2025: A Year of Profound Loss for the Entertainment World

The entertainment and media industries experienced significant loss throughout 2025, saying goodbye to several prominent figures.

The summer months saw the passing of notable individuals, including celebrity chef Anne Burrell, musician Ozzy Osbourne, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and talent manager Brandon Blackstock.

In October, renowned conservationist Jane Goodall, acclaimed actress Diane Keaton, Grammy-winning R&B singer D’Angelo, and others passed away. The subsequent month brought tragic news for the sports community with the death of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland at age 24. Also in November, Oscar-nominated actress Pauline Collins died at 85 after battling Parkinson’s disease.

November commenced with the losses of actress Sally Kirkland, former ABC News correspondent Jim Avila, musician Gary “Mani” Mounfield, and Prince collaborator Jellybean Johnson.

December’s fatalities included former So You Think You Can Dance contestant Donyelle Jones, Netflix’s Country Ever After personality Criscilla Anderson, and Grammy-nominated opera singer Jubilant Sykes. Voice actor Jeff Garcia, known for voicing Sheen Estevez in Jimmy Neutron, also died, along with Marvelous Mrs. Maisel actress Wenne Alton Davis.

We look back on all the individuals who passed away in 2025: