Celebrity deaths 2025: All the stars we've lost this year from Patricia Routledge and Kim Woodburn to Prunella Scales
We've lost so many huge stars this yearOzzy Osbourne, The Vivienne and Dame Patricia Routledge – the entertainment world has been left reeling this year, with the loss of a number of much-loved celebrities from across film, television and showbiz.
News of these deaths has hit particularly hard, as many of the stars were familiar faces we’d grown up watching on our screens or listening to for decades.
While they may be gone, their legacies live on through the work they shared and the memories they created. From soap icons to true national treasures, TV Guide looks back at the famous faces we’ve sadly said goodbye to this year.
Celebrity deaths: Dame Patricia Routledge
Dame Patricia Routledge, famed for playing Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances, died aged 96 on October 3. The actress starred as the snobby, middle-class character in the hit BBC sitcom during the 1990s.
Patricia’s agent said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of Dame Patricia Routledge, who died peacefully in her sleep this morning surrounded by love.”
Ozzy Osbourne
Heavy metal icon Ozzy passed away on July 22 aged 76. The Black Sabbath frontman’s sad death came just weeks after his final, farewell gig in Birmingham. Aside from his devoted music fans, he was also known for his family’s MTV show The Osbournes in the early noughties.
His son Jack Osbourne took part in I’m A Celebrity… and spoke about the impact his father had on the world.
Despite numerous health issues over the years, including being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, it was reported that Ozzy’s passing was unexpected.
His cause of death was announced two weeks after he passed away. His death certificate listed “acute myocardial infarction” and “out of hospital cardiac arrest” under the cause of death section. Underneath, it also said: “Coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease with autonomic dysfunction (Joint Causes).”
Prunella Scales
In October, actress Prunella Scales sadly died aged 93. In a statement shared by Prunella’s family, it was revealed that she died peacefully at her home in London following a long battle with dementia.
The Fawlty Towers actress died less than a year after the death of her husband, actor Timothy West. Timothy was receiving care at St George’s Hospital during his final days. It was announced at the time that he had died “peacefully in his sleep”.
Celebrity deaths: The Vivienne
On January 5, The Vivienne – real name James Lee Williams – died. The Drag Race UK winner and Dancing On Ice star was 32 at the time of their death.
After an inquest into their death was adjourned until the summer, the performer’s manager and friend Simon Jones has shared a statement in revealing their cause of death.
He shared that The Vivienne died “from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest”.
Paul Danan
Hollyoaks star Paul Danan’s death was announced on January 16. He was 46. The actor played Sol Patrick on the soap.
While Paul’s cause of death is unknown, in the past he’d been open about the many health issues he battled. Police also confirmed that his death was not being treated as suspicious. Reports suggested he died after a fall at his home.
Diane Langton
The soap world lost another legend when the death of Diane Langton was shared on January 15. Her agent, Shane Collins, said at the time: “I am sad to say that Diane Langton passed away this morning.”
Diane, who was best known for her roles on Hollyoaks as Nana McQueen and also Only Fools And Horses, was 77 years old. She died from kidney disease.
Robert Redford
Hollywood star Robert Redford died aged 89 on September 1. The actor and director was best known for being the go-to leading man of the late 1960s and 1970s. He appeared in films including Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid and The Sting.
Robert also featured in a number of iconic American TV shows, from Tanner on Tanner, The Deputy, to The Twilight Zone and The Defenders.
In a statement, Robert’s representative announced that the actor had died “at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah – the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved”.
Kim Woodburn
Kim Woodburn died aged 83 in June. She found fame on How Clean Is Your House? and went on to become a controversial figure on shows including Celebrity Big Brother and I’m A Celebrity….
In the months before her death, Kim suffered a period of ill health and took a step away from social media. Her cause of death hasn’t been revealed.
Val Kilmer
The death of Val Kilmer was announced in April. Val died on April 1 aged 65, according to his daughter Mercedes Kilmer, who he shared with ex-wife Joanne Whalley.
He was known for big Hollywood blockbusters, but also took part in the rebooted Knight Rider series and XIII: The Series.
