Most Notable Celebs Who Died in October 2025

October 2025 brought the loss of many influential figures across film, music, television, journalism, and the sciences. From groundbreaking directors and actors to pioneering musicians and broadcasters, these people shaped culture in ways that still resonate. Below are all the notable names from your list, presented in chronological order across the month.

Judit Elek

Hungarian film director Judit Elek, recipient of the Kossuth and Béla Balázs Prizes, died on October 1, 2025, at 87. Obituaries reviewed her documentary and feature work from the Balázs Béla Studio era through historical and Jewish-themed films of later decades. Tributes from cultural organizations marked her international festival presence and teaching. Local and international media confirmed her death and surveyed her career.

Ed Williams

Ed Williams, the beloved character actor who played Ted Olson in ‘Police Squad!’ and the ‘Naked Gun’ films, died on October 2, 2025, at 98. Obituaries reported he transitioned from teaching broadcasting to a late-blooming screen career, appearing as a minister in ‘Father of the Bride’ and in numerous TV roles. Family confirmed the date and place of death to the press. Appreciations revisited his comic deadpan in the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker universe.

Javier Manrique

Spanish-Peruvian actor Javier Manrique died in early October 2025 at 56, according to Iberian media. Known for roles in ‘El día de la bestia’, ‘Las brujas de Zugarramurdi’, ‘Mi gran noche’, and the series ‘Camera Café’, he worked with director Álex de la Iglesia and on popular Spanish TV. Obituaries and news sites reported his age and credits and noted the shock among colleagues. Memorial posts and videos circulated widely after the announcement.

Remo Girone

Italian actor Remo Girone, beloved as Tano Cariddi in the long-running series ‘La piovra’ and seen internationally in ‘Ford v Ferrari’ and ‘The American’, died on October 3, 2025, at 76. Italian media reported he had battled cancer and died at home in Monte Carlo. Obituaries recalled his decades on screen and stage and collaborations across Italian cinema. Film trades summarized his late-career international work.

Kimberly Hébert Gregory

Kimberly Hébert Gregory, acclaimed for HBO’s ‘Vice Principals’ and numerous TV roles, died on October 3, 2025, at 52. Tributes from colleagues and family were published across U.S. media and memorial sites, with industry trades confirming details. Obituaries reviewed her theatre background, screen career, and advocacy for representation. Services were announced in her hometown of Houston.

Patricia Routledge

Dame Patricia Routledge, the English actor celebrated worldwide for ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ and honored as DBE in 2017, died on October 3, 2025, at 96. British outlets published obituaries covering her stage and television work from the 1950s onward. Notices summarized her awards and late-life residence in West Sussex. Funeral announcements and family statements confirmed the date.

Xavier Durringer

French filmmaker, playwright, and screenwriter Xavier Durringer died of a heart attack on October 4, 2025, aged 61. Internationally he was known for ‘La Conquête’, a political drama about Nicolas Sarkozy, while in France he wrote and staged widely for theater. News services reported his death at his home in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Film trades and agencies published retrospectives on his cross-disciplinary career.

Sandhya Shantaram

Veteran Indian actress Sandhya Shantaram, star of classics such as ‘Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje’, ‘Navrang’, and ‘Do Aankhen Barah Haath’, died in Mumbai on October 4, 2025. She was a frequent leading lady for her husband, director V. Shantaram, and later a celebrated presence in Marathi cinema with ‘Pinjra’. Indian outlets reported her death and cremation, carrying tributes from cultural figures. Coverage emphasized her dance-centric roles and influence on mid-century Indian film.

Ron Dean

Chicago character actor Ron Dean died on October 5, 2025, at 87. He appeared in dozens of films and series, often as a cop or blue-collar tough, with credits that include ‘The Breakfast Club’, ‘Risky Business’, ‘The Fugitive’, and ‘The Dark Knight’. Chicago media and Hollywood trades published appreciations of his decades-long screen presence. Family and colleagues confirmed his death after a long illness.

Ken Jacobs

Ken Jacobs, a giant of American avant-garde cinema, died on October 5, 2025, aged 92. A pioneer of found-footage and expanded-cinema techniques, he created seminal works like ‘Blonde Cobra’ and ‘Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son’ and taught generations of experimental filmmakers. Tributes from film institutions and trades reviewed his six-decade influence. Obituaries emphasized his restless formal innovation and pedagogy.

Lotte Ledl

Austrian stage and screen actor Lotte Ledl died on October 5, 2025, at 95. National media in Austria noted her decades at major theatres and roles in popular TV series, with late-career recognition as a Kammerschauspielerin. Reference entries and memorial notices confirmed her date of death and career awards. Tributes emphasized her long presence in German-language film and television.

