February
The year 2025 witnessed the passing of several influential figures from various fields. Here are some of the most well-known personalities who left us during this period.
- 4: Karim AGA KHAN IV, 88 years old, philanthropist and spiritual leader of the Isma’ili Muslims.
- 8: Sam NUJOMA, 95 years old, Namibia’s first president and father of independence obtained from South Africa in 1990.
- 18: Gene HACKMAN, 95 years old, a key figure in New Hollywood and an Oscar-winning actor for “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven.”
April
- 1: Val KILMER, 65 years old, American actor who played the antagonist to Tom Cruise in “Top Gun.”
- 13: Mario VARGAS LLOSA, 89 years old, Spanish-Peruvian writer and Nobel Prize in Literature laureate in 2010.
- 21: Jorge Mario BERGOGLIO, 88 years old, Pope Francis, elected in 2013, the first Jesuit pope and Argentinian who emphasized marginalized groups in his message without reforming traditional Catholic doctrine.
May
- 13: José “Pepe” MUJICA, 89 years old, former president of Uruguay (2010-2015), a leftist Latin American figure and ex-guerrilla known as the “poorest president in the world.”
- 23: Sebastiao SALGADO, 81 years old, Brazilian-French photographer renowned for his images of human tragedies and planetary issues.
- 30: Etienne Emile BAULIEU, 98 years old, inventor of the abortion pill.
June
- 3: Edmund WHITE, 85 years old, American novelist and a key figure in LGBTQ+ literature.
- 9: Frederic FORSYTH, 86 years old, master of British spy novels, author of “The Day of the Jackal” (1971).
- 11: Brian WILSON, 82 years old, musician and founder of the Beach Boys.
- 14: Violeta CHAMORRO, 95 years old, former president of Nicaragua (1990-1997) who defeated Daniel Ortega in elections and brought peace to the country.
- 23: Lea MASSARI, 91 years old, Italian actress known for “La aventura.”
- 26: Lalo SCHIFRIN, 93 years old, film music composer known for scores like “Mission Impossible.”
July
- 22: Ozzy OSBOURNE, 76 years old, British singer of Black Sabbath, one of the pioneering hard rock bands.
- 24: Hulk HOGAN, 71 years old, American wrestling legend and actor.
- 31: Bob WILSON, 83 years old, American director known for original creations in theater and opera.
August
- 6: Eddie PALMIERI, 88 years old, American pianist and legendary salsa musician who revolutionized Latin music.
- 7: Jim LOVELL, 97 years old, American astronaut and commander of the near-disastrous Apollo 13 mission in 1970.
- 11: Miguel URIBE, 39 years old, Colombian senator and presidential hopeful, died after two months in intensive care following a shooting at a public event.
September
- 4: Giorgio ARMANI, 91 years old, Italian fashion designer and luxury empire builder.
- 6: Rosa Tarlovsky de ROISINBLIT, 106 years old, Argentinian activist of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo.
- 6: Rick DAVIES, 81 years old, British singer and co-founder of the rock band Supertramp.
- 10: Charlie KIRK, 31 years old, American influencer and conservative activist associated with Donald Trump, killed by a shooting.
- 16: Robert REDFORD, 89 years old, iconic American actor and champion of independent cinema in the United States.
- 23: Claudia CARDINALE, 87 years old, Italian-French actress and icon of Italian cinema, muse to great directors.
October
- 1: Jane GOODALL, 91 years old, British primatologist and emblematic figure in the environmental cause and chimpanzee ambassador.
- 11: Diane KEATON, 79 years old, American actress known for her roles in Woody Allen films and “The Godfather.”
November
- 3: Dick CHENEY, 84 years old, former vice president under George W. Bush (2001-2009) and one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history.
- 6: James WATSON, 97 years old, Nobel Prize in Medicine co-discoverer of the DNA structure and known for sexist and racist comments.
- 24: Jimmy CLIFF, 81 years old, Jamaican singer and reggae legend.
December
- 5: Frank GEHRY, 96 years old, architect known for works like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
- 6: Martin PARR, 73 years old, British photographer famous for saturated-color images and ironic perspectives on consumer society.
- 14: Rob REINER, 78 years old, American film director and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, found dead from stabbing in their Los Angeles home.
- 16: Antony PRICE, 80 years old, British designer who dressed pop legends like Mick Jagger and David Bowie.
- 17: Peter ARNETT, 91 years old, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and prominent war correspondent.
- 26: Perry BAMONTE, 65 years old, known as “Teddy,” became a full member of The Cure in 1990.
