The death of brought change to the Catholic Church, which counts 1.4 billion adherents and is now led 鈥� for the first time 鈥� by an American pope. The fatal shooting of conservative activist as he spoke before a crowd horrified many and prompted somber conversations about political violence.
And when trafficking victim died by suicide, it brought additional scrutiny to the investigations of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. They were among the noteworthy and influential people who died in 2025 where the deaths themselves had a widespread impact.
The deaths of Oscar-winning actor and his wife became a source of both sadness and mystery after their bodies were found in their home in February. Authorities ultimately determined that Hackman, who was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer鈥檚, died of heart disease, likely unaware that Betsy Arakawa had died from hantavirus a week earlier.
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EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE 鈥� This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at . Helplines outside the U.S. can be found at .
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Meanwhile, the death of heavy metal icon , which came just weeks after his farewell concert, marked the end of an era in music. The year also saw the death of boxing great , who memorably lost a much-watched match to Muhammad Ali but whose career had inspiring second and third acts as a world champion and successful business owner.
And the world said goodbye this year to , the hard-charging conservative whose long career in public service included becoming one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history under President George W. Bush.
Here is a roll call of some influential figures who have died this year (cause of death cited, if available):
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JANUARY
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, 73. The singer and guitarist was a founding member of The Osmonds, a million-album-selling family act known for such 1970s teen hits as 鈥淥ne Bad Apple,鈥� 鈥淵o-Yo鈥� and 鈥淒own By the Lazy River.鈥� Jan. 1.
, 93. She was the matriarch of the iconic Italian fashion house that made colorful zigzag-patterned knitwear high fashion and helped launch Italian ready-to-wear. Jan. 1.
, 67. A self-help guru, his multimillion-dollar business toppled after his sweat lodge ceremony in Arizona left three people dead. Jan. 3.
, 88. As prime minister, the socialist leader was the architect of Greece’s joining the common European currency, the euro. Jan. 5.
, 96. The founder of France鈥檚 far-right National Front was known for fiery rhetoric against immigration and multiculturalism, earning him staunch support and widespread condemnation. Jan. 7.
, 86. The singer-songwriter was best known as one-third of Peter, Paul and Mary, the folk music trio whose impassioned harmonies transfixed millions as they lifted their voices in favor of civil rights and against war. Jan. 7.
, 104. The first Black woman to join the U.S. Army Nurse Corps after the military was desegregated in the 1940s retired as a major and was remembered by relatives and friends for quietly breaking down racial barriers during her long military career. Jan. 8.
, 89. He was the higher voice of the 1960s duo Sam & Dave, known for such definitive hits of the era as 鈥淪oul Man鈥� and 鈥淗old On, I鈥檓 Comin.鈥欌�� Jan. 10.
, 78. The filmmaker was celebrated for his uniquely dark and dreamlike vision in such movies as 鈥淏lue Velvet鈥� and 鈥淢ulholland Drive,鈥� and the TV series 鈥淭win Peaks.鈥� Jan. 16.
, 90. He parlayed a forgettable playing career into a punch line for movie and TV appearances as 鈥淢r. Baseball鈥� and a Hall of Fame broadcasting tenure. Jan. 16.
, 95. She was an award-winning British actor who, with her late husband Laurence Olivier, did much to revitalize the U.K.鈥檚 theatrical scene after World War II. Jan. 16.
, 67. A national advocate for abortion access and women鈥檚 rights, she led Planned Parenthood for 12 tumultuous years. Jan. 20.
, 65. After serving as president of El Salvador, he spent the final years of his life in Nicaragua to avoid various criminal sentences. Jan. 21.
, 102. An aviator and parachutist with a medical degree, she was the first woman to become a general officer in France. Jan. 21.
, 87. The Band鈥檚 virtuoso keyboardist and all-around musician drew from a unique palette of sounds and styles to add a conversational touch to such rock standards as 鈥淯p on Cripple Creek,鈥� 鈥淭he Weight鈥� and 鈥淩ag Mama Rag.鈥� Jan. 21.
, 84. An ultratraditionalist Catholic bishop, his denial of the Holocaust created a scandal in 2009 when Pope Benedict XVI rehabilitated him and other members of his breakaway society. Jan. 29.
, 95. He was one of the most accomplished men鈥檚 figure skaters in history, and one of his sport鈥檚 great innovators and promoters. Jan. 30.
, 78. The British pop star, muse, libertine and old soul inspired and helped write some of the Rolling Stones鈥� greatest songs and endured as a torch singer and survivor of the lifestyle she once embodied. Jan. 30.
