From Pope Francis to Charlie Kirk: 2025's notable deaths

The death of Pope Francis brought change to the Catholic Church, which counts 1.4 billion adherents and is now led — for the first time — by an American pope. The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as he spoke before a crowd horrified many and prompted somber conversations about political violence.

They were among the noteworthy and influential people who died in 2025 where the deaths themselves had a widespread impact.

The deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife became a source of both sadness and mystery after their bodies were found in their home in February. Authorities ultimately determined that Hackman, who was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, died of heart disease, likely unaware that Betsy Arakawa had died from hantavirus a week earlier.

Meanwhile, the death of heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, which came just weeks after his farewell concert, marked the end of an era in music. The year also saw the death of boxing great George Foreman, who memorably lost a much-watched match to Muhammad Ali but whose career had inspiring second and third acts as a world champion and successful business owner.

And the world said goodbye this year to Dick Cheney, the hard-charging conservative whose long career in public service included becoming one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history under President George W. Bush.

Here is a roll call of some influential figures who have died this year:

Wayne Osmond, 73. The singer and guitarist was a founding member of The Osmonds, a million-album-selling family act known for such 1970s teen hits as “One Bad Apple,” “Yo-Yo” and “Down By the Lazy River.” Jan. 1.

Peter Yarrow, 86. The singer-songwriter was best known as one-third of Peter, Paul and Mary, the folk music trio whose impassioned harmonies transfixed millions as they lifted their voices in favor of civil rights and against war. Jan. 7.

David Lynch, 78. The filmmaker was celebrated for his uniquely dark and dreamlike vision in such movies as “Blue Velvet” and “Mulholland Drive,” and the TV series “Twin Peaks.” Jan. 16.

Bob Uecker, 90. He parlayed a forgettable playing career into a punch line for movie and TV appearances as “Mr. Baseball” and a Hall of Fame broadcasting tenure. Jan. 16.

Dick Button, 95. He was one of the most accomplished men’s figure skaters in history, and one of his sport’s great innovators and promoters. Jan. 30.

Gene Hackman, 95. The Oscar-winning actor whose studied portraits ranged from reluctant heroes to conniving villains and made him one of the industry’s most respected and honored performers. Feb. 18. Found dead with his wife Betsy Arakawa.

Clint Hill, 93. The Secret Service agent leaped onto the back of President John F. Kennedy’s limousine after the president was shot, then was forced to retire early because he remained haunted by memories of the assassination. Feb. 21.

Roberta Flack, 88. The Grammy-winning singer and pianist’s intimate vocal and musical style made her one of the top recording artists of the 1970s and an influential performer long after that. Feb. 24.

Boris Spassky, 88. A Soviet-era world chess champion, he lost his title to American Bobby Fischer in a legendary 1972 match that became a proxy for Cold War rivalries. Feb. 27.

Carl Dean, 82. Dolly Parton’s devoted husband of nearly 60 years avoided the spotlight and inspired her timeless hit “Jolene.” March 3.

Junior Bridgeman, 71. A basketball standout who led Louisville to a Final Four, he starred for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and then launched an even more successful career as a business owner with stakes in restaurants, publishing and the Bucks franchise. March 11.

George Foreman, 76. The fearsome heavyweight boxer lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second and third acts as a 45-year-old world champion and a successful business owner. March 21.

Richard Chamberlain, 90. The handsome hero of the 1960s television series “Dr. Kildare” came out as gay four decades later and was known as the “king of the miniseries” for his roles in “The Thorn Birds” and “Shogun.” March 29.

Val Kilmer, 65. The brooding, versatile actor who played fan favorite Iceman in “Top Gun,” donned a voluminous cape as Batman in “Batman Forever” and portrayed Jim Morrison in “The Doors,” died of pneumonia. April 1.

Jay North, 73. He starred as the towheaded mischief-maker on TV’s “Dennis the Menace” for four seasons starting in 1959. April 6.

Wink Martindale, 91. The genial host of such hit game shows as “Gambit” and “Tic-Tac-Dough” also did one of the first recorded television interviews with a young Elvis Presley. April 15.

Steve McMichael, 67. A star defensive tackle on the Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl championship team whose larger-than-life personality later made him a natural for professional wrestling as “Ming the Merciless,” he died after battling ALS. April 23.

Ruth Buzzi, 88. She rose to fame as the frumpy and bitter Gladys Ormphby on the groundbreaking sketch comedy series “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” and made more than 200 television appearances during a 45-year career. May 1.

George Ryan, 91. A tough-on-crime Republican who as Illinois governor cleared the state’s death row, he was disgraced by a corruption scandal that landed him in prison. May 2.

David H. Souter, 85. The retired Supreme Court justice was an ascetic bachelor and New Hampshire Republican who became a favorite of liberals during nearly 20 years on the bench. May 8.

Johnny Rodriguez, 73. The country music star was a popular Mexican American singer whose 1970s hits included “I Just Can’t Get Her Out of My Mind,” “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico” and “That’s the Way Love Goes.” May 9.

George Wendt, 76. An actor with an everyman charm, he played the affable barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy “Cheers” and performed on Broadway in “Art,” “Hairspray” and “Elf.” May 20.

Phil Robertson, 79. The “Duck Dynasty” patriarch turned his small duck-calling interest in the sportsman’s paradise of northern Louisiana into a big business and conservative cultural phenomenon. May 25.

Loretta Swit, 87. She won two Emmy Awards playing Maj. Margaret Houlihan, the demanding head nurse of a Korean War surgical unit on the pioneering hit TV series “M.A.S.H.” May 30.

Jim Marshall, 87. The former Minnesota Vikings defensive end was one of four members of the famed Purple People Eaters, the backbone of four Super Bowl teams. June 3.

