As 2025 draws to a close, we remember the actors, musicians, broadcasters, and creatives who left their mark on popular culture and who died this year. From global stars to homegrown favourites, their work shaped what we watched, listened to, and talked about.
January
Wayne Osmond (1 January)
Wayne Osmond, who sang with his brothers in the chart-topping pop group The Osmonds, died aged 73.
The singer, who was best known for tracks such as Crazy Horses, Love Me for a Reason, and Let Me In, was remembered by his daughter Amy Cook as a “beloved husband and father” when she announced his death.
In a Facebook post, she said: “Wayne Osmond, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his loving wife and five children.
“His legacy of faith, music, love, and laughter have influenced the lives of many people around the world.
“He would want everyone to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that families are forever, and that banana splits are the best dessert. We love him and will miss him dearly.”
Tony Slattery (14 January)
Actor and comedian Tony Slattery died aged 65 following a heart attack.
Slattery appeared on the Channel 4 comedy improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and the comedy shows Just a Minute and Have I Got News for You.
Born to Irish parents in London on 9 November 1959, Slattery was a contemporary of Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, and Hugh Laurie at the University of Cambridge.
He was the former president of the improvisation group Cambridge Footlights. He had been touring a comedy show in England and launched a podcast, Tony Slattery’s Rambling Club, in October 2024.
Linda Nolan (15 January)
Irish singer Linda Nolan died aged 65 “surrounded by her devoted family” following a long battle with cancer.
The Irish star, who was born in Dublin, was part of the family group The Nolans, which also included her sisters Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise, and Anne.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and given the all-clear in 2011. But in 2017, she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. In 2020, it spread, and by 2023 was in her brain.
In a statement, her manager Dermot McNamara said: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Linda Nolan, the celebrated Irish pop legend, television personality, Guinness World Record-holding West End star, Sunday Times bestselling author, and Daily Mirror columnist.
“As a member of The Nolans, one of the most successful girl groups of all time, Linda achieved global success; becoming the first Irish act to sell over a million records worldwide; touring the world and selling over 30 million records, with hits such as Gotta Pull Myself Together, Attention to Me, and the iconic disco classic I’m in the Mood for Dancing.
“Her distinctive voice and magnetic stage presence brought joy to fans around the world, securing her place as an icon of British and Irish entertainment.”
Paul Danan (15 January)
Former Hollyoaks actor Paul Danan died at the age of 46.
He was best known for playing Sol Patrick on the Channel 4 soap from 1997 to 2001.
He was later known for his reality TV appearances.
David Lynch (16 January)
David Lynch, the writer-director whose work included Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and Twin Peaks, died at the age of 78.
A statement read: “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch. We would appreciate some privacy at this time.
“There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’
“It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”
In 2024, Lynch revealed he had been diagnosed with emphysema following years of smoking, despite quitting two years previously.
Marianne Faithfull (30 January)
Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull died aged 78.
Faithfull’s hits included As Tears Go By, which was written by The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and recorded while she was still in her teens.
In addition to her music career, Faithfull also acted in films, including The Girl on a Motorcycle, as well as various theatre productions.
February
Rick Buckler (17 February)
Rick Buckler, the drummer of The Jam, died aged 69 after a short illness.
Buckler was a founding member of the band in 1972, playing in The Jam’s classic line-up alongside bass player Bruce Foxton and lead singer and guitarist Paul Weller.
A statement from Buckler’s management company read: “Rick Buckler, best known as the legendary drummer of The Jam, passed away peacefully on Monday evening in Woking, after a short illness with family by his side.
“Rick was a loving husband, father, and grandfather and was a devoted friend to many, who will be greatly missed.”
Henry Kelly (25 February)
Broadcaster and journalist Henry Kelly, who presented TV shows such as Going for Gold and Game for a Laugh, died aged 78.
Henry Kelly’s family said he “died peacefully after a period of ill health”.
Their statement added: “Henry will be sorely missed by his friends and family, including his partner Karolyn Shindler, their son Alexander, Henry’s daughter Siobhan and her mother Marjorie.”
Born in Dublin in April 1946, Henry Kelly spent the first seven years of his life in Athlone, Co Westmeath before returning with his family to Dublin.
Kelly began his career at The Irish Times while doing theatre reviews as a student at University College Dublin.