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FEBRUARY
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, 81. A managing director of the International Monetary Fund, he became a popular German president before stunning the country by resigning abruptly in a flap over comments about its military. Feb. 1.
, 48. A Taiwanese actress who starred in the popular TV drama 鈥淢eteor Garden鈥� that swept Asia, she died of pneumonia triggered by the flu. Feb. 2.
, 88. He became the spiritual leader of the world鈥檚 millions of Ismaili Muslims at age 20 as a Harvard undergraduate and poured billions of dollars in tithes into building homes, hospitals and schools in developing countries. Feb. 4.
, 80. Tiger Woods credited his Thai-born mother with instilling his dominant spirit and encouraging him to wear red shirts on Sundays as his power color. Feb. 4.
, 54. A music mogul who founded Murder Inc. Records, he was behind major hip-hop and R&B artists such as Ashanti and Ja Rule. Feb. 5.
, 85. The versatile, Tony Award-nominated performer in plays and musicals appeared in several Woody Allen movies 鈥� often as Allen鈥檚 best friend. Feb. 7.
, 95. Known as the father of Namibia, the fiery, white-bearded freedom fighter led his nation’s independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990 and served as its first president for 15 years. Feb. 8.
, 43. She lived in pain for 25 years after being partially paralyzed in the Columbine High School shooting and her death of sepsis, related to her injuries, . Feb. 16.
, 95. The Oscar-winning actor whose studied portraits ranged from reluctant heroes to conniving villains and made him one of the industry鈥檚 most respected and honored performers. . Found dead with his wife .
, 77. The Mexican musical legend was known for her powerful voice and fierce defense of women. Feb. 17.
, 88. He was credited with saving 2.4 million babies through his record-breaking blood plasma donations over six decades in Australia. Feb. 17.
, 84. The Malian filmmaker was a pioneer of African cinema with a career spanning 50 years. Feb. 19.
, 92. The Black track and field standout broke through barriers as the only woman to compete for the United States in the long jump at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Feb. 20.
, 93. The Secret Service agent leaped onto the back of President John F. Kennedy鈥檚 limousine after the president was shot, then was forced to retire early because he remained haunted by memories of the assassination. Feb. 21.
, 87. A College Football Hall of Fame coach, he won four NAIA Division II national championships in 19 years at Westminster College. Feb. 22.
, 88. The Grammy-winning singer and pianist’s intimate vocal and musical style made her one of the top recording artists of the 1970s and an influential performer long after that. Feb. 24.
, 39. A former child star in the hit 1996 movie 鈥淗arriet the Spy,鈥� she went on to co-star in two buzzy millennial-era TV shows 鈥� 鈥淏uffy the Vampire Slayer鈥� and 鈥淕ossip Girl.鈥� The cause and manner of her death were officially listed as undetermined. Feb. 26.
, 88. A Soviet-era world chess champion, he lost his title to American Bobby Fischer in a legendary 1972 match that became a proxy for Cold War rivalries. Feb. 27.
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MARCH
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, 63. The Grammy-nominated R&B singer, a member of the all-female hip-hop trio The Sequence who was known for the hit song 鈥淲ish I Didn鈥檛 Miss You,鈥� died when her van crashed. March 1.
, 70. He was a Cuban American who opposed his uncle Fidel Castro and spent 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives as a member of a politically powerful South Florida family. March 3.
, 82. Dolly Parton鈥檚 devoted husband of nearly 60 years avoided the spotlight and inspired her timeless hit 鈥淛olene.鈥� March 3.
, 86. The Soviet KGB officer helped change the course of the Cold War by covertly passing secrets to Britain. March 4.
, 84. The jazz vibraphonist, keyboardist, composer and vocalist was known for his spacy, funky 1976 hit 鈥淓verybody Loves the Sunshine,鈥� sampled by such R&B and rap heavyweights as Mary J. Blige, N.W.A., Dr. Dre, 2 Pac, Mos Def and Ice Cube. March 4.
, 95. He was elected in 1967 as Mississippi鈥檚 first Black lawmaker of the 20th century and rose to the second-highest leadership role in the state House of Representatives. March 4.
, 64. He co-founded the Grammy-nominated group Tony! Toni! Tone! behind the classic songs 鈥淎nniversary,鈥� 鈥淚t Never Rains (In Southern California)鈥� and (Lay Your Head on My) Pillow.鈥� March 7.
, 71. A basketball standout who led Louisville to a Final Four, he starred for the NBA鈥檚 Milwaukee Bucks and then launched an even more successful career as a business owner with stakes in restaurants, publishing and the Bucks franchise. March 11.
, 93. The former U.S. senator was a political legend whose quick wit bridged partisan gaps in the years before today鈥檚 political acrimony. March 14.
, 87. The former congresswoman was a long-serving New York Democrat and the first woman to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee. March 15.
, 43. The Belgian actor who won a top Cannes Film Festival prize for her breakout role in 鈥淩osetta鈥� died of a rare form of cancer. March 16.
, 76. He was a Formula 1 team owner and media personality whose humor, strong opinions and often extravagant dress sense made him a popular TV pundit after selling the team. March 20.
, 76. The fearsome heavyweight boxer lost the 鈥淩umble in the Jungle鈥� to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second and third acts as a 45-year-old world champion and a successful business owner. March 21.
, 88. The wife of former Massachusetts governor and Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis spoke openly about her struggles with depression and addiction. March 21.
, 49. A daughter of Haitian immigrants, the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress died of brain cancer. March 23.
, 83. He was the lead architect of the One World Trade Center skyscraper that rose from the site where the twin towers collapsed in New York City during the 9/11 attacks. March 26.
, 90. The handsome hero of the 1960s television series 鈥淒r. Kildare鈥� came out as gay four decades later and was known as the 鈥渒ing of the miniseries鈥� for his roles in 鈥淭he Thorn Birds鈥� and 鈥淪hogun.鈥� March 29.
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APRIL
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, 65. The brooding, versatile actor who played fan favorite Iceman in 鈥淭op Gun,鈥� donned a voluminous cape as Batman in 鈥淏atman Forever鈥� and portrayed Jim Morrison in 鈥淭he Doors,鈥� died of pneumonia. April 1.
, 94. The formerly powerful Catholic cardinal was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019 after a Vatican investigation determined he had molested adults and children. April 3.
, 73. He starred as the towheaded mischief-maker on TV鈥檚 鈥淒ennis the Menace鈥� for four seasons starting in 1959. April 6.
, 70. His versatile drumming propelled the iconic rock group Blondie during its decades performing everything from new-wave punk to disco-infused tunes. April 6.
, 69. Known for songs such as 鈥淰olver茅,鈥� 鈥淓l Africano鈥� and 鈥淭u Vas a Volar鈥� during a career devoted to merengue, the signature musical style of the Dominican Republic, he died after . April 8.
, 51. He pitched for 13 major league teams in a 15-year career and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and died in the same roof collapse in the Dominican Republic. April 8.
, 82. He was a North Korean commando who resettled in South Korea as a pastor after the failure of his mission to assassinate South Korean President Park Chung-hee in 1968. April 9.
, 89. The Peruvian author was a Nobel literature laureate and a giant of Latin American letters. April 13.
, 85. The former Malaysian prime minister was a moderate who extended the country鈥檚 political freedoms but was criticized for lackluster leadership. April 14.
, 91. The genial host of such hit game shows as 鈥淕ambit鈥� and 鈥淭ic-Tac-Dough鈥� also did one of the first recorded television interviews with a young Elvis Presley. April 15.
, 71. She became one of the biggest stars of Philippine cinema during a career that spanned seven decades. April 16.
, 82. A 10-term U.S. congressman, his political career ended abruptly after he was elected mayor of San Diego and driven from office amid sexual misconduct allegations. April 20.
, 88. History鈥檚 first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for poor people but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change. April 21.
, 67. A star defensive tackle on the Chicago Bears鈥� 1985 Super Bowl championship team whose larger-than-life personality later made him a natural for professional wrestling as 鈥淢ing the Merciless,鈥� he died after battling ALS. April 23.
, 41. She accused Britain鈥檚 Prince Andrew and other influential men of sexually exploiting her as a teenager trafficked by financier Jeffrey Epstein. An advocate for sex trafficking survivors after emerging as a central figure in Epstein鈥檚 downfall, she died by suicide according to her publicist. April 25.
, 88. A basketball Hall of Famer, he played on both New York Knicks NBA championship teams after being part of a historic college powerhouse at Tennessee A&I. April 27.
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MAY
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, 88. She rose to fame as the frumpy and bitter Gladys Ormphby on the groundbreaking sketch comedy series 鈥淩owan & Martin鈥檚 Laugh-In鈥� and made more than 200 television appearances during a 45-year career. May 1.
, 66. The award-winning singer-songwriter whose witty and poignant writing attracted widespread attention with the gay-themed song 鈥淚 Kissed a Girl,鈥� died in a house fire. May 1.
, 91. A tough-on-crime Republican who as Illinois governor cleared the state’s death row, he was disgraced by a corruption scandal that landed him in prison. May 2.
