2025 has been a devastating year for the entertainment industry. We’ve lost some truly legendary icons this year, the kind of talents that redefine entire eras of pop culture. Each of those losses has left an indelible mark on pop culture, but the 10 we’re about to see really stopped us in our tracks, leaving us realizing just how influential these celebrities were in our daily lives. Here are the most emotional celebrity deaths of 2025 so far.
10. Anne Burrell
One of the few celebrity chefs who advocated for the mental health of professionals in the culinary arts, Burrell’s death by suicide left fans and colleagues in shock. We’ll always remember her as the energetic, cheery host of Worst Cooks in America.
9. Diane Keaton
Hollywood’s quirky muse left us this past October. Her lifelong advocacy for adoption rights celebrated unconventional family structures—not to mention her peerless sense of style.
8. George Foreman
The boxer and visionary entrepreneur who gave us the George Foreman Grill passed away this March. He left behind ten children, who shared heartwarming eulogies highlighting how much of a heavyweight of parenthood Foreman truly was.
7. Malcolm Jamal-Warner
The accidental drowning of The Cosby Show’s Theo Huxtable shocked the series’s fans. Jamal-Warner’s co-star, Phylicia Rashad, offered a heartfelt eulogy that went viral for all the right reasons.
6. Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead (alongside their dog) in an incident that sparked the curiosity of the entire internet. Fans and peers shared touching stories about Hackman, who many still consider the ultimate Lex Luthor.
5. Michelle Trachtenberg
Tachtenberg’s sudden passing at 39 left fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer speechless. The internet bonded over her many roles as the ultimate “girl next door” in movies like Euro Trip and shows such as Gossip Girl.
4. David Lynch
An iconic filmmaker and a master of all things bizarre, we lost the unique mind of David Lynch early this year. Cinephiles worldwide celebrated Lynch’s life and his influence on modern horror. We’ll all miss his comforting weather reports dearly.
3. Robert Redford
Hollywood’s “Golden Boy” led a life of iconic roles in front and behind the cameras. His passing led to an outpouring of celebs remembering him for his influence in show business. The Sundance Institute’s global tribute emphasized his role as an icon of entertainment who preserved the very soul of the art of storytelling.
2. Val Kilmer
After years of public health struggles with throat cancer, we lost Val Kilmer this year. Immortalized for his roles in Top Gun and Tombstone, Kilmer made one last appearance in Top Gun: Maverick—one that really pulled at the heartstrings. His passing hit us hard, and many of Kilmer’s peers celebrated his legacy, including his long-time colleague (and friend), Tom Cruise.
1. Ozzy Osbourne
On June 5, the world saw the final Black Sabbath performance with the original quartet. Little did we know it would also be a farewell to the Prince of Darkness. Ozzy’s passing was a gut punch for music as a whole, and celebrities like Elton John, Metallica’s James Hetfield, and even Donald Trump, reflected on the musician’s “sinister” legacy as a true rock god.
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