The year 2025 marked the passing of an extraordinary range of public figures whose influence spanned film, theatre, music, politics, sport, literature, and public life. From Hollywood icons and literary giants to political powerbrokers and cultural trailblazers, their collective legacy shaped generations.

Film, Theatre and Television

Hollywood lost some of its most enduring stars. Robert Redford, whose career spanned more than half a century, was both a leading man and a visionary director, winning acclaim for films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President’s Men, and Ordinary People. Beyond acting, his creation of the Sundance Film Festival transformed independent cinema.

Diane Keaton, celebrated for her collaborations with Woody Allen, earned an Academy Award for Annie Hall and remained a defining presence in American film across decades. Gene Hackman, equally adept at menace and humour, left an indelible mark with performances in The French Connection, Unforgiven, The Royal Tenenbaums and Young Frankenstein.

British audiences remembered Prunella Scales for her iconic turn as Sybil Fawlty, while Dame Joan Plowright and Dame Patricia Routledge were honoured for careers that bridged stage and screen with distinction. David Lynch, whose surreal vision reshaped both cinema and television, was hailed as one of the most original filmmakers ever to work in Hollywood, with Twin Peaks standing as a singular achievement.

Actors such as Val Kilmer, Terence Stamp, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Graham Greene, Pauline Collins and Stanley Baxter were also remembered for performances that became cultural touchstones on both sides of the Atlantic.

Global Cinema Icons

International film lost titans including Dharmendra, one of Bollywood’s most prolific and beloved stars, and European cinema legends Brigitte Bardot and Claudia Cardinale, who redefined female stardom during the golden age of post-war cinema.

Politics and Public Life

The political world marked the deaths of influential figures whose decisions shaped modern history. Former US Vice-President Dick Cheney was one of the most powerful holders of that office, central to American foreign policy in the post-9/11 era. In the UK, Lord Norman Tebbit remained synonymous with Thatcherism and its combative style, while Baroness Jenny Randerson and Baroness Helen Newlove were remembered for their groundbreaking work in public service.

Internationally, Jean-Marie Le Pen’s controversial role in French politics was reassessed, while activists such as Charlie Kirk also left a complex legacy.

Music

The music world mourned artists who transformed sound across genres. Brian Wilson, the creative force behind the Beach Boys, was celebrated as one of pop’s greatest composers. Marianne Faithfull’s life embodied both fame and reinvention, while reggae pioneer Jimmy Cliff helped carry Jamaican music to the world.

Rock, soul and jazz lost defining voices including Ozzy Osbourne, Roberta Flack, Sly Stone, D’Angelo, Dame Cleo Laine, Chris Rea and Gary “Mani” Mounfield. Their work spanned decades and reshaped everything from heavy metal to neo-soul.

Faith, Science and Achievement

Among the most globally significant deaths was Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, remembered for humility, social conscience and cautious reform within the Catholic Church. Italian designer Giorgio Armani was credited with revolutionising modern fashion, while Dame Stella Rimington broke barriers as MI5’s first female director-general.

Jane Goodall’s lifelong dedication to primatology and conservation left an unparalleled scientific legacy, and Nobel laureate James Watson was remembered for his role in uncovering the structure of DNA, despite later controversy.

Literature and the Arts

The literary world said goodbye to towering figures. Frederick Forsyth redefined the modern political thriller, while Sir Tom Stoppard combined intellectual rigour with popular appeal on stage and screen. Dame Jilly Cooper, Joanna Trollope, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Mario Vargas Llosa and Sophie Kinsella each shaped readerships across continents and generations.

Media and Photography

Broadcasting and journalism lost innovators including Biddy Baxter, who defined Blue Peter for a generation, and Alan Yentob, a major force in British arts programming. Photographer Martin Parr was celebrated for his vivid, often ironic portraits of everyday life, while presenter Henry Kelly remained a familiar face of television and radio.

Sport

The sporting world mourned legends whose achievements extended far beyond the field. Boxer George Foreman, football great Denis Law, cricket umpire Dickie Bird, Paralympic champion Anne Dunham and cyclist Paige Greco were honoured for excellence, resilience and influence. Football fans also paid tribute to Diogo Jota and West Ham icon Billy Bonds.