Halid Bešlić

Bosnian folk icon Halid Bešlić died in Sarajevo on October 7, 2025, at 71–72, following illness. Regional and international media reported mass public mourning and a large funeral procession, noting his humanitarian work and unifying presence during and after the Bosnian War. Coverage surveyed his discography and status across the former Yugoslavia. News agencies and regional outlets documented the funeral and tributes.

Yen Cheng-kuo

Taiwanese actor and director Yen Cheng-kuo (顏正國), a onetime child star of ‘The Kung-Fu Kids’ who later appeared in Hou Hsiao-hsien-era films like ‘Cheerful Wind’ and ‘The Boys from Fengkuei’, died on October 7, 2025, aged 50, after lung cancer. Taiwan’s English-language media reported his death and treatment details. Coverage revisited his later work behind the camera and his complicated personal history. Memorials described his enduring popularity from 1980s youth cinema to contemporary TV.

Zdravko Šotra

Serbian director and screenwriter Zdravko Šotra, whose film and TV work includes the hit youth comedy ‘Barking at the Stars’ and series such as ‘Wounded Eagle’, died on October 8, 2025, aged 93. Regional media emphasized his more than 120 screen credits and his status as a household name in the former Yugoslavia. Tributes from cultural institutions quickly followed. Obituaries reviewed a career that bridged popular entertainment and national storytelling.

Paolo Bonacelli

Italian actor Paolo Bonacelli, known for roles in ‘Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom’, ‘Midnight Express’, and ‘The American’, died in Rome on October 8, 2025, at 88. Italian news services and film references chronicled his collaborations with directors from Pasolini to Benigni and Parker. His awards include a Nastro d’Argento for ‘Johnny Stecchino’ (1992). Obituaries highlighted a six-decade career across stage and screen.

Carlos Barbosa

Colombian actor Carlos Barbosa Romero died on October 9–10, 2025, aged 81, after multiple myeloma, according to local media and family statements. He was known for long-running roles in Colombian television, including ‘La saga, negocio de familia’, ‘Bermúdez’, and ‘El clon’. Biographical entries and obituaries traced his early training in architecture and theatre before television work. Press in Colombia reported illness details and tributes from colleagues.

John Lodge

Bassist-singer John Lodge helped define The Moody Blues’ sound on classic albums and songs including ‘Nights in White Satin’, ‘Question’, and ‘Isn’t Life Strange’. He remained an active performer and songwriter well into later life. Lodge died on October 10, 2025, aged 82. Family statements and major outlets confirmed the news and surveyed his decades of work.

Diane Keaton

Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker Diane Keaton died on October 11, 2025, at 79, from bacterial pneumonia, according to statements and her death certificate reported by major outlets. A leading figure of 1970s–2000s American cinema, she starred in ‘Annie Hall’, ‘The Godfather’ series, ‘Reds’, and ‘Something’s Gotta Give’. Keaton also directed features and documentaries and published photography and memoir books. Family tributes highlighted her decades of advocacy for humane causes and her life with her two children.

Yvonne Brewster

Yvonne Brewster, visionary co-founder of Talawa Theatre Company and a trailblazer for Black British theatre, died on October 12, 2025, at 87. She directed landmark productions and became the first Black female director at the UK’s National Theatre, while also building Jamaica’s first professional theatre. Honors included an OBE (1993) and an honorary doctorate. Obituaries emphasized her impact on representation and her decades of mentorship.

Tony Caunter

British actor Tony Caunter, remembered by millions as Roy Evans in ‘EastEnders’, died on October 13, 2025, aged 88. His long career spanned stage and screen, including turns in ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Juliet Bravo’, and ‘Queenie’s Castle’. Tributes from colleagues and the show highlighted his warmth and popularity with viewers. Detailed obituaries noted his marriage of 63 years and his extensive TV credits.

Drew Struzan

One of cinema’s most celebrated poster illustrators, Drew Struzan created iconic art for franchises like ‘Star Wars’, ‘Indiana Jones’, ‘Back to the Future’, and ‘Blade Runner’. His airbrushed, painterly style defined the visual identity of countless blockbusters. Struzan died on October 13, 2025, aged 78. Entertainment outlets and colleagues honored his influence on movie marketing and pop culture.