, 85. The retired Supreme Court justice was an ascetic bachelor and New Hampshire Republican who became a favorite of liberals during nearly 20 years on the bench. May 8.
, 73. The country music star was a popular Mexican American singer whose 1970s hits included 鈥淚 Just Can鈥檛 Get Her Out of My Mind,鈥� 鈥淩idin鈥� My Thumb to Mexico鈥� and 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the Way Love Goes.鈥� May 9.
, 92. The Oscar-winning filmmaker cocreated 鈥淏onnie and Clyde,鈥� and received mainstream validation as the writer-director of 鈥淜ramer vs. Kramer鈥� and 鈥淧laces in the Heart.鈥� May 11.
, 86. The Republican was Missouri’s youngest governor and later brought billions of dollars in federal funding to the state as a four-term U.S. senator. May 13.
, 89. The former Uruguayan president and Marxist guerrilla’s radical brand of democracy, plainspoken philosophy and simple lifestyle as a flower farmer fascinated people around the world. May 13.
, 76. An actor with an everyman charm, he played the affable barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy 鈥淐heers鈥� and performed on Broadway in 鈥淎rt,鈥� 鈥淗airspray鈥� and 鈥淓lf.鈥� May 20.
, 90. A feminist whose landmark 1975 book 鈥淎gainst Our Will鈥� was an intensely debated bestseller about sexual assault. May 24.
, 79. The 鈥淒uck Dynasty鈥� patriarch turned his small duck-calling interest in the sportsman鈥檚 paradise of northern Louisiana into a big business and conservative cultural phenomenon. May 25.
, 94. The former New York congressman was an outspoken, gravel-voiced Harlem Democrat spent nearly five decades on Capitol Hill and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. May 26.
, 40. The South African actor gained international recognition for his leading role in the 2005 film 鈥淭sotsi,鈥� which won South Africa鈥檚 first-ever Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. May 27.
, 87. The revered Kenyan man of letters was a voice of dissent who, in dozens of fiction and nonfiction books, traced his country鈥檚 history from British imperialism to home-ruled tyranny. May 28.
, 69. He served as New York City鈥檚 police commissioner on 9/11 and later pleaded guilty to tax fraud before being pardoned. May 29.
, 87. She won two Emmy Awards playing Maj. Margaret Houlihan, the demanding head nurse of a Korean War surgical unit on the pioneering hit TV series 鈥淢.A.S.H.鈥� May 30.
, 98. The French scientist was best known as the inventor of the abortion pill. May 30.
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JUNE
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, 89. He was known in Japan as 鈥淢r. Pro Baseball,鈥� one of the most famous people in the country during his playing days. June 3.
, 87. The former Minnesota Vikings defensive end was one of four members of the famed Purple People Eaters, the backbone of four Super Bowl teams. June 3.
, 92. The Brazilian archaeologist discovered hundreds of prehistoric cave paintings in northeastern Brazil, and her research challenged theories of ancient human presence in the Americas. June 4.
, 68. The former Zambian president led the southern African nation from 2015 to 2021. June 5.
, 86. She campaigned for women鈥檚 inclusion in long-distance running and then won the Boston Marathon the first year women were officially allowed to run. June 8.
, 82. The revolutionary musician and dynamic showman led Sly and the Family Stone, transforming popular music in the 1960s and 鈥�70s and beyond with such hits as 鈥淓veryday People,鈥� 鈥淪tand!鈥� and 鈥淔amily Affair.鈥� June 9.
, 86. The British author wrote 鈥淭he Day of the Jackal鈥� and other bestselling thrillers. June 9.
, 82. The Beach Boys鈥� visionary and fragile leader whose genius for melody, arrangements and wide-eyed self-expression inspired 鈥淕ood Vibrations,鈥� 鈥淐alifornia Girls鈥� and other summertime anthems, becoming one of the world鈥檚 most influential recording artists. June 11.
, 52. The former MTV and BET host who became a beloved television personality in the 1990s with her warmth and authenticity died of breast cancer. June 11.
, 55. The TV chef coached culinary fumblers through hundreds of episodes of 鈥淲orst Cooks in America.鈥� June 17.
, 81. The guitarist, singer and songwriter was a founding member of the classic British rock bands Bad Company and Mott the Hoople. June 23.
, 81. His winsome smile and shaggy mop top helped make him into a teen idol in the 1960s and 鈥�70s with bubblegum pop hits like 鈥淟ittle Woman鈥� and 鈥淛ulie, Do Ya Love Me.鈥� June 24.
