2025 celebrity deaths: Remembering Jeannie Seely, Ozzy Osbourne, Pope Francis & more icons we lost

Time of India

4 days ago

Jeannie Seely
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Ozzy Osbourne
Hulk Hogan
Val Kilmer
Malcolm‑Jamal Warner
Pope Francis
David Lynch
Robert Benton
Ted Kotcheff
Cleo Laine
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2025 has been a year of heartbreak for fans around the world as we bid farewell to some of the most beloved icons in music, film, faith, and pop culture. From Grand Ole Opry's 'Miss Country Soul' Jeannie Seely to rock's 'Prince of Darkness' Ozzy Osbourne , and even the deeply respected Pope Francis , each left behind a legacy that shaped generations.As we move through the year, we look back at ten of the most prominent celebrities we've lost and why they'll never be forgotten.Country music legend Jeannie Seely died on August 1, 2025, at the age of 85 from complications stemming from an intestinal infection. A Grammy winner and Grand Ole Opry mainstay, Seely has made over 5,300 appearances since joining in 1967, earning the nickname 'Miss Country Soul.'Despite undergoing multiple back surgeries, emergency abdominal operations, and an 11-day ICU stay earlier in the year, she continued recording and performing until the end. Seely's hit 'Don't Touch Me' and her barrier-breaking presence at the Opry remain central to her legacy.Heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22, 2025, at 76 years old. Known as the 'Prince of Darkness' and frontman of Black Sabbath, Ozzy helped define heavy metal with albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality.He performed his final concert at Birmingham's Villa Park on July 5, even as Parkinson's disease and other health issues had taken their toll, before passing away surrounded by family.His funeral procession in Birmingham drew thousands of fans, and tributes poured in from around the globe.The wrestling world lost one of its most recognizable figures, Hulk Hogan, who died two days after Ozzy, on July 24, at 71. Known for electrifying charisma, iconic catchphrases, and mainstream crossover appeal, Hogan's influence extended beyond the wrestling ring into reality TV and pop culture.Reports indicate complications followed recent surgery, though the full medical cause remains undisclosed.Actor Val Kilmer, best remembered for iconic roles in Top Gun and Batman Forever, died on April 1, 2025, at age 65 after a protracted battle with throat cancer.Renowned for his intensity and range, Kilmer's dignified final months drew admiration from peers and fans alike. Malcolm-Jamal Warner , best known as Theodore Huxtable on The Cosby Show, died July 20 at 54 from an accidental drowning in Costa Rica.He gained fame as the only son in the groundbreaking sitcom, later starring in Malcolm & Eddie from 1996 to 2000.His other notable roles included Reed Between the Lines, Major Crimes, The Resident, 9-1-1, and Alert: Missing Persons Unit. Warner was also a poet and musician.The reformist Argentine-born pontiff died on 21 April at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke and heart failure. Known for his humility, progressive views, and advocacy for the poor, Pope Francis made history as the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope.He was deeply admired for modernizing the Catholic Church and becoming the first pope to address the US Congress. David Lynch , the renowned filmmaker behind Twin Peaks and thrillers like Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet, passed away on January 15 at the age of 78.His fascination with dreamlike elements and the tension between darkness and light led to the term "Lynchian" being used to describe similar works.After studying painting, he completed his first film, Eraserhead, in 1977 and went on to direct notable works including The Elephant Man, Dune, and Blue Velvet in the '80s. Robert Benton , the influential filmmaker who co-wrote the screenplay for Bonnie and Clyde and won the Oscar for Best Director for Kramer vs. Kramer, died on May 11 at 92.Born on September 29, 1932, in Dallas, Benton began his career collaborating with David Newman on the 1966 Broadway musical It's a Bird… It's a Plane… It's Superman.They rose to fame when Warren Beatty picked up their Bonnie and Clyde script, a landmark of the New Hollywood movement that earned Benton several Academy Award nominations during his four-decade career.Ted Kotcheff, the Canadian filmmaker who helmed hit movies like First Blood and Weekend at Bernie's, died April 10 at 94. Born in Toronto to a family of Bulgarian immigrants, Kotcheff began his career directing TV programs at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.He went on to direct television and theater in the U.K., and found major success in 1971 when he directed both the Australian New Wave film Wake in Fright, which competed at the Cannes Film Festival, and a TV production of Edna, the Inebriate Woman, which won him a BAFTA TV Award.Kotcheff later made Hollywood films like Fun With Dick and Jane, with Jane Fonda and George Segal, and North Dallas Forty, with Nick Nolte.Jazz singer and actress Cleo Laine died on July 24 at 97 in Wavendon, England. She began her career in London in the 1950s and became a celebrated figure in jazz. Laine debuted in the US in 1972 and won a Grammy in 1986 for "Cleo At Carnegie." She was made a Dame Commander in 1997.