Actors Who Died Last Month

It was a difficult month for film and television. September 2025 brought the loss of screen legends and beloved character actors across several generations. From Hollywood icons to stage veterans, each of these performers helped shape what we watch and how we talk about stories on screen.

Below is a roundup of notable actors who passed away in September 2025. For each person, you will find key roles, career highlights, and a sense of what they contributed to the craft, along with where and when they died.

Graham Greene

The Oscar-nominated Canadian First Nations actor died on September 1 in Ontario after a long illness. He earned international recognition for playing Kicking Bird in ‘Dances With Wolves’ and worked steadily for decades across film and television. His career included roles in ‘Thunderheart’, ‘The Green Mile’, and ‘Wind River’, and he remained a visible advocate for Indigenous representation in mainstream projects.

Across recent years he appeared in popular series and continued to record voice work, showing the range that made him a reliable presence in drama and genre storytelling. Colleagues and collaborators paid tribute through statements and remembrances, noting his generosity on set and his influence on younger actors.

Polly Holliday

Polly Holliday died on September 9 in New York at the age of 88. She became a television fixture as Flo on ‘Alice’, a role that spun off into her own series and made her catchphrase a household line. She also worked in features and on the stage, where she earned a Tony nomination, and appeared in family favorites that kept her in front of new audiences for decades.

Obituaries and industry tributes emphasized her scene-stealing timing and the way she anchored ensembles. News outlets confirmed the cause and date, and trade publications noted that she was omitted from the September awards in memoriam segment, which prompted additional public remembrances.

Pat Crowley

Patricia Crowley died on September 14 in Los Angeles at the age of 91. She moved smoothly between film and television across six decades, with early Golden Globe recognition leading to a long run of guest spots and starring roles. Her work encompassed studio-era features as well as recurring parts on network series.

Family confirmed her death to the press, and reporters highlighted a career that placed her opposite marquee co-stars while keeping her busy on episodic television. Retrospectives pointed out how she bridged classic Hollywood and the TV age with ease and professionalism.

Robert Redford

Robert Redford died on September 16 at his home in Utah at the age of 89. Along with starring in enduring hits like ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ and ‘All the President’s Men’, he directed ‘Ordinary People’ and founded the Sundance Institute and Film Festival, which helped launch independent film careers for decades.

Tributes from across the industry emphasized both his screen legacy and his work behind the camera. Coverage also noted his producing role on the series ‘Dark Winds’ and the breadth of his activism, teaching, and mentorship that extended well beyond his filmography.

Marilyn Knowlden

Marilyn Knowlden died on September 15 in Idaho at the age of 99. A prolific child performer of the 1930s and early 1940s, she appeared in dozens of films including ‘Imitation of Life’ and worked alongside stars of the studio era before stepping away from screen acting later in life.

Obituaries recapped her transition from Hollywood to a private life, while noting that several of her films were nominated for best picture. Local notices and national reports aligned on the date and place of her passing.

Claudia Cardinale

Italian screen icon Claudia Cardinale died on September 23 in Nemours, France, at the age of 87. She starred in European classics including ‘8½’, ‘The Leopard’, and ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’, and became an international figure whose work defined an era of Italian cinema.

Her agent confirmed the news to European and U.S. outlets. Tributes from cultural leaders and retrospectives from major publications examined her career at home and abroad and underscored her enduring image across decades of film history.

John Christopher Jones

Stage and screen actor John Christopher Jones died in New York City on September 15 at the age of 77 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He performed frequently on Broadway in productions such as ‘Hurlyburly’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and was also known as a translator and teacher.

Reports detailed his long association with major theaters and his work across film and television. Industry obituaries highlighted both his performances and his contributions to adapting classic texts for contemporary audiences.

David Killick

British actor David Killick died in September at the age of 86. He built a six-decade career in theater, including a long run with the Royal Shakespeare Company and later appearances with the National Theatre. He also worked regularly in television, with credits that included ‘A Touch of Frost’ and a final screen appearance on ‘The Crown’.

Colleagues remembered his versatility and stamina, noting that he continued taking roles into his eighties. Obituaries traced his early days in repertory through his later tours and West End appearances.

Brad Everett Young

Brad Everett Young died on September 17 at the age of 46 following a car crash. Known primarily as a photographer celebrated for stylized portraits of entertainers, he also acted and produced projects tied to the entertainment industry and supported arts education initiatives.

Reports on his death gathered statements from friends and collaborators and outlined the breadth of his creative work. Coverage emphasized how he bridged photography and on-camera performance while mentoring younger artists.

James Mitchum

Jim Mitchum died on September 20 in Arizona. The son of Robert Mitchum, he appeared alongside his father in ‘Thunder Road’ and took on leading roles in drive-in favorites and television movies, building a steady résumé in action and adventure projects.

Obituaries noted his early start opposite his father, later starring turns, and a career that kept him working on both sides of the Atlantic. Trade coverage specified the date and location of his death and summarized key milestones.

If we missed someone meaningful to you, share the name and a favorite role in the comments so others can remember them too.