His daughter told The New York Times that her beloved father had died from pneumonia in Los Angeles. She said that he was surrounded by his family and friends when he died.
Val was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and had to undergo surgery. He also had a tracheotomy which reduced his ability to speak. The actor signed up to let AI use his voice again, which is how he was able to take part in the Top Gun sequel.
Val was later declared cancer-free. However, it was been revealed that Val did have cancer when he died.
Michael Madsen
Actor Michael Madsen died in July. He appeared in many blockbuster movies over the years, including Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Die Another Day and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. He also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2012.
Michael was 67 when he died. His cardiologist has confirmed that he died from heart failure. Heart disease and alcoholism were also named as contributing factors, his doctor told NBC LA.
Baptiste star Tchéky Karyo
French actor Tchéky Karyo died aged 72 in October from cancer. The star had a career that spanned several decades, including a starring role in the film Nikita.
To TV audiences, he was better known as French detective Julien Baptiste in the BBC crime drama The Missing, and its spin-off series Baptiste from 2019 to 2021.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for playing Theo Huxtable in The Cosby Show between 1984 and 1992, died in July. He was 54. The star was swimming off the coast of San Jose, Costa Rica, when he was caught in a current and drowned.
Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) report stated that OIJ agents “carried out the removal of the body of a male who died as a result of asphyxia by submersion”.
Kelley Mack
Walking Dead actress Kelley Mack died at age 33 in August following her battle with a rare form of brain cancer called glioma.
Outside of The Walking Dead, Kelley appeared in other well-known shows such as 9-1-1 and Chicago Med.
Rivals author Jilly Cooper
Dame Jilly Cooper died in October at the age of 88. At the time, it was revealed that she passed away after suffering a fall. It was later confirmed that Jilly died in hospital, with her family present, aged 88 at 8.30am on October 5.
Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, reached a conclusion of accidental death and said Dame Jilly died as a result of a traumatic subdural haematoma.
Dame Jilly’s children said in a statement: “Mum, was the shining light in all of our lives. Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds. Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock.”
She was involved in the smash-hit Disney TV adaptation of her novel Rivals, with a number of the cast paying tribute to Jilly.
Julian McMahon
The death of Dannii Minogue’s ex-husband, Julian McMahon, was announced in July. He was 56. Julian, best known for his role as Dr Christian Troy in TV series Nip/Tuck, was married to Dannii between 1994 and 1995.
The star had been battling cancer, which had not been publicly announced. His cause of death confirmed that the Australian actor had died from lung metastasis as a result of head and neck metastatic cancer.
“Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible,” his devastated wife Kelly Paniagua said in a statement.
George Wendt
Actor George Wendt – who played Norm Peterson in Cheers – died aged 78 in May. The US TV sitcom star starred as the affable barfly character that made him famous across the world for all 275 episodes of the show’s 11-year run from 1982.
A father-of-three to Hilary, Joe and Daniel, George was married to actress Bernadette Birkett from 1978. His family have said he died peacefully in his sleep at his home early in Los Angeles.
Dame Joan Plowright
British actress Dame Joan Plowright died at the age of 95 in January. Her family shared in a statement: “It is with great sadness that the family of Dame Joan Plowright, the Lady Olivier, inform you that she passed away peacefully on January 16 2025 surrounded by her family at Denville Hall aged 95.”
The statement continued by sharing that Joan “enjoyed a long and illustrious career across theatre, film and TV over seven decades until blindness made her retire”.
A few years before her death, she appeared alongside Maggie Smith, Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins an in the much-loved BBC documentary Nothing Like A Dame.
Tony Slattery
Whose Line Is It Anyway? star Tony Slattery suffered a heart attack on Sunday, January 12. He died on Tuesday, January 14, at age 65.
A statement read: “It is with great sadness we must announce actor and comedian Tony Slattery, aged 65, has passed away today, Tuesday morning, following a heart attack on Sunday evening.”
As well as comedy, Tony also made waves as an actor, appearing on Coronation Street as bookie Eric Talford in December 2005. He also took part in Comic Relief, appeared in Bad Girls and was a regular on ITV’s Kingdom.
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