21 notable celebrity deaths in 2025: Pope Francis, Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton

Politician

Serving under President George W. Bush, Cheney was one of the most powerful and consequential vice presidents in U.S. history. Wyoming’s former Congressman had been Secretary of Defense during Bush's dad's administration. In the White House, Cheney sought to expand vice presidential power and oversaw controversial detention and interrogation methods after the 9/11 attacks. A leading advocate of the 2003 Iraq invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, Cheney stood by ultimately unsubstantiated intelligence alleging the dictator had weapons of mass destruction and terrorist connections.

Singer

With just three studio albums, he left a lasting impression on Black music. As the primary songwriter, arranger, producer and musician on his 1995 debut "Brown Sugar," D'Angelo announced his prodigious talent and essentially launched the neo-soul movement. "Voodoo" (2000) debuted at No. 1, drew comparisons to Sly Stone and Prince and won the Grammy for best R&B album. Tired of his sex-symbol image, however, D'Angelo retreated from the spotlight and into depression — then reappeared in 2014 with a band, The Vanguard (featuring Questlove and jazz great Roy Harper), to release "Black Messiah," which earned praise from the music press.

Civil Rights activist

The longtime-time Roslyn resident was a trailblazing fighter for human rights, equality and public health. Dukes’ civil rights career began when she won a discrimination lawsuit to become the first Black resident of a Long Island housing complex. She worked for President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Head Start program in the 1960s, was the first Black employee at the Nassau County Attorney’s Office and a community organizer for the Nassau County Economic Opportunity Commission. Dukes served nearly five decades as president of the New York State NAACP, and as a member of the NAACP national board of directors Directors. She helped elect Long Island's first Black state representative, and was instrumental in former President Joe Biden choosing a Black woman as his 2020 running mate.

Singer

She was a former schoolteacher and little-known recording artist when jazz fan Clint Eastwood put her ballad "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" in his 1971 directorial debut, "Play Misty for Me." It became a No. 1 hit and Flack followed it with two more, "Killing Me Softly With His Song" (1973) and "Feel Like Makin’ Love" (1974). She became an early Black star of FM radio’s historically white adult contemporary format — and made no apologies for it. "I am a Black person who sings the way I do," she once said. "I shouldn’t have to change in order to be who I am."

Boxer and entrepreneur

Foreman's story is the epitome of a sports comeback. Foreman He was 24 when he upset Joe Frazier in Jamaica in 1973 to claim the world heavyweight championship belt. He then defended the title against Ken Norton before accepting a bout to face Muhammad Ali in Africa in 1974. Ali, who reclaimed the title by outmatching and outwitting Foreman, and after that, Foreman spent the next decade preaching and working with youth in Houston. He returned to boxing in 1987 and compiled a series of devastating knockouts, though he did get to reclaim the heavyweight title in 1994 against Michael Moorer. Foreman also became very wealthy as a businessman, launching the popular George Foreman Grill the same year he beat Moorer.

Singer-actress

One of the great vocalists of the pre-rock era, Francis put her voice to numerous flop singles before rocketing to stardom with 1958’s "Who’s Sorry Now?" She followed it with "My Happiness," "Lipstick on Your Collar," "Among My Souvenirs" and others, then starred in the 1960 spring break comedy "Where the Boys Are" and sang its dreamy theme song. In 1974, Francis survived a rape at knifepoint in Westbury while in town to play the Westbury Music Fair; depression and opioid abuse followed, but Francis continued to record and perform until retiring in 2018. Just weeks before her death, her forgotten 1962 song "Pretty Little Baby" inexplicably became a TikTok sensation.

Religious leader

Humility and a concern for the poor marked the papacy of the first Latin American pontiff. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Francis was, for the first time in 600 years, one of two living popes, elected in 2013 on the retirement of Benedict XVI. Taking his name from St. Francis of Assisi, Francis departed in a number of significant ways from his predecessor. While affirming the church’s all-male, celibate priesthood and opposition to abortion, he abolished the so-called pontifical secret, providing transparency in sexual misconduct cases involving clerics. He was also the first Pope to explicitly welcome LGBT Catholics back to the fold.