March
Roy Ayers (4 March)
Roy Ayers, the trailblazer of jazz, funk, and neo-soul whose Everybody Loves the Sunshine proved a hugely popular hip-hop sample, died at the age of 84.
The artist’s family shared the news in a Facebook post, saying the vibraphonist, composer, and producer died in New York on 4 March following a long illness.
“He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed,” read the post.
Considered a master of jazz vibraphone, Ayers was also a leading force in introducing soul to jazz with electric instruments and rhythms drawing on R&B and rock.
A rare jazz artist who found consistent commercial success, Ayers released nearly four dozen albums over the course of his career, frequently bouncing into the top albums chart.
Brian James (6 March)
The Damned founding member Brian James died aged 70.
Guitarist James was part of the original line-up of the group, one of the original wave of punk bands in England, whose debut album, 1977’s Damned Damned Damned, was the debut full-length release by a UK punk group.
He wrote the vast majority of songs on that album, and he also penned their debut and the UK’s first-ever punk single, New Rose, which was released in 1976 on the now-legendary Stiff Records label.
Andy Peebles (22 March)
Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Andy Peebles, the final interviewer of John Lennon, died aged 76.
He interviewed Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono in New York for a radio series, two days before The Beatles star was shot dead aged 40 in 1980.
Peebles began working as a club DJ in the 1960s before joining local station Piccadilly Radio in Manchester.
He then earned a job on BBC Radio 1 in the 1970s, hosting daytime programmes, and he hosted the station’s shows such as My Top Twelve and Soul Train, along with Top of the Pops.
April
Val Kilmer (1 April)
Actor Val Kilmer, best known for his role in Top Gun, died at the age of 65.
Kilmer shot to fame as the cocky fighter pilot Iceman in Top Gun (1986), where his on-screen rivalry and eventual camaraderie with Tom Cruise’s Maverick became a defining part of the film’s legacy.
He went on to play Batman in Batman Forever (1995), starring opposite Jim Carrey’s Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones’s Two-Face. Kilmer brought a brooding intensity to the Caped Crusader, though he later admitted the restrictive Batsuit made the role challenging.
He also earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of Jim Morrison in the 1991 biopic The Doors.
Amadou Bagayoko (4 April)
Grammy-nominated musician Amadou Bagayoko, one-half of the celebrated Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, died at the age of 70.
In a statement aired on state television, the Ministry of Culture said it had “learned with concern of the passing of artist Amadou Bagayoko”, calling him “a blind man who made his mark on the Malian and international scene”.
Born in Bamako in 1954, Bagayoko began playing music at an early age. In the 1970s, he met his wife and long-time musical partner Mariam Doumbia at Bamako’s Institute for Young Blind People. Together, they created a unique sound that blended traditional West African rhythms with rock, pop, and funk influences.
Clem Burke (6 April)
Blondie drummer Clem Burke died aged 70 following after a “private battle with cancer”.
Born in New Jersey, Burke featured on all of the Debbie Harry-fronted band’s studio albums, from their self-titled debut, through their 1978 classic Parallel Lines, to 2017’s Pollinator, after joining the band a year after their formation in 1975.
The New York band issued a statement on Instagram confirming his passing and praising the man who “was the heartbeat of Blondie”.
Roy Thomas Baker (12 April)
Legendary rock producer Roy Thomas Baker – best known for his work with Queen – died aged 78.
Baker also worked with Journey, Foreigner, Ozzy Osbourne, Mötley Crüe, The Cars, Devo, Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, and more.
He began his career in music as a secondary engineer at Decca Studios in London, where he worked on albums from the likes of David Bowie, The Who, The Rolling Stones, and more under the name Roy Baker.
Clodagh Rodgers (18 April)
Northern Irish singer and actress Clodagh Rodgers, who represented the UK in the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Jack in the Box, died at the age of 78.
The Warrenpoint native finished fourth in the competition, which was held in the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin following Dana’s win the previous year, and she went on to a career as an actress on such TV shows as The Bill.
In a statement on Facebook, her son, Sam Sorbie, said: “With a heavy heart, my dear beautiful mum Clodagh has sadly passed away after battling an illness for the last three years.
“She passed away peacefully yesterday surrounded by her family in Cobham. Mum has lived an incredible life, full of love and happiness.
“Her fantastic career performing, travelling the world, devoting her life to her two sons and being the rock of this family.”
Julian Benson (18 April)
Julian Benson, dancer, choreographer, talent agent, and former judge of RTÉ One TV series Dancing with the Stars, died in Dublin aged 54.
In a statement, his family said: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Julian Benson. Julian passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and closest friends after a courageous battle with Cystic Fibrosis.
“His strength, warmth, and sparkle remained with him until the very end.”
Mr Benson was celebrated for his creative talent, endless enthusiasm, colourful dress style, and cheeky sense of humour.
Born in Adelaide, Australia to Irish parents, Mr Benson lived there until he was 10 years old, before the family returned to Ireland.
He had begun dancing classes there at the age of four, and it led to him having “a life-long passion for dance”.
Jiggly Caliente (27 April)
RuPaul’s Drag Race star and Pose actress Jiggly Caliente died at the age of 44.
The drag performer, who took part in the original US competition during season four, had part of her leg amputated due to a “severe infection”.
A statement from her family on Instagram said: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Bianca Castro-Arabejo, known to the world and cherished by many as Jiggly Caliente. Bianca passed away peacefully on April 27, 2025, at 4.42 am, surrounded by her loving family and close friends.
“A luminous presence in the worlds of entertainment and advocacy, Jiggly Caliente was celebrated for her infectious energy, fierce wit and unwavering authenticity. She touched countless lives through her artistry, activism and the genuine connection she fostered with fans around the world.”
May
George Wendt (20 May)
George Wendt, who played the affable, beer-loving barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy Cheers and later crafted a stage career that took him to Broadway in Art, Hairspray, and Elf, died at the age of 76.
Wendt’s family said he died peacefully in his sleep while at home.
“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” the family said in a statement. “He will be missed forever.”
Barry Fantoni (20 May)
Private Eye cartoonist Barry Fantoni died at the age of 85.
The artist, who was also a jazz musician, designer, author, and broadcaster, passed away at his home in Turin, Italy, from a heart attack.
Private Eye editor Ian Hislop said: “Barry was a brilliant multi-talented writer, artist and musician.
“He was an integral part of Private Eye’s comic writing team from the early days in the Sixties, and I hugely enjoyed collaborating with him when I joined the magazine later on.
“He created formats and characters and jokes that are still running, and he was for a long time the voice of the great poet and obituarist E J Thribb. So Farewell then, Barry.”
Alan Yentob (24 May)
Former BBC executive and TV presenter Alan Yentob, who commissioned shows such as Absolutely Fabulous, Ballykissangel, and Have I Got News for You, died at the age of 78.
Yentob joined the BBC as a trainee in 1968 and held positions such as Controller of BBC One and BBC Two, Director of Television, Head of Music and Arts, as well as the Director of BBC Drama, Entertainment and Children’s.
His wife Philippa Walker said: “For Jacob, Bella and I every day with Alan held the promise of something unexpected. Our life was exciting, he was exciting.”
Rick Derringer (26 May)
Guitarist and singer Rick Derringer, who found fame at 17 when his band The McCoys recorded Hang on Sloopy, died at the age of 77.
He also had a hit with Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo and earned a Grammy Award for producing ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic’s debut album.
Derringer’s decades in the music industry spanned teen stardom, session work for Steely Dan, supplying the guitar solo on Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart, and producing for Cyndi Lauper.
June
Sly Stone (9 June)
Revolutionary musician Sly Stone, whose band Sly and the Family Stone transformed popular music in the 1960s, 1970s, and beyond, died at the age of 82.
Sly and the Family Stone were the first major group to include black and white men and women in their line-up, and they were known for hits including Everyday People, Stand!, and Family Affair.
Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, had been in poor health in recent years.
Brian Wilson (11 June)
The Beach Boys’ co-founder, singer, arranger, and chief songwriter Brian Wilson died at the age of 82.
Wilson – universally recognised as one of the greats of 20th-century music – was the eldest and last surviving of the three musical brothers who made up the American rock band, alongside their cousin Mike Love and school friend Al Jardine.
The band’s many hits included I Get Around, California Girls, Surfin’ USA, Barbara Ann, Help Me Rhonda, and Good Vibrations, and their most famous album, 1966’s Pet Sounds, is considered one of the greatest albums ever made.
Kim Woodburn (16 June)
Television star Kim Woodburn, best known for presenting How Clean Is Your House? and her appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, died after a short illness aged 83.
Her Channel 4 series How Clean Is Your House?, which she co-presented with Aggie MacKenzie from 2003 – 2009, became a cult hit for its mix of tough love and heartfelt advice.
Nicknamed the “Queen of Clean”, Woodburn’s blunt, no-nonsense style won her a devoted following.
Lord Henry Mount Charles (18 June)
Lord Henry Mount Charles, best known for staging iconic rock concerts at his ancestral home of Slane Castle in Co Meath, died at the age of 74.
His family confirmed that he had passed away peacefully following a long battle with cancer.
He became a household name in the 1980s as some of the world’s biggest rock ‘n’ roll stars took to the stage at his picturesque Meath venue for era-defining concerts.
July
Julian McMahon (2 July)
Julian McMahon, best known for his roles in the Fantastic Four movies and the television shows Nip/Tuck and Charmed, died aged 56.
The Australian actor died in Clearwater, Florida, after a private battle with cancer.
His first role was in the short-lived Australian daytime soap The Power, the Passion in 1989 before he landed a role in Home and Away in 1990, appearing in 150 episodes as Ben Lucini.
Michael Madsen (3 July)
Michael Madsen, whose menacing characters in Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill made him a standout performer in Quentin Tarantino’s films, died aged 67.
His career spanned more than 300 credits stretching back to the early 1980s, many in low-budget films.
But his most memorable screen moment may have been the sadistic torture of a captured police officer – while dancing to Stealers Wheel’s Stuck in the Middle with You – as Mr Blonde in 1992’s Reservoir Dogs.
Ozzy Osbourne (22 July)
Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne died at the age of 76. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019.
As frontman of Black Sabbath, he was at the forefront of the heavy metal scene – a deeper, darker offshoot of hard rock.
His theatrical stage presence, including once biting off the head of a bat, and styling himself as the Prince of Darkness, marked him out as a controversial figure.
Hulk Hogan (24 July)
Hulk Hogan, the American sports and entertainment star, who made professional wrestling a global phenomenon, died at the age of 71.
The bleach-blonde, mahogany-tanned behemoth became the face of professional wrestling in the 1980s, helping transform the mock combat from a seedy spectacle into family-friendly entertainment worth billions of dollars.
Hogan parlayed his wrestling fame into a less successful career in Hollywood, starring in films like Rocky III and Santa with Muscles, but he kept returning to the ring as long as his body would allow.
August
Frank Grimes (1 August)
Dublin actor Frank Grimes, best known for his roles in Strumpet City and Coronation Street, died at the age of 78 after a short illness.
Grimes trained at the Abbey Theatre and was a member of the Abbey Players. He scored an early career success as Brendan Behan in Borstal Boy at the Abbey in Dublin, Paris, and on Broadway, where he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor and was voted Most Promising Actor by the New York critics.
He played Barry Connor in the ITV soap Coronation Street and also had roles in Mrs Brown’s Boys, Doctors, Casualty, Fair City, The Bill, and Blind Justice.
George Morrison (4 August)
Pioneering documentary-maker George Morrison died aged 102.
He is best remembered for Mise Éire in 1959, a documentary produced by Gael Linn and whose celebrated score was written by composer Seán Ó Riada, and its follow-up, Saoirse.
Mise Éire explores one of Ireland’s most turbulent periods, culminating in the 1916 Rising and Sinn Féin’s electoral victory in 1918. It was the first full-length feature film ever produced in the Irish language.
Terence Stamp (17 August)
Veteran British actor Terence Stamp, who starred in the original Superman films, died aged 87.
The Academy Award-nominated actor, who played Kryptonian villain General Zod in Superman and Superman II, was also known for 1994’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which earned him a BAFTA award.
Born in the East End of London in 1938, Stamp rose to acting fame in the 1960s after he won a drama school scholarship.
Jerry Adler (23 August)
Jerry Adler, who spent decades behind the scenes of storied Broadway productions before pivoting to acting in his 60s, died aged 96.
Adler’s acting credits included The Sopranos, on which he played Tony Soprano’s adviser, Hesh Rabkin, across all six seasons, and The Good Wife, where he played law partner Howard Lyman.
