2025’s celebrity death list was so long you’d get tired from just scrolling, not to mention reading all of them. We lost rock and wrestling icons, a world-changing scientist, cult-film royalty, and familiar TV faces, all of whom left a mark in totally different ways. And all these people are just a drop in the bucket. Some of the deaths were expected after long health battles; others were shocking and sudden, with stories that still feel unreal.
Here are the nine most talked-about deaths of 2025, and why each one hit so hard.
Ozzy Osbourne
Black Sabbath’s legendary frontman, solo star, and chaotic reality-TV dad died on July 22, 2025, at 76. He’d been dealing with major health issues for what felt like decades but still found the strength to do a final hometown farewell with Sabbath earlier that month, giving fans one last “Prince of Darkness” moment. Whether you knew him for your dad’s heavy-metal vinyl collection or for making The Osbournes one of the most entertaining reality TV shows ever, Ozzy’s influence was everywhere.
Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan died on July 24, 2025, at 71, after suffering a heart attack at his home in Clearwater, Florida. For millions of fans, he wasn’t just some WWE pro wrestler—he was the wrestler. Ever heard of “Hulkamania?” Since his big break in the 1980s, when he dipped his muscular toes into acting and won multiple world titles, Hogan became a larger-than-life figure both inside and outside the ring.
Kelley Mack
On August 2, 2025, at the age of 33, Kelley Mack lost her courageous battle with a brain tumor. Many fans knew Mack as Addy on The Walking Dead, but she also appeared on other shows like 9-1-1 and Chicago Med. After the news broke, people weren’t just remembering the roles she played, but also mourning the bright, ambitious presence she had off-screen.
Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall was 91 when she passed away on October 1, 2025. It’s impossible to overstate just how much she did for this planet and its inhabitants. Her groundbreaking research reshaped how we understand primates, including chimpanzees and Homo sapiens. But science wasn’t her only contribution—she also became a global voice for conservation and animal welfare, spending decades turning knowledge into action. The Jane Goodall Institute announced her death while she was in the U.S. on a speaking tour.
Ace Frehley
KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, also known as “Space Ace,” died on October 16, 2025, at 74. As the band’s original lead guitarist, he helped define KISS’s sound and image, leaving a permanent imprint on rock history. Reports stated that he died from injuries caused by a fall, which was later ruled accidental. Even casual rock fans instantly recognized his riffs and persona.
Udo Kier
You may not recognize his name, but you’ve definitely seen his iconic face. On November 23, 2025, Udo Kier passed away, leaving behind hundreds of film roles across arthouse, horror, indie, and mainstream cinema. If you gravitate toward movies that are beautifully strange or slightly off-center, chances are Kier was already part of your film life.
Poorstacy
Florida rapper Poorstacy, born Carlito Milfort Jr., died on November 29, 2025, at just 26, only months away from potentially joining the infamous 27 Club. Rising during the internet era, he blended emo-rap, hip-hop, and heavy music into a sound that ignored traditional genre rules. His sudden death landed like a gut punch, largely because of how young he was and how much potential he still had.
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa died from a stroke on December 4, 2025, at the age of 75. Many knew him as Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat, but his career stretched far beyond that, with roles in The Last Emperor, License to Kill, and the cult-favorite series The Man in the High Castle.
Rob Reiner
One of the most shocking deaths on this list came on December 14, 2025, when Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their home. According to police reports, they were killed, and the only suspect at the time was their son, Nick Reiner. Reiner’s legacy as a filmmaker and actor cannot be overstated. Beyond his acting work, he directed classics like This Is Spinal Tap, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, and Misery. It was a brutal and heartbreaking end to a life that helped shape modern cinema.