Penelope Milford

Oscar-nominated American actor Penelope Milford died on October 14, 2025, in Saugerties, New York, at 77, according to her family and funeral home notices. She earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role as Vi Munson in ‘Coming Home’ and appeared in films including ‘Valentino’, ‘Endless Love’, and ‘Heathers’. Trade obituaries recapped early stage work and a career that spanned film and television. Services and obituary details were posted by her Kingston, New York, funeral home and confirmed by major entertainment outlets.

Nasser Taghvai

Iranian New Wave filmmaker Nasser Taghvai died on October 14, 2025, at 84, a passing confirmed by his wife, actor Marzieh Vafamehr. Celebrated for the TV landmark ‘My Uncle Napoleon’ and films such as ‘Captain Khorshid’ and ‘Tranquility in the Presence of Others’, he was known for battles with censorship and for his ethnographic eye on southern Iran. Regional and international outlets reported his death and reflected on his influence on modern Iranian cinema. Remembrances emphasized his lifelong independence from commercial pressures and his role in shaping a generation of directors.

D’Angelo

The Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist helped define neo-soul with albums ‘Brown Sugar’, ‘Voodoo’, and ‘Black Messiah’. His minimalist grooves and gospel-inflected harmonies influenced a generation of R&B artists. D’Angelo died on October 14, 2025, at 51, after a private illness. Music press and wire services documented his career and the outpouring of tributes.

Pankaj Dheer

Indian television and film actor Pankaj Dheer, best known as Karna in the landmark series ‘Mahabharat’, died on October 15, 2025, at 68, after cancer. Indian press and his son Nikitin Dheer confirmed his death and last rites in Rishikesh. Dheer worked across Hindi cinema and television for decades and directed and trained actors later in his career. Colleagues from the industry attended his funeral and shared tributes.

Samantha Eggar

The English actress earned an Academy Award nomination for ‘The Collector’ and later appeared in films such as ‘The Brood’ and ‘Doctor Dolittle’. She also worked extensively in television and voice acting. Eggar died on October 15, 2025, aged 86. Obituaries reviewed her range across thrillers, dramas, and genre films.

Ace Frehley

KISS’s original lead guitarist, Ace Frehley, died on October 16, 2025, at 74. Known as “The Spaceman,” he helped define the band’s sound and spectacle through the 1970s and later returned for reunion tours; his solo hit ‘New York Groove’ became a signature. Family and representatives confirmed he died after a recent fall at home in New Jersey. Obituaries traced his pivotal role on albums like ‘Alive!’ and his influence on generations of rock guitarists.

Yang Chen-Ning

Nobel Prize–winning physicist Chen-Ning Yang transformed particle physics with Tsung-Dao Lee through their 1956 parity-violation breakthrough. His later work, including Yang–Mills theory, underpins modern gauge theories. Yang died on October 18, 2025, in Beijing at age 103. Universities and major media ran detailed tributes to his scientific achievements.

Sam Rivers

Sam Rivers, bassist and co-founder of Limp Bizkit, died on October 18, 2025, at 48. The band announced his death on social media, with major outlets reporting his passing and revisiting his role in the group’s rise from the 1990s onward. Tributes cited his return to the band after a liver transplant and his recent touring activity. Memorial notices listed his full name and hometown and confirmed the date.

Martine Brochard

French-Italian actress Martine Brochard, seen in Italian genre films such as ‘Eyeball’ and ‘The Nun and the Devil’ and later on television and stage, died in Rome on October 18, 2025, at 81. Film organizations and specialty outlets shared tributes noting her shift from 1970s cinema to steady TV and theater work. Reference listings updated her credits and date of death. Memorial posts from labels and genre communities quickly circulated.

Govardhan Asrani

Veteran Indian actor and director Govardhan “Asrani” Asrani died in Mumbai on October 20, 2025, at 84, following illness, according to family and manager statements. A prolific presence in Hindi and Gujarati cinema, he appeared in hundreds of films and is especially remembered for the comic jailer in ‘Sholay’. Indian media reported hospitalization for breathing difficulties and noted that last rites were held at Santacruz Crematorium. Colleagues and officials shared tributes recognizing his decades of work in popular cinema.

Dionysis Savvopoulos

Greek singer-songwriter Dionysis Savvopoulos died on October 21, 2025, after years of cancer treatment, with a state-sponsored funeral held in Athens four days later. A central figure of modern Greek music since the 1960s, he fused folk, rock, and political lyricism, with songs that became touchstones during and after the dictatorship era. Family announcements and national leaders’ tributes were followed by large public mourning and coverage of the procession to First Cemetery. Major outlets reported the cause as a heart attack and detailed the official honors at his burial.