But before Adler had ever stepped in front of a film or television camera, he had 53 Broadway productions to his name – all behind the scenes, serving as a stage manager, producer, or director.
September
Giorgio Armani (4 September)
Italian fashion legend Giorgio Armani, king of a high-end lifestyle empire, died at the age of 91.
Armani opened his fashion house in Milan in 1975, quickly rising to the top of the industry and going on to dress the stars.
The Italian icon was credited with inventing red-carpet fashion, but he also moved into a younger and less expensive range through Emporio Armani and opened luxury hotels.
Rick Davies (6 September)
Rick Davies, the co-founder and lead singer of the British band Supertramp, died aged 81.
The musician, whose hits included Goodbye Stranger, Breakfast in America, and The Logical Song, died after a battle with a form of blood cancer.
A statement from the band said Davis was “the voice and pianist behind Supertramp’s most iconic songs, leaving an indelible mark on rock music history. His soulful vocals and unmistakable touch on the Wurlitzer became the heartbeat of the band’s sound.”
Robert Redford (16 September)
American actor, director, and activist Robert Redford died at the age of 89.
Redford’s screen career spanned over 60 years and included a Best Director Oscar for 1980’s Ordinary People and an Honorary Academy Award in 2002.
Among his most celebrated films were Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting – starring opposite his friend Paul Newman, who died in 2008.
Redford used the millions he made to launch the Sundance Institute and Festival in the 1970s, promoting independent filmmaking long before small and quirky were fashionable.
Patrick Murray (29 September)
Only Fools and Horses star Patrick Murray died at the age of 68.
Murray played Mickey Pearce, the dim-witted friend of David Jason’s Del Boy and Nicholas Lyndhurst’s Rodney Trotter across 20 episodes between 1983 and 2003 of the BBC comedy series.
The show follows brothers and London market traders Del Boy and Rodney as they attempt to buy and sell whatever they can with the hopes of becoming extremely rich.
Murray also had roles in the 1979 films Quadrophenia and Scum, the 1990s TV sitcom The Upper Hand, along with The Bill, ITV Playhouse, and Bergerac.
October
Manchán Magan (2 October)
The writer, broadcaster, and documentary maker Manchán Magan died at the age of 55 after a battle with cancer.
President Michael D Higgins said Manchán Magan “was a truly singular person” who had made “a broad and engaging contribution in bringing the beauty, depth and vitality of the Irish language to so many people, in Ireland and beyond”.
President Higgins said Manchán Magan “lived an inspirational life and helped so many people to find a deeper meaning in their lives”.
“Through his work, Machán inspired so many people, across every generation, to engage more deeply with our native language, its cultural richness, and through it to engage with, respect and learn from our natural landscape and environment,” he said.
Patricia Routledge (3 October)
Actress Patricia Routledge, best known for her starring role in the TV comedy series Keeping Up Appearances, died aged 96.
She became a household name with her hilarious performances as the unspeakably snobbish Hyacinth Bucket – pronounced ‘Bouquet’ – in the TV hit Keeping Up Appearances, which captivated audiences in the 1990s.
But her versatility – a word she did not relish because it implied, she said, “not being very good at anything” – took her career far beyond the range of TV sitcoms.
She appeared in Shakespeare and played a pensioner-turned-detective, Hetty Wainthropp, in the BBC series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.
Jilly Cooper (5 October)
Author Jilly Cooper, the best-selling writer of Rivals, Riders, and Polo, died aged 88.
Cooper was best known for her books in The Rutshire Chronicles, featuring the show-jumping lothario Rupert Campbell-Black.
One of the books, Rivals, was recently adapted for television by Disney+.
Her adapted works also included an ITV series of The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous with Coronation Street star Stephen Billington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville, while Marcus Gilbert starred in a Riders series during the 1990s.
Diane Keaton (11 October)
American actress Diane Keaton, best known for roles in Annie Hall, The Godfather, and Something’s Gotta Give, died at the age of 79.
Keaton shot to fame in the 1970s with her role as Kay Adams in The Godfather trilogy, as well as her collaborations with Woody Allen.
She won a Best Actress Oscar for Allen’s influential film Annie Hall and became associated with the title character’s menswear-centric wardrobe.
