Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reviewed and fact-checked by the Legacy.com news team in the third week of January 2025.
Death News from January 2025 Week 3
Joan Plowright
Actress Dame Joan Plowright died January 16, 2025, in Northwood, England at the age of 95.
She was Oscar-nominated for “Enchanted April,” and she also starred in such movies as “Dennis the Menace,” “I Love You to Death,” and “101 Dalmatians.”
Plowright is also being remembered for her luminous stage acting career, including winning a Tony Award in 1961 for “A Taste of Honey.”
Garth Hudson
Musician Garth Hudson died January 21, 2025, in Woodstock, New York at the age of 87.
He was a multi-instrumentalist with The Band, playing keyboards, saxophones, accordion, and more on classic songs like “The Weight” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”
Hudson is being remembered as the last surviving member of The Band.
Deborah Finck
Social media personality Deborah Finck died January 14, 2025, of cancer at the age of 57.
A mother of three sets of twins, she first became widely known when she appeared on an episode of “Nanny 911” in 2005.
Finck is being remembered for sharing her journey with leiomyosarcoma, a type of muscle cancer, with her many followers on TikTok and Instagram.
Mike Hynson
Surfer Mike Hynson died January 10, 2025, in Encinitas, California at the age of 82.
He was one of the surfing stars of the 1966 documentary “The Endless Summer,” which captured his global quest to find the perfect wave.
Hynson is also being remembered as an acclaimed surfboard designer who helped change the way they are crafted.
Bill McCartney
Football coach Bill McCartney died January 10, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado. He died after a short illness at the age of 84.
He was the coach of the University of Colorado Boulder Buffaloes, guiding the team to the national championship in 1990 and winning three Big Eight Coach of the Year honors.
McCartney is also being remembered as the founder of Promise Keepers, an evangelical Christian organization focused on ministering to young men.
Christian Juttner
Actor Christian Juttner died November 29, 2024, at his home in Yucca Valley, California. He died of natural causes at the age of 60. His death was reported this week.
He was a child actor of the 1970s, best known for his starring role in “Return from Witch Mountain.”
Juttner is also being remembered for his performances in such movies as “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and “The Swarm.”
Cecile Richards
Activist Cecile Richards died January 20, 2025, in New York. She died of brain cancer at the age of 67.
The daughter of former Texas Governor Ann Richards, she was the influential president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America in the 2000s and 2010s.
Richards is also being remembered as the founder of Supermajority, an organization devoted to bringing more women into politics.
Jules Feiffer
Cartoonist Jules Feiffer died January 17, 2025, in Richfield Springs, New York. He died of congestive heart failure at the age of 95.
His award-winning satirical cartoons were some of the most recognizable and revered of the 20th century.
Feiffer is also being remembered for writing such screenplays as “Popeye” and “Carnal Knowledge,” illustrating the classic children’s book “The Phantom Tollbooth,” and much more.
John Sykes
Musician and songwriter John Sykes died in January 2025, after fighting cancer at the age of 65.
He was the guitarist for Thin Lizzy on their last album and became the band’s frontman in reunions after Phil Lynott’s death.
Sykes is also being remembered for his work as a guitarist and songwriter with Whitesnake – he worked with David Coverdale to write the band’s album “1987,” including the hit single, “Is This Love.”
Jeff Torborg
Baseball player and manager Jeff Torborg died January 19, 2025, at the age of 83.
He was a catcher for the L.A. Dodgers and California Angels before transitioning to become a manager for the White Sox, Mets, Marlins, and other teams.
Torborg is being remembered as the catcher behind the plate for Sandy Koufax’s 1965 perfect game and for Nolan Ryan’s first no-hitter in 1973.
Francisco San Martin
Actor Francisco San Martin died January 16, 2025, at his home in Los Angeles. He died by suicide at the age of 39.
He was best known for his work on “Days of Our Lives,” originating the character of Dario Hernandez.
San Martin is also being remembered for his performances on “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “Jane the Virgin.”
Marcel Bonin
Hockey player Marcel Bonin died January 19, 2025, at the age of 93.
He won four Stanley Cups in the 1950s and ‘60s, one with the Detroit Red Wings and three with the Montreal Canadiens.
Bonin is being remembered as one of the NHL’s great characters, who reportedly once wrestled a bear.
Barry Michael Cooper
Screenwriter and journalist Barry Michael Cooper died January 22, 2025, in Baltimore at the age of 66.
He was best known for writing the “Harlem Trilogy” of movies: “New Jack City,” “Sugar Hill,” and “Above the Rim.”
Cooper is also being remembered as a music critic and investigative reporter for The Village Voice.
Charles Phan
Chef Charles Phan died January 20, 2025, at a hospital in San Francisco. He died of cardiac arrest at the age of 62.
He brought the food of his native Vietnam to the U.S.: his San Francisco restaurant The Slanted Door was one of the first in the country to offer fine Vietnamese cuisine.
Phan is being remembered as a James Beard Award winner who also shared the recipes of his home in the cookbooks he wrote.
Lynn Ban
Jewelry designer Lynn Ban died January 20, 2025, after emergency surgery following a skiing accident in her early 50s.
Her stunning designs were worn by such celebrities as Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna.
Ban is also being remembered for appearing on the reality show “Bling Empire: New York.”
Mentions from This Week’s Video
Read their Legacy obituaries and share your memories in their guest books:
- Joan Plowright (1929-2025)
- Garth Hudson (1937-2025)
- Deborah Finck (1967-2025)
- Mike Hynson (1942-2025)
- Bill McCartney (1940-2025)
- Christian Juttner (1964-2024)
- Cecile Richards (1957-2025)
- Jules Feiffer (1929-2025)
- John Sykes (1959-2025)
- Jeff Torborg (1941-2025)
- Francisco San Martin (1985-2025)
- Marcel Bonin (1931-2025)
- Barry Michael Cooper (d. 2025)
- Charles Phan (1962-2025)
- Lynn Ban (d. 2025)
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