June Lockhart

The American actress was a TV icon as Ruth Martin in ‘Lassie’ and Maureen Robinson in ‘Lost in Space’. She also appeared on Broadway and in films, sustaining a career that spanned more than eight decades. Lockhart died on October 23, 2025, at her home in Santa Monica at age 100. Family statements and obituaries celebrated her enduring presence in classic television.

Tony Adams

British actor Tony Adams became widely known for playing Adam Chance in the long-running ITV soap ‘Crossroads’. He also appeared on stage and in other series over a career that began in the 1960s. Adams died on October 25, 2025, aged 84. National papers published appreciations of his work and his popularity with viewers.

Björn Andrésen

The Swedish actor and musician achieved international fame as Tadzio in Visconti’s ‘Death in Venice’, later returning to the screen in films including ‘Midsommar’. He was also the subject of the documentary ‘The Most Beautiful Boy in the World’. Andrésen died on October 25, 2025, aged 70. Obituaries discussed the pressures of early fame and his varied later career.

Mauro Di Francesco

An Italian film and TV actor associated with 1980s comedies, Di Francesco co-starred in popular titles such as ‘I fichissimi’, ‘Attila flagello di Dio’, and ‘Il ras del quartiere’. He worked steadily across cinema, cabaret, and television. Di Francesco died on October 25, 2025, aged 74. Italian outlets and databases recorded his passing and career highlights.

Nabil Shaban

A Jordanian-British actor, writer, and disability rights advocate, Shaban co-founded Graeae Theatre Company to champion D/deaf and disabled artists. On screen, he became a cult favorite as Sil in ‘Doctor Who’ and appeared in numerous stage productions. Shaban died on October 25, 2025, aged 72. Tributes from theater groups and press highlighted his activism and artistic range.

Satish Shah

A beloved Indian film and television comedian, Satish Shah starred in hits including ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’ and the sitcom ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’. Reports from colleagues and media confirmed he died in Mumbai on October 25, 2025, aged 74. Coverage discussed his cause of death and reflected on his multi-decade impact on Indian comedy.

Jack DeJohnette

An NEA Jazz Master, DeJohnette was a drummer, pianist, and composer who played pivotal roles with Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, and many others. His discography spans avant-garde to fusion, including landmark contributions to Davis’s ‘Bitches Brew’ era and the Standards Trio. He died on October 26, 2025, at 83. Obituaries traced his impact on modern jazz rhythm and improvisation.

Prunella Scales

Best known worldwide as Sybil Fawlty in ‘Fawlty Towers’, Prunella Scales worked across seven decades on stage and screen, including acclaimed portrayals of Queen Elizabeth II in ‘A Question of Attribution’ and roles in ‘Mapp & Lucia’. Family said she died peacefully at home in London at 93. Tributes emphasized her precision timing and lasting influence on British comedy.

Héctor Noguera

A towering figure of Chilean theater and television, Héctor “Tito” Noguera led companies, taught generations of actors, and became a household name through beloved telenovelas like ‘Machos’ and ‘Romané’. He received Chile’s National Prize for Performing and Audiovisual Arts. Noguera died in Santiago on October 28, 2025, aged 88, with officials declaring an official period of mourning.

Benz Hui Siu-Hung

Hong Kong actor Benz Hui was a familiar face in TVB dramas and films, known for roles in crime and action titles as well as comedies. His family announced that he died from complications of cancer; arrangements were made for services in Tai Wai. Coverage noted plans to donate condolence money to charity in his memory.

Maria Riva

An actress and author, Maria Riva was the only child of Marlene Dietrich and wrote a candid, best-selling biography of her mother, ‘Marlene Dietrich’. She worked on stage and television before turning to writing and preserving Dietrich’s legacy. Riva died on October 29, 2025, at her son’s home in New Mexico, aged 100. Family confirmed the death; major outlets published retrospectives on her life and work.

James Senese

The Naples-born saxophonist and singer co-founded the jazz-funk group Napoli Centrale and helped define the “Neapolitan Power” sound. Across a 60-year career, he recorded widely and inspired generations of Italian musicians. Senese died on October 29, 2025, aged 80, following hospitalization for a lung infection. Italian media and music press reported his death and legacy.

Peter Watkins

A radical British filmmaker, Peter Watkins won an Academy Award for the BBC-banned docudrama ‘The War Game’ and later made the counterculture landmark ‘Punishment Park’. His career challenged broadcast norms with hybrid forms that blurred drama and documentary. Watkins died on October 30, 2025, in France at age 90. Obituaries highlighted his decades-long critique of mass media and his influence on political cinema.

Share your thoughts and memories of these figures in the comments—whose work will you revisit first, and which performance or song stands out most to you?