police Department later providing more details.
‘Just before 10 AM, Clearwater Police Department responded to a house in the 1000 block of El Dorado Avenue for a medical related call,’ Major Nate Burnside said. ‘It was discovered at that time that Terry Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, was experiencing a serious medical related issue.’
He was one of the most recognisable figures in global sports entertainment.
As the face of the WWF (now WWE) during the 1980s boom, Hogan’s larger-than-life persona – complete with his trademark moustache, bandana and ‘Whatcha gonna do?’ catchphrase – turned him into a pop-culture icon.
Beyond the ring, Hogan became a fixture of American pop culture, starring in films, reality television, commercials and video games.
Ace Frehley – Kiss lead guitarist – 74
Kiss lead guitarist Ace Frehley died aged 74 in October from injuries suffered during a previous fall.
Frehley’s family, who were with him when he died in Morristown, New Jersey, have now confirmed the news in an emotional statement, which reads: ‘We are completely devastated and heartbroken.
‘In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth.
‘We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others.’
Frehley was the founding lead guitarist of KISS, known by fans as The Spaceman.
His work on albums such as KISS, Destroyer and Love Gun became central to the group’s rise as one of the biggest and most theatrical rock acts in the world.
Frehley’s 1978 solo album, released alongside the other KISS members’ individual records, was widely regarded as the standout of the four, spawning the hit New York Groove.
June Lockhart – actress – 100
June Lockhart, one of the last surviving stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, died aged 100 in October.
The American actress began her career in the 1930s, with early notable roles coming in classics like A Christmas Carol and Meet Me in St. Louis.
In the subsequent decades, she predominantly appeared on television, including in one of her most recognisable roles, the mother in Lassie, Lost in Space, and Petticoat Junction.
A two-time Emmy Award nominee and Tony Award winner, Lockhart’s career spanned nearly nine decades.
The Vivienne – drag star – 32
The Vivienne, real name James Lee Williams, died at 32 in January. She was one of the breakout stars of modern British drag and a defining figure in the UK’s contemporary queer entertainment landscape.
Rising to national fame as the winner of the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, she quickly became one of its most recognisable and beloved performers.
Beyond the show, The Vivienne expanded her career across television, music and live performance, making appearances on programmes such as Dancing on Ice and using her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance.
Steve Cropper – guitar legend and songwriter – 84
Steve Cropper was a legendary guitarist and songwriter whose sound helped define modern soul and R&B. He died at the age of 84 in December.
A founding member of Booker T. & the MG’s, Cropper was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, shaping the distinctive Stax Records sound that powered an era of American music.
Beyond his work as a performer, Cropper was a prolific songwriter and producer. He co-wrote some of the most enduring songs in popular music, including Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay, In the Midnight Hour and Knock On Wood, collaborating closely with artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and Eddie Floyd.
Cropper’s influence stretched far beyond soul, echoing through rock, funk and pop, and shaping artists from the Rolling Stones to the Blues Brothers, with whom he later toured and recorded.
Linda Nolan – Nolan Sisters singer – 65
Linda Nolan died aged 65 after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer.
The Irish singer, who rose to fame at the age of 15 alongside her sisters in the group The Nolans, died in January, her family has confirmed.
The sisters became one of the most successful female acts of the late 1970s and early 1980s, creating a string of international hits including I’m In the Mood for Dancing, Gotta Pull Myself Together and Attention to Me.
The Nolans scored seven UK top 20 hits in total and built an enormous international following – particularly in Japan. They even toured with Frank Sinatra in the 70s.
Linda left the group in 1983 to pursue a solo career and found additional success in musical theatre.
In 1979, Linda met Brian Hudson and married him in 1981 despite their 13-year age gap. The pair remained married until Brian’s death in 2007.
Beyond music, she became a familiar face on British television, appearing regularly on panel shows, reality programmes and talk shows, where she was known for her warmth and candour.
In later years, Nolan spoke openly about her health battles, earning admiration for her resilience and honesty. Tributes remembered her not only for her pop legacy, but for her humour, openness and enduring presence in British popular culture.
Julian McMahon – actor – 56
Julian McMahon, famous for his roles in Nip/Tuck, Fantastic Four, and more, died on July 2 in Clearwater, Florida, with his wife, Kelly McMahon, sharing a statement.
‘With an open heart, I wish to share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon, died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer,’ she began.
The 56-year-old had previously been diagnosed with cancer, which he faced privately, having not shared his condition with fans.
The Australian actor was best known for his television roles, including as plastic surgeon Christian Troy in the hit drama Nip/Tuck and as Cole Turner in the supernatural series Charmed.
His performance in Nip/Tuck made him an international star and earned him critical praise for bringing charm and menace in equal measure to one of television’s most provocative anti-heroes.
Born in Sydney in 1968, McMahon was the son of former Australian prime minister Sir William McMahon. He began his career as a model before transitioning into acting, first in Australian television and later in Hollywood.
Alongside his TV success, McMahon also appeared in films, most notably as villain Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
Marianne Faithfull – singer and actress – 78
Marianne Faithfull died aged 78, with tributes pouring in from across music, film and fashion.
The singer and actress rose to fame in the 1960s as one of the defining figures of the era’s counterculture, scoring an early hit with As Tears Go By before becoming a muse and It Girl of the Swinging Sixties.
She had a high profile relationship with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger in the 1960s, inspiring songs such as Wild Horses and You Can’t Always Get What You Want.
Paying tribute, Jagger described Faithfull as ‘a wonderful friend, a beautiful singer and a great actress.’
The singer had previously suffered multiple health problems, including bulimia, breast cancer, and emphysema caused by decades of smoking.
Faithfull’s 1979 album Broken English is widely regarded as her masterpiece, transforming her image and sound and cementing her reputation as an artist of depth and emotional ferocity.
Alongside music, she built a respected acting career, appearing in films including The Girl on a Motorcycle, Irina Palm and Marie Antoinette.
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