Her many beloved films included Baby Boom, The First Wives Club, Father of the Bride, The Family Stone, and the Book Club movies.
Tony Caunter (13 October)
Actor Tony Caunter, who played Roy Evans in EastEnders, died at the age of 88.
Caunter played the character from 1994 through to 2003, with the car dealer introduced as a love interest for the character of Pat Butcher, played by Pam St Clement, with the couple later marrying as part of the soap storyline.
A statement from EastEnders said: “Tony will forever be loved and respected by everyone at EastEnders for his warmth, kindness and humour as well as being greatly remembered by all those at home who instantly took Roy to their hearts.”
D’Angelo (14 October)
R&B and soul singer D’Angelo died aged 51 after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
Virginia-born D’Angelo released his Grammy-nominated debut album, Brown Sugar, in 1995.
The follow-up, Voodoo, saw him winning Grammys for Best R&B Album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2001.
His third and final studio album, Black Messiah, which was credited to D’Angelo and the Vanguard, was released in 2015 and won the Grammy for Best R&B Album and the Grammy for Best R&B Song for Really Love.
Ace Frehley (16 October)
Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist of the rock group Kiss, died at age 74.
Kiss burst onto the scene in the 1970s with a sound and look widely recognised as hard rock and glam rock, given its black-and-white face paint, elaborate black and silver leather costumes, and on-stage pyrotechnics.
Frehley, lead singer and bassist Gene Simmons, lead singer and guitarist Paul Stanley, and drummer Peter Criss each had their own look and alter ego. With a star painted on his face, Frehley was also known as “Spaceman”.
Prunella Scales (27 October)
Prunella Scales, best known for her role as Sybil in Fawlty Towers, died at the age of 93.
Her Fawlty Towers character was the long-suffering wife of Basil Fawlty, played by John Cleese, in a show that won the BAFTA for Best Scripted Comedy in 1976.
She also played Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett’s A Question of Attribution and, in 1973, she teamed up with Ronnie Barker in the series Seven of One, also for the BBC.
November
Pauline Collins (5 November)
Actress Pauline Collins, who starred in Shirley Valentine, died at the age of 85.
She starred in the first series of sitcom The Liver Birds but did not become a household name until getting a regular role in Upstairs Downstairs in 1971.
Her role in the 1989 film Shirley Valentine, playing the lead character of the bored Liverpudlian housewife, earned her an Oscar nomination.
She had first played the role in the 1988 West End production at the Vaudeville Theatre, winning an Olivier Award for Best Actress.
Danny Seagren (10 November)
Danny Seagren, the first live-action Spider-Man and a former Sesame Street puppeteer, died at the age of 81.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Seagren became the first actor to portray Spider-Man on television on the children’s show The Electric Company.
Alongside his work as a writer, dancer, and producer, he was a puppeteer and puppet maker for Muppets creator Jim Henson.
Sally Kirkland (11 November)
Sally Kirkland, best known for sharing the screen with Paul Newman and Robert Redford in The Sting and her Oscar-nominated title role in the 1987 movie Anna, died aged 84.
Her biggest role was in 1987’s Anna as a fading Czech movie star remaking her life in the US and mentoring a younger actor, played by Paulina Porizkova.
Kirkland won a Golden Globe for her role in Anna and was an Oscar nominee alongside Cher in Moonstruck, Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction, Holly Hunter in Broadcast News, and Meryl Streep in Ironweed.
Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield (20 November)
The Stone Roses bassist Gary Mounfield, known to fans as Mani, died aged 63.
Mounfield was part of The Stone Roses’ classic line-up alongside singer Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, and drummer Alan ‘Reni’ Wren.
The band’s tribute read: “RIP our wonderful brother Mani. The greatest bass player and friend we could ever have wished for. X.”
Paul Costelloe (21 November)
Irish designer Paul Costelloe, who presented collections at London Fashion Week for over 35 years, died aged 80.
One of the most established and best-known names in Irish and British fashion, his career began at Grafton Academy of Fashion Design, before he moved to the fashion capitals of Milan, Paris, and New York and later, London.
He set up his own label in 1979, Paul Costelloe Collections. In 1983, he was appointed personal designer to Diana, the Princess of Wales, a collaboration that continued until her death in 1997.