Sly Stone, 82. The revolutionary musician and dynamic showman led Sly and the Family Stone, transforming popular music in the 1960s and ’70s and beyond with such hits as “Everyday People,” “Stand!” and “Family Affair.” June 9.

Brian Wilson, 82. The Beach Boys’ visionary and fragile leader whose genius for melody, arrangements and wide-eyed self-expression inspired “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls” and other summertime anthems, becoming one of the world’s most influential recording artists. June 11.

Bobby Sherman, 81. His winsome smile and shaggy mop top helped make him into a teen idol in the 1960s and ’70s with bubblegum pop hits like “Little Woman” and “Julie, Do Ya Love Me.” June 24.

D. Wayne Lukas, 89. The Hall of Famer became one of horse racing’s most accomplished trainers and a face of the sport for decades. June 28.

Jimmy Swaggart, 90. The televangelist amassed an enormous following and multimillion-dollar ministry, only to be undone by his penchant for prostitutes. July 1.

Michael Madsen, 67. The actor best known for his coolly menacing, steely-eyed, often sadistic characters in the films of Quentin Tarantino, including “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill: Vol. 2.” July 3.

Connie Francis, 87. The wholesome pop star’s 1950s and ’60s hits included “Pretty Little Baby” and “Who’s Sorry Now?” — the latter serving as an ironic title for a personal life filled with heartbreak and tragedy. July 16.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, 54. His 40-year career as an actor and director began as teenage son Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” a cultural phenomenon that helped define the 1980s. He drowned in the Caribbean Sea. July 20.

Ozzy Osbourne, 76. The gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath became the godfather of heavy metal and then a doddering dad on reality TV. July 22.

Chuck Mangione, 84. The two-time Grammy Award-winning musician achieved international success in 1977 with his jazz-flavored single “Feels So Good” and later became a voice actor on the animated TV comedy “King of the Hill.” July 22.

Hulk Hogan, 71. The mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act. July 24.

Ryne Sandberg, 65. The Hall of Fame second baseman became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs. July 28.

Jeannie Seely, 85. She was the soulful country music singer behind such standards as “Don’t Touch Me.” Aug. 1.

Loni Anderson, 79. She played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati.” Aug. 3.

James Dobson, 89. Founder of the conservative Christian ministry Focus on the Family, the child psychologist was a politically influential campaigner against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. Aug. 21.

Ron Turcotte, 84. The Hall of Fame jockey rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973. Aug. 22.

Giorgio Armani, 91. The iconic Italian designer turned the concept of understated elegance into a multibillion-dollar fashion empire. Sept. 4.

The Duchess of Kent, 92. Born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley, she famously broke royal protocol to hug a Wimbledon runner-up and stepped away from family duties to teach music in a public school. Sept. 4.

Polly Holliday, 88. The Tony Award-nominated screen and stage actor turned the catchphrase “Kiss my grits!” into a national retort as the gum-chewing, beehive-wearing server on the long-running CBS sitcom “Alice.” Sept. 9.

Robert Redford, 89. The Hollywood golden boy became an Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema under the name of one of his best-loved characters. Sept. 16.

Claudia Cardinale, 87. The acclaimed Italian actor starred in some of the most celebrated European films of the 1960s and 1970s. Sept. 23.

Jane Goodall, 91. The conservationist was renowned for her groundbreaking chimpanzee field research and globe-spanning environmental advocacy. Oct. 1.

Diane Keaton, 79. The Oscar-winning star’s quirky manner and emotional depth enthralled fans in movies including “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather” films and “Father of the Bride.” Oct. 11.

Ace Frehley, 74. The original lead guitarist and founding member of the glam-rock band Kiss captivated audiences with his elaborate galactic makeup and smoking guitar. Oct. 16.

June Lockhart, 100. She became a mother figure for a generation of television viewers, whether at home in “Lassie” or “Lost in Space.” Oct. 23.

Martha Layne Collins, 88. She was the first and only woman elected governor of Kentucky. Nov. 1.

Dick Cheney, 84. The hard-charging conservative was a leading advocate for invading Iraq as one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. Nov. 3.

Diane Ladd, 89. The actor was nominated three times for Academy Awards, as the brash waitress in “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” the scheming parent in “Wild at Heart” and her role with daughter Laura Dern in “Rambling Rose.” Nov. 3.

Paul Tagliabue, 84. He helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions. Nov. 9.

Fuzzy Zoeller, 74. One of golf’s most gregarious characters, the two-time major champion from southern Indiana. Nov. 27.

Steve Cropper, 84. A lean, soulful guitarist and songwriter, he helped anchor the celebrated Memphis backing band Booker T. and the M.G.’s at Stax Records and co-wrote the classics “Green Onions,” ”(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” and “In the Midnight Hour.” Dec. 3.

Rob Reiner, 78. The son of a comedy giant who became one himself as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation with movies such as “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally …” and “This Is Spinal Tap,” he was fatally stabbed along with his wife Michele Singer Reiner in their home. Dec. 14.

Anthony Geary, 78. He rose to fame in the 1970s and ’80s as half of the daytime TV super couple Luke and Laura on “General Hospital.” Dec. 14.

Gil Gerard, 82. He played television’s hunky sci-fi hero William “Buck” Rogers soon after the Star Wars franchise took hold in the late 1970s. Dec. 16.

Greg Biffle, 55. Picked by NASCAR as one of its top 75 drivers in history, the Hall of Fame nominee was killed in a small jet crash. Dec. 18.

Brigitte Bardot, 91. The French 1960s sex symbol who became one of the greatest screen sirens of the 20th century and later a militant animal welfare activist and far-right supporter. Dec. 28.


(AP file photo)