, 81. She served nine terms in Congress after being elected in 1996 as a crusader for gun control following a mass shooting on a New York commuter train that left her husband dead and her son severely wounded. June 26.
, 89. The Hall of Famer became one of horse racing’s most accomplished trainers and a face of the sport for decades. June 28.
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JULY
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, 90. The televangelist amassed an enormous following and multimillion-dollar ministry, only to be undone by his penchant for prostitutes. July 1.
, 93. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, he helped the Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup three times in the 1950s. July 1.
, 67. The actor best known for his coolly menacing, steely-eyed, often sadistic characters in the films of Quentin Tarantino, including 鈥淩eservoir Dogs鈥� and 鈥淜ill Bill: Vol. 2.鈥� July 3.
, 82. He led Nigeria twice, as a military head of state and a democratic president. July 13.
, 114. An Indian-born runner nicknamed the Turbaned Torpedo, believed to be the world鈥檚 oldest marathoner, died after being hit by a car. July 14.
, 67. Known as the 鈥淥utback Killer,鈥� he was convicted of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio, who vanished in arid central Australia in 2001. July 15.
, 87. The wholesome pop star’s 1950s and 鈥�60s hits included 鈥淧retty Little Baby鈥� and 鈥淲ho鈥檚 Sorry Now?鈥� 鈥� the latter serving as an ironic title for a personal life filled with heartbreak and tragedy. July 16.
, 56. The extreme athlete stunned the world in 2012 by skydiving faster than the speed of sound during a 24-mile (39-kilometer) leap from the stratosphere. He . July 17.
, 99. The Oscar-winning lyricist teamed with his wife, Marilyn, in a loving partnership that produced 鈥淗ow Do You Keep the Music Playing?,鈥� 鈥淚t Might Be You鈥� and the classic 鈥淭he Way We Were.鈥� July 17.
, 95. He was NASCAR鈥檚 oldest living champion and a 2015 inductee into its Hall of Fame. July 18.
, 54. His 40-year career as an actor and director began as teenage son Theo Huxtable on 鈥淭he Cosby Show,鈥� a cultural phenomenon that helped define the 1980s. He drowned in the Caribbean Sea. July 20.
, 78. The criminal defense attorney was a fixture for five decades in Chicago鈥檚 courthouses, known for his relentless advocacy for a roster of notorious clients. July 21.
, 76. The gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath became the godfather of heavy metal and then a doddering dad on reality TV. July 22.
, 84. The two-time Grammy Award-winning musician achieved international success in 1977 with his jazz-flavored single 鈥淔eels So Good鈥� and later became a voice actor on the animated TV comedy 鈥淜ing of the Hill.鈥� July 22.
, 70. The Welsh soccer hero won two European Cups with Liverpool and was dubbed 鈥淢r. Wrexham.鈥� July 22.
, 71. The mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act. July 24.
, 97. Her husky contralto was one of the most distinctive voices in jazz, and she was regarded by many as Britain鈥檚 greatest contribution to the quintessentially American genre. July 24.
, 72. The Hall of Fame fighter took up boxing in prison and became a two-weight world champion. July 25.
, 65. The Hall of Fame second baseman became one of baseball鈥檚 best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs. July 28.
, 86. The legendary accordionist from San Antonio won multiple Grammys as he expanded the popularity of conjunto, Tejano and Tex-Mex music. July 31.
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AUGUST
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, 85. She was the soulful country music singer behind such standards as 鈥淒on鈥檛 Touch Me.鈥� Aug. 1.
, 90. Dame Stella was the first female chief of Britain鈥檚 MI5 intelligence agency and later a successful thriller writer. Aug. 3.
, 79. She played a struggling radio station鈥檚 empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy 鈥淲KRP in Cincinnati.鈥� Aug. 3.
, 95. Romania鈥檚 first freely elected president after the fall of communism in 1989 later faced charges of crimes against humanity for his role in the bloody revolution. Aug. 5.
, 97. The commander of Apollo 13 helped turn a failed moon mission into a triumph of on-the-fly can-do engineering. Aug. 7.
, 74. He became Myanmar鈥檚 acting president under controversial circumstances after the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Aug. 7.
, 101. His troubleshooting skills and integrity helped restore public confidence as director of the FBI from 1978 to 1987 and the CIA from 1987 to 1991. Aug. 8.
, 102. He promoted peace as a grand master of the Japanese tea ceremony after being trained to be a Kamikaze pilot during World War II. Aug. 14.
, 86. The Republican moderate and former Delaware governor served 18 years in Congress, championing the popular 50 State Quarters Program. Aug. 14.
, 79. He played super spy Robert Scorpio on ABC鈥檚 鈥淕eneral Hospital.鈥� Aug. 15.