Conservationist

Goodall was known worldwide for her ground-breaking 65-year study of wild chimpanzees. Among the first scientists to live among the great apes, she observed Gombe, Tanzania’s forest chimpanzees using tools to collect food and water, and — though long-thought to be vegetarians — eating red meat. Goodall’s “In the Shadow of Man” (1971), a bestselling account of life among the chimps, was among her over two dozen books. After ending direct scientific work, Goodall lectured 300 days a year fighting for the survival of chimpanzees and other wild species.

Actor

He excelled at playing the hard-headed Everyman and didn’t waste many words explaining his craft. "Money job," Hackman reportedly said of his searing performance in 1972’s "The Poseidon Adventure." Yet he won Oscars playing a New York City cop in "The French Connection" (1971) and a sadistic sheriff in "Unforgiven" (1992). Other highlights from his more than 75 film credits include Francis Ford Coppola’s eerie thriller "The Conversation," Richard Donner’s "Superman" (1978) (as Lex Luthor) and Wes Anderson’s "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001). Accepting a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes in 2003, Hackman said, "I never wanted to be anything but an actor."

Wrestler

A trailblazer in pro wrestling, and arguably World Wrestling Entertainment's biggest star, Hogan burst onto the scene in 1984 when he first became champion of the World Wrestling Federation. He starred in the first WrestleMania in 1985, teaming up with Mr. T to beat "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff in the tag team main event at Madison Square Garden. Perhaps his biggest moment as a wrestler came at WrestleMania III in 1987 when he body slammed and beat the legendary Andre the Giant. In all, Hogan captured six WWF/WWE championships. He created "Hulkamania" in the 1980s and was a central figure in turning pro wrestling into a mainstream entertainment event.

Actress

From the 1970s to the 21st century, Keaton personified the modern woman: self-possessed, fashion-forward, keenly intelligent. As Woody Allen’s offbeat, necktie-wearing lover in 1977’s "Annie Hall," Keaton won her only Oscar, but she also starred in "The Godfather" (1972), "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" (1977),

"Reds" (1981), "Something’s Gotta Give" (2003) and the 2018 comedy "Book Club." She dated Al Pacino, Warren Beatty and Allen (a frequent collaborator even after their split), but never married. In her 50s, she adopted two children. "Diane Keaton changed the way we all saw women on screen," Reese Witherspoon wrote in a tribute, "smart, funny, stylish, and completely original."

Actor

"If there is an award for the most unsung leading man of his generation, Val Kilmer should get it," Roger Ebert once wrote. Directors complained of the actor's on-set behavior, but Kilmer notched several iconic performances, including the college savant Chris Knight in "Real Genius" (1985), the cocky pilot Iceman in "Top Gun" (1986), singer Jim Morrison in "The Doors" (1991) and Doc Holliday in "Tombstone" (1993). Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, according to People; he made his final screen appearance as an ailing but still formidable Iceman in "Top Gun: Maverick" (2022). "I believe I'm challenging, not demanding," he told the Orange County Register, "and I make no apologies for that."

Politician

McCarthy didn’t choose a career in politics, politics chose her. She was a suburban nurse when her husband was killed and her son severely wounded in a 1993 mass shooting on a Long Island Rail Road commuter train. After her congressman voted to repeal an assault weapons ban, McCarthy, a fellow Republican, ran and won repeatedly as a Democrat in a GOP-leaning district. She was a passionate gun control advocate from national TV news programs to the house floor. During one particularly acrimonious debate, McCarthy cried while pleading with house members to "Let me go home" by passing gun control legislation. She retired from Congress in 2015.

Journalist

The self-described “citizen Journalist” brought thought-provoking television into American homes for decades. Oklahoma-born but Texas-raised, Moyers served as President Lyndon B. Johnson’s press secretary but resigned in 1966 to protest the Vietnam War. He was Newsday’s publisher from 1967 to 1970, where his focus on adding news analyses, investigative pieces and lively features, led to two Pulitzer Prizes for the paper during his tenure. He then transitioned to broadcasting, “softly” speaking truth to power in documentaries such as “The Secret Government; the Constitution in Crisis,” a 1987 expose about the Iran-Contra crisis. His finely honed brand of investigative reporting was well-suited for PBS, where he hosted series like “Bill Moyers Journal” and "Frontline."