Jimmy Cliff (24 November)
Jimmy Cliff, the legendary Jamaican singer who, along with Bob Marley, popularised reggae, ska, and rocksteady music over a six-decade career, died aged 81.
At just 14, he became nationally famous for the song Hurricane Hattie, which he wrote.
Cliff would go on to record over 30 albums and perform all over the world, including in Paris, in Brazil, and at the World’s Fair, an international exhibition held in New York in 1964.
He later went into acting, starring in the 1972 classic film The Harder They Come, directed by Perry Henzell, which introduced an international audience to reggae music.
Jack Shepherd (24 November)
The actor Jack Shepherd, best known for his starring role in the detective series Wycliffe, died at the age of 85.
The Leeds-born TV star portrayed Cornish detective Charles Wycliffe in the ITV series based on the WJ Burley novels.
The drama aired between 1993 and 1998 and saw Detective Superintendent Wycliffe investigate murders in Cornwall alongside his colleagues DI Doug Kersey, played by Jimmy Yuill, and Helen Masters’ DI Lucy Lane.
Tom Stoppard (29 November)
The playwright Tom Stoppard, who won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the screenplay for Shakespeare in Love, died at the age of 88.
Stoppard’s six-decade contribution to the dramatic arts won him a host of Tony and Olivier Awards, as well as a Golden Globe and an Academy Award with Marc Norman for their 1998 screenplay Shakespeare in Love – starring fellow Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow.
December
Hugh Wallace (1 December)
Architect and television presenter Hugh Wallace, best known to RTÉ audiences as a long-serving judge on Home of the Year, died at the age of 68.
Wallace became a familiar face on RTÉ One through shows such as Home of the Year, The Great House Revival and My Bungalow Bliss, where his enthusiasm, sharp eye for design and warm on-screen presence made him a favourite with viewers.
He was the only judge to appear in every series of Home of the Year, fronting the hit property show since it first aired in 2015.
Steve Cropper (3 December)
Steve Cropper, the storied guitarist, songwriter, and producer who helped define the Southern soul sound at the legendary Memphis music label Stax Records, died aged 84.
Cropper was the lead guitarist for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame group Booker T and the MG’s, whose biggest hit was the 1962 single Green Onions. He also played with many other legendary R&B figures, from Otis Redding to BB King to Wilson Pickett.
As a songwriter, Cropper had co-writer credits on genre-defining hits such as In the Midnight Hour and (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay, and he was famed for his guitar playing on the hit Soul Man.
Sophie Kinsella (10 December)
Sophie Kinsella, the author of the bestselling Shopaholic series of novels, died aged 55 after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
A statement posted to the English author’s 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.”
Madeleine Sophie Wickham, who wrote under the pen name Sophie Kinsella, announced in April 2024 that she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
She released The Burnout in October 2023, and her other best-selling books include Can You Keep a Secret? and The Undomestic Goddess.
Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner (14 December)
US director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, died at their Los Angeles home, with their son Nick Reiner later being charged with their murders.
Rob Reiner, who turned 78 in March, had long been one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work included some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including This Is Spinal Tap, A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally, and The Princess Bride.
As an actor, he was best remembered for his role on the TV comedy All in the Family as Mike ‘Meathead’ Stivic, the son-in-law and liberal foil of the lead character Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O’Connor.
His wife, Michele Singer Reiner, was a photographer and producer who took the photograph of Donald Trump used on the cover of his book Trump: The Art of the Deal.
Chris Rea (22 December)
The singer-songwriter Chris Rea, known for hits including Driving Home for Christmas, died at the age of 74.
A statement issued on behalf of his wife and the couple’s two daughters read: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”
The Middlesbrough-born musician was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001.
In 2016, he suffered a stroke.
Brigitte Bardot (28 December)
French actress and model Brigitte Bardot died aged 91, her foundation confirmed.
Bardot became one of the defining screen icons of the 1950s and 60s, shooting to international fame in And God Created Woman and later appearing in films including Contempt and La Vérité. She was also chosen as the model for Marianne, a symbol of the French Republic.
She stepped away from acting in 1973 and later devoted much of her life to animal welfare, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986.
In later years, Bardot was also a polarising public figure in France and faced a series of convictions relating to racist or discriminatory remarks, which drew wide criticism.