, 87. The British actor often played the role of a complex villain, including that of General Zod in the early Superman films. Aug. 17.
, 86. He was a pioneering motorsports promoter as president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Aug. 20.
, 88. A retired municipal judge in Rhode Island, he found online fame as a caring jurist and host of 鈥淐aught in Providence.鈥� Aug. 20.
, 89. Founder of the conservative Christian ministry Focus on the Family, the child psychologist was a politically influential campaigner against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. Aug. 21.
, 84. The Hall of Fame jockey rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973. Aug. 22.
, 93. She overcame partial deafness and an intestinal infection to win three Grand Slam singles titles, including the 1961 Wimbledon. Aug. 25.
, 83. His feats as a U.S. Navy flying ace during the Vietnam War catapulted him to Congress, where the Republican served eight House terms before pleading guilty to accepting $2.4 million in bribes. Aug. 27.
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SEPTEMBER
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, 73. A trailblazing Indigenous actor, his long career included an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Kicking Bird in 鈥淒ances with Wolves.鈥� Sept. 1.
, 91. The iconic Italian designer turned the concept of understated elegance into a multibillion-dollar fashion empire. Sept. 4.
, 83. He was one of four North Carolina college students whose refusal to leave a racially segregated Woolworth鈥檚 lunch counter 65 years ago helped spark nonviolent civil rights sit-ins across the South. Sept. 4.
, 92. Born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley, she famously broke royal protocol to hug a Wimbledon runner-up and stepped away from family duties to teach music in a public school. Sept. 4.
, 88. The Tony Award-nominated screen and stage actor turned the catchphrase 鈥淜iss my grits!鈥� into a national retort as the gum-chewing, beehive-wearing server on the long-running CBS sitcom 鈥淎lice.鈥� Sept. 9.
, 31. Rising from a teenage conservative campus activist to a top podcaster and ally of President Donald Trump, he was fatally shot during an appearance at a college in Utah. Sept. 10.
, 86. The songwriter was a key part of the Monkees鈥� multimedia empire, teaming with Tommy Boyce on such hits as 鈥淟ast Train to Clarksville鈥� and 鈥淚鈥檓 Not Your Steppin鈥� Stone.鈥� Sept. 10.
, 63. The defector who founded Seoul-based Free North Korea Radio used USB sticks and a network of sources in the secretive country to inform the North Korean public about their authoritarian government. Sept. 12.
, 46. The former boxing world champion who rose to become one of the most popular fighters in the sport had mental health struggles and . Sept. 14.
, 89. The Hollywood golden boy became an Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema under the name of one of his best-loved characters. Sept. 16.
, 57. The Grammy award-winning country songwriter whose top hits included 鈥淛esus, Take the Wheel鈥� by Carrie Underwood and 鈥淲hen the Sun Goes Down鈥� by Kenny Chesney died in a plane crash. Sept. 18.
, 88. A vintage rock 鈥榥鈥� roller, he wrote the raw classic 鈥淚 Fought the Law鈥� and posed the enduring question 鈥淲ho can turn the world on with her smile?鈥� as the writer-crooner of the theme song to 鈥淭he Mary Tyler Moore Show.鈥� Sept. 19.
, 80. Considered one of the greatest hockey goalies, the Hall of Famer anchored the net for the Philadelphia Flyers鈥� two Stanley Cup championships in the 1970s. Sept. 21.
, 85. As one of the so-called Clinton 12 in 1956, he endured racist violence to become the first Black student in Tennessee to graduate from an integrated state-run school. Sept. 22.
, 87. The acclaimed Italian actor starred in some of the most celebrated European films of the 1960s and 1970s. Sept. 23.
, in his 80s. Saudi Arabia鈥檚 grand mufti served as the kingdom鈥檚 top religious figure for a quarter of a century as the ultraconservative Muslim nation socially liberalized. Sept. 23.
, 95. She was imprisoned for more than 30 years after she made an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975. Sept. 24.
, 78. The Black liberation activist was given political asylum in Cuba after her 1979 escape from a U.S. prison where she had been serving a life sentence for killing a law enforcement officer. Sept. 25.
, 101. He was the oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sept. 27.
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OCTOBER
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, 91. The conservationist was renowned for her groundbreaking chimpanzee field research and globe-spanning environmental advocacy. Oct. 1.
, 88. The bestselling British author chronicled class and sex in risqu茅 novels, including 鈥淩ivals鈥� and 鈥淩iders.鈥� Oct. 5.
