From Diogo Jota To Michael Madsen: 7 Celebrities Who Recently Passed Away
From iconic actors to legendary sportsmen, their legacies helped to shape the cultural landscape through their grit and presence. Here are 7 celebrities who recently left the world:
1. Diogo Jota
Liverpool's star footballer, Diogo Jota, passed away on the morning of 3rd July 2025 (Thursday) in a fatal car crash that also took the life of his brother, Andre Silva. Reportedly, the 28-year-old Portugal forward had just gotten married to his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, only 12 days ago (22nd June 2025). The couple shared 3 children: two sons named Dinis and Duarte, and a daughter.
2. Lee Seo Yi (이서이)
Confirmed by her manager on Wednesday (2nd July 2025), Korean actress Lee Seo Yi (이서이), who starred in 'Cheongdam-dong Scandal' and 'Killing Romance', passed away on 20th June 2025. The post described the 43-year-old actress as 'Radiant, beautiful and kind' and calls on fans to pray for her peace.
Apart from her acting career, the actress also ran a small flower shop where she planned to relocate and reopen in September 2025. No official cause of death has been released, and her agency remains silent out of respect for the family's wishes.
3. Kenneth Colley
Known for his role as Admiral Piett in 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi', Kenneth Colley passed away on 30th June 2025 (Monday). The 87-year-old retired actor had died peacefully at his home in Ashford, Kent, due to contracting COVID-19 and developing pneumonia.
'Ken continually worked on stage, film and television playing a vast array of characters, from Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian to evil and eccentric characters in Ken Russell films, and the Duke of Vienna in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure for the BBC', said his manager, Julian Owen.
4. Michael Madsen
Known for his tough guy roles in movies, Michael Madsen passed away at age 67 due to cardiac arrest in his home located in Malibu, California. His iconic performances included starring in Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs', and he has a decorated career spanning from TV Series, films, voice acting and is also an author. Additionally, in 2022, Michael's son, Hudson Madsen, had also passed away following a gunshot wound that was classified as suicide.
5. Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys frontman, Brian Wilson, passed away on 11th June 2025 due to respiratory arrest in his Beverly Hills residence. The 82-year-old co-founder of the iconic band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 with the rest of the band and would only reunite with them in 2012 for their 50th anniversary.
6. Walter Scott Jr.
Walter Scott Jr., vocalist and co-producer of the R&B group The Whispers, passed away on 26th June 2025 after a six-month-long battle with cancer. The 81-year-old had founded the group in 1969 with his identical twin brother, Wallace Scott, after serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The group took off in 1980 and released several gold and platinum hits.
7. Maureen Hingert
Sri Lankan first Miss Universe finalist, Maureen Hingert, passed away on 30th June 2025 at the age of 88. The beauty queen passed due to liver failure at the Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, surrounded by family. Other than her beauty pageant career, Hingert had also starred in films such as 'The King and I' and Gunmen From Loredo'.
Sources: Sky Sports, The Star, BBC, New York Times, People, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysian Reserve
a day ago
- Malaysian Reserve
ULTIMATE GAME and SOUL M GAME Join Forces to Bring Legendary PC Game IRIS to Mobile
BANGKOK, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ultimate Game Co., Ltd., a premier Thai-based online game publisher, has joined forces with Soul M Game Inc., a renowned game developer from South Korea, to launch IRIS ORIGIN SEA — a legendary PC game reimagined for mobile with enhanced graphics and seamless cross-platform play. Under a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), this iconic title will launch exclusively in the Southeast Asian (SEA) market, where gamers will be the first in the world to experience its new chapter in 2025. Mr. Attachet Chaichanasongkram, CEO / Co-Founder, Ultimate Game commented, 'IRIS is a powerful intellectual property (IP) with a longstanding reputation in its original PC format. While various versions have emerged globally, we recognize the unique potential of the original Korean development team. This collaboration allows us to preserve the authenticity and core essence of IRIS, ensuring it resonates deeply with both existing fans and new players in this region.' 'Ultimate Game is committed to revitalizing iconic titles for the modern era. Our journey began with Luna Origin, and now continues with IRIS ORIGIN SEA — marking our first strategic entry into the Southeast Asian market. Looking ahead, we also plan to pursue a public listing within the next five years to support long-term business growth.' Mr. Attachet further emphasized the company's commitment to innovation through global partnerships: 'Our collaboration with Google has enabled us to enhance targeting precision and digital marketing efficiency. By leveraging advanced digital tools, we are able to analyze performance and optimize strategies across all functions — accelerating progress toward our business objectives while continually improving our service offerings.' Mr. Um Tae Doo, CEO, Soul M Game Inc., added, 'IRIS is a legendary IP that we are proud to elevate into a state-of-the-art mobile game. The development process has taken over three years using the latest Unity Engine, resulting in an immersive experience enriched with brand-new features. The game is designed for cross-platform play between mobile and PC, and includes exclusive content never seen in any previous version. Both longtime fans and new users will be able to enjoy a fresh and exciting journey together.' He continued, 'We chose to partner with Ultimate Game due to their deep market expertise in Southeast Asia. Their experienced executive and operations teams have a proven track record in the online gaming industry. Collaborating with a strong local partner ensures greater market penetration with speed and precision — particularly in Thailand, which already boasts a robust MMORPG player base.' Mr. Kodchawara Vanichayapron, CMO / Co-Founder, Ultimate Game Concluded, 'Our marketing strategy for IRIS ORIGIN SEA is centered on Digital Marketing, enabling precise audience targeting and in-game campaign personalization to deliver optimal user experiences. We are confident the game will receive strong support from the IRIS fanbase across the region.' For updates, please visit: #IrisOriginSEA # IrisSEA #Irisorigin #gamemobile #mmorpg
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Fans outraged after organisers disappear with concert refunds
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong during a press conference at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Fans of a Korean singer, whose fan meeting here was cancelled, are demanding refunds from the organisers, who they claim have disappeared. A group, headed by a woman known as Saza, announced that the event featuring Korean singer Onew, titled the 'Guess Onew Fanmeeting 2024', was initially scheduled for July 27. However, the venue was altered before the event was ultimately cancelled. Fans who purchased tickets through an online portal were informed that the refund had been returned to the event organisers. 'We were told that the refund process would begin in August and be fully completed by December. However, we have yet to get any refunds at all. 'In the meantime, the event organiser has continued to conduct events, with at least three we know of since the cancellation of this one,' Saza, who also works as a lawyer, said. MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong, who organised the press conference for the group, stated that several members had taken the issue to the Tribunal for Consumer Claims and had received a decision allowing them to pursue their refunds. He added that the group had collectively lost around RM20,000 from the unfulfilled tickets. However, efforts to serve the letter to the company have been unsuccessful, with the group claiming that the premises had been vacated. 'We will give them a week to respond to us. I hope they will come so we can solve this matter without requiring a civil suit. 'If they fail to do so, then we will need to move on to the second step, and we will cross that bridge if we are forced to,' he said. Saza added that they have tried numerous avenues to retrieve their money, including getting in contact with the talent agency that had planned to bring the singer over. She added that they were told they were in a legal dispute with the organiser. 'I pity the foreign fans the most because they do not have the avenue to come here to fight this in person,' she said.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
K-culture goes global
The cast and creators of 'Maybe Happy Ending' accepting the Tony for best new musical during the 78th Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York. With BTS poised to reunite, 'Squid Game' returning and a Broadway show winning awards, the Korean cultural wave keeps on rolling. — Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