Musician

A founding father of heavy metal, Osbourne cultivated a public persona that ranged from blood-curdling to cuddly. With his band Black Sabbath he sang nihilistic anthems like "War Pigs" and bit the head off a bat onstage; as a solo artist, he sold millions of albums and drank countless gallons of alcohol. Yet in his reality show, "The Osbournes" (2002-2005), the so-called Prince of Darkness came off as a lovable dad led around by his manager-wife, Sharon Osbourne. At a farewell concert in England just weeks before his death, a sober but ailing Ozzy sat in a throne to front a reunited Sabbath for a sold-out crowd of 45,000.

Actor-director

Matinee idol, cinematic craftsman, Hollywood disruptor — Redford was a rare combination. His co-stars were the cream of the crop: Paul Newman in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969) and "The Sting" (1973); Barbra Streisand in "The Way We Were" (1973); Dustin Hoffman in "All the President’s Men" (1976); and Meryl Streep in "Out of Africa" (1985). His first-time directing effort, 1980’s "Ordinary People," earned him his only competitive Oscar. Redford also founded the Sundance Film Festival, which kick-started the careers of countless independent filmmakers. Accepting a lifetime achievement Oscar in 2002, Redford said little about his own work but encouraged Hollywood to "make sure that we embrace the risks, as well as the sure thing."

Actor-director

We first knew him as Meathead, the hippie son-in-law of Archie Bunker on “All in the Family,” but the nickname wouldn’t stick forever. Reiner made his feature directing debut with 1984’s iconic mockumentary “This is Spinal Tap,” then racked up three more of that decade’s most beloved films: the coming-of-age story “Stand by Me,” the cheeky fairy-tale “The Princess Bride” and the now-classic romcom “When Harry Met Sally…” Reiner’s impressive credits also include “Misery,” “A Few Good Men,” “The American President” and “The Bucket List.” His final film, from this year, was a sequel to his first: “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues."

Musician

Many in the 1960s preached racial harmony, but Stone practiced it with his multi-culti, coed band Sly and the Family Stone. An innovative songwriter, Stone blended rock, funk, soul and pop; as a frontman, he favored fabulous outfits topped by kooky hats. The band scored a number of hits — anthems, really — including "Dance to the Music," "Everyday People," "Hot Fun in the Summertime" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)." The band's hot streak gradually cooled and Stone’s drug-fueled behavior became increasingly erratic. Still, he continued to fascinate new generations of musicians and in 1993 was inducted with his bandmates into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Actor

Trachtenberg largely had two roles — both doozies, and icons of late '90s/ late aughts TV. First was Dawn Summers, the cute kid sister of Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997-2003). Dawn was what's called a retconned character — meaning someone dropped into a complex, ongoing narrative whom no fan knew had ever existed. She nonetheless served a crucial purpose — to deepen Buffy's storyline. Then there was Georgina Sparks of "Gossip Girl" (2007-12) who (at first) was the quintessential "bad girl" — scheming, blackmailing and otherwise causing havoc. Like Dawn, she too evolved into a fully recognizable human being, with those well-established flaws but with virtues too.

Scientist

Watson’s codiscovery of the DNA double-helix structure was a giant step forward in molecular biology. Watson and Francis Crick shared a 1962 Nobel Prize for findings that would eventually convict (or exonerate) criminal suspects, trace family trees and treat disease. Appointed director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in 1968, he oversaw one of the world’s premiere research institutes. Watson also headed the Human Genome Project mapping the genes in the human body. But he lost his titles after repeating what the lab termed "unsubstantiated and reckless" comments about race and intelligence.

Musician-producer

He led The Beach Boys through more than a dozen Top 10 singles graced by irresistible melodies and pristine vocal harmonies, including "Surfin’ U.S.A.," "California Girls" and "Good Vibrations." He also revolutionized pop music with the innovative concept album "Pet Sounds" (1966). From there, Wilson chased an album in his head called "Smile" for nearly 40 years while struggling with mental illness and squabbling with his on-again-off-again bandmates. By the time it came out, in 2004, Wilson's reputation as pop’s most tortured genius was firmly established.