, 89. The former wife of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy endured family tragedies, her husband鈥檚 infidelities and decades-long struggles with alcoholism and mental health. Oct. 8.
, 79. The Oscar-winning star’s quirky manner and emotional depth enthralled fans in movies including 鈥淎nnie Hall,鈥� 鈥淭he Godfather鈥� films and 鈥淔ather of the Bride.鈥� Oct. 11.
, 51. The Grammy-winning R&B singer recognized by his raspy yet smooth voice and for garnering mainstream attention with the shirtless 鈥淯ntitled (How Does It Feel)鈥� music video died of cancer. Oct. 14.
, 80. The populist campaigns of the former prime minister and perennial presidential candidate challenged one-party rule, rattled authorities and gave him outsized influence in Kenya. Oct. 15.
, 74. The original lead guitarist and founding member of the glam-rock band Kiss captivated audiences with his elaborate galactic makeup and smoking guitar. Oct. 16.
, 87. The 鈥渇ounding mother鈥� of National Public Radio was the first female broadcaster to host a national news program. Oct. 16.
, 92. The Nepalese mountain guide was last surviving member of the expedition team that first conquered Mount Everest. Oct. 16.
, 101. Japan鈥檚 former prime minister was known for his 1995 鈥淢urayama statement鈥� apologizing to Asian victims of his country鈥檚 aggression. Oct. 17.
, 103. The Chinese Nobel Prize-winning physicist was one of the most influential scientists in modern physics. Oct. 18.
, 29. The chess grandmaster who started as a child prodigy quickly became one of the most influential American voices in the sport. His cause of death . Oct. 20.
, 100. She became a mother figure for a generation of television viewers, whether at home in 鈥淟assie鈥� or 鈥淟ost in Space.鈥� Oct. 23.
, 93. She supervised royal projects in Thailand to help the rural poor, preserve traditional craft-making and protect the environment. Oct. 24.
, 41. As a New York Jets center he was one of the franchise鈥檚 greatest players, twice helping lead the team to the AFC Championship Game. He died of complications of kidney disease. Oct. 25.
, 93. A versatile actor, she was best known as acid-tongued Sybil Fawlty in the classic British sitcom 鈥淔awlty Towers.鈥� Oct. 27.
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NOVEMBER
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, 88. She was the first and only woman elected governor of Kentucky. Nov. 1.
, 89. A class-action lawsuit pioneer who took on cigarette companies and the makers of faulty breast implants, his legal career ended amid accusations of unethical conduct. Nov. 2.
, 83. He became one of the most notorious mass murderers in the U.S. by shooting 14 people, and killing 13, including his own children, during a 1982 rampage in Pennsylvania. Nov. 2.
, 84. The hard-charging conservative was a leading advocate for invading Iraq as one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history. Years later, he became of President Donald Trump. Nov. 3.
, 89. The actor was nominated three times for Academy Awards, as the brash waitress in 鈥淎lice Doesn鈥檛 Live Here Anymore,鈥� the scheming parent in 鈥淲ild at Heart鈥� and her role with daughter Laura Dern in 鈥淩ambling Rose.鈥� Nov. 3.
, 97. North Korea’s longtime ceremonial head of state was best known for his deep, booming voice in propaganda-filled speeches supporting the ruling Kim dynasty. Nov. 3.
, 97. His codiscovery of the twisted-ladder structure of DNA in 1953 helped light the long fuse on a revolution in medicine, crime fighting, genealogy and ethics. Nov. 6.
, 84. He helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions. Nov. 9.
, 84. The stage, film and TV actor was best known for sharing the screen with Paul Newman and Robert Redford in 鈥淭he Sting鈥� and her Oscar-nominated title role in the 1987 movie 鈥淎nna.鈥� Nov. 11.
, 101. He was the Philippines’ defense chief during the martial-law era notorious for human rights atrocities, democratic setbacks and plunder, then broke from Ferdinand Marcos, leading to the dictator’s overthrow in a 1986 鈥減eople power鈥� uprising. Nov. 13.
, 59. The singer’s thoughtfully freewheeling tunes and cosmic-stoner songwriting made him a beloved figure in American roots music. Nov. 14.
, 82. One of the most vocal leaders of the Black Power movement, he died serving a life sentence for the killing in 2000 of a Georgia sheriff鈥檚 deputy. Nov. 23.
, 89. A defining screen presence of 1970s and 1980s Bollywood films, he was one of Indian cinema鈥檚 most popular stars. Nov. 24.
, 81. The charismatic reggae pioneer and actor starred in the landmark movie 鈥淭he Harder They Come鈥� and preached joy, defiance and resilience in such classics as 鈥淢any Rivers to Cross,鈥� 鈥淵ou Can Get it If You Really Want鈥� and 鈥淰ietnam.鈥� Nov. 24.
, 111. As one of the last survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in Oklahoma, she spent her later years seeking justice for the deadly attack by a white mob on the thriving Black community where she lived as a child. Nov. 24.
, 74. One of golf鈥檚 most gregarious characters, the two-time major champion’s career was tainted by a racially insensitive joke about Tiger Woods. Nov. 27.
, 88. The British playwright was a playful, probing dramatist who won an Academy Award for his screenplay for 1998鈥檚 鈥淪hakespeare In Love.鈥� Nov. 29.
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DECEMBER
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, 101. The decorated Native American veteran was a 19-year-old U.S. Army medic when he landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day and helped save lives. Dec. 3.
, 84. A lean, soulful guitarist and songwriter, he helped anchor the celebrated Memphis backing band Booker T. and the M.G.鈥檚 at Stax Records and co-wrote the classics 鈥淕reen Onions,鈥� 鈥�(Sittin鈥� on) the Dock of the Bay鈥� and 鈥淚n the Midnight Hour.鈥� Dec. 3.
, 75. A Tokyo-born actor, he was known for his roles in the film 鈥淢ortal Kombat鈥� and the TV series 鈥淭he Man in the High Castle.鈥� Dec. 4.
, 96. He designed some of most imaginative buildings ever constructed and achieved a level of worldwide acclaim seldom afforded any architect. Dec. 5.
, 99. He was a beloved musician and a founder of the legendary salsa band El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, whose hits have inspired Bad Bunny and other icons from the U.S. territory and beyond. Dec. 6.
, 60. He was the soulful tenor and frontman of the genre-defying, Grammy-winning band The Mavericks. Dec. 8.
, 92. The educator, coach and administrator rolled out the nation鈥檚 landmark No Child Left Behind law as the first African American to serve as U.S. education secretary. Dec. 9.
, 55. Her effervescent rom-com 鈥淐onfessions of a Shopaholic鈥� sparked a millions-selling series. She died after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Dec. 10.
, 78. The son of a comedy giant who became one himself as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation with movies such as 鈥淭he Princess Bride,鈥� 鈥淲hen Harry Met Sally 鈥︹�� and 鈥淭his Is Spinal Tap,鈥� he was fatally stabbed along with his wife in their home. Dec. 14.
, 78. He rose to fame in the 1970s and 鈥�80s as half of the daytime TV super couple Luke and Laura on 鈥淕eneral Hospital.鈥� Dec. 14.
, 82. He played television鈥檚 hunky sci-fi hero William 鈥淏uck鈥� Rogers soon after the Star Wars franchise took hold in the late 1970s. Dec. 16.
, 91. He was the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who spent decades dodging bullets and bombs to bring the world eyewitness accounts of war from the rice paddies of Vietnam to the deserts of Iraq. Dec. 17.
, 55. Picked by NASCAR as one of its top 75 drivers in history, the Hall of Fame nominee was killed in a small jet crash. Dec. 18.
, 88. The four-term Democratic governor was a towering figure in North Carolina politics in the late 20th century and helped leaders from both major parties strive for public education reform. Dec. 18.
, 104. She rose to national fame as the oldest National Park Service ranger and used the spotlight to talk about the African American experience during World War II. Dec. 21.
, 72. The Palestinian director and actor sought to share the complexities of Palestinian identity and culture through a variety of works in both Arabic and Hebrew. Dec. 24.
, 78. His 113 worldwide victories were the most of any player from Japan. Dec. 24.
, 94. The former head of the U.S. National Hurricane Center was credited with increasing the country鈥檚 readiness for major storms. Dec. 24.
, 85. The high-ranking official in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who led a governing body called the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and was to become the faith鈥檚 president. Dec. 27.
, 91. The French 1960s sex symbol who became one of the greatest screen sirens of the 20th century and later a militant animal welfare activist and far-right supporter. Dec. 28.
, 80. The first woman elected prime minister of Bangladesh in 1991, her archrivalry with another former premier defined the country鈥檚 politics for a generation. Dec. 30.
, 35. One of three grandchildren of the late President John F. Kennedy, the environmental journalist was diagnosed with leukemia last year. Dec. 30.
, 71. An actor who made frequent memorable appearances on the HBO series and and in five films with director Spike Lee. Dec. 30.
, 92. The former U.S. senator and representative of Colorado, known for his passionate advocacy of Native American issues. Dec. 30.
, 77. The gospel singer and recording artist was nominated eight times for . Dec. 30.
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