Ron Nessen (1934–2025), press secretary for Gerald Ford

Ron Nessen was a journalist best known for serving as press secretary for President Gerald Ford in the years immediately following the Watergate scandal, when American trust in government institutions was at a low point.

Melody Beattie (1948–2025), Codependent No More author

Melody Beattie was an author best known for her self-help books, including “Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself,” which sold more than seven million copies.

Joseph Wambaugh (1937–2025), author who explored police work 

Joseph Wambaugh was an award-winning writer and author whose work explored the harsh realities of police and detective work, both as fiction (“The Glitter Dome,” “The New Centurions”) and in non-fiction (“The Onion Field,” “The Blooding”).

Gene Hackman (1930–2025), Oscar-winning star of The French Connection

Gene Hackman was an Oscar-winning actor and novelist who starred in films including “The French Connection,” “Mississippi Burning,” and “Unforgiven.”

Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint (1934–2025), psychiatrist who explored racism

Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint was a psychiatrist whose work studying the impact of racism on Black populations filled books and fueled debates about culture and politics. 

Gerd Stern (1928–2025), Beat Generation multimedia artist

Gerd Stern was an influential poet and multimedia artist of the Beat era, as well as the co-founder of the 1960s art collective, USCO. 

Jacqueline van Maarsen (1929–2025), Anne Frank’s best friend

Jacqueline van Maarsen was a Holocaust survivor best known as Anne Frank’s best friend.

Tommy Hunt (1933–2025), Hall of Fame soul singer

Tommy Hunt was a soul singer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with The Flamingos, whose hits include “I Only Have Eyes for You.” 

Tom Robbins (1932–2025), Even Cowgirls Get the Blues author

Tom Robbins was a novelist known for quirky cult favorites like “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” and “Skinny Legs and All.” 

Fay Vincent (1938–2025), former MLB commissioner

Fay Vincent was a former Major League Baseball commissioner who helped guide it through the 1989 earthquake, a 1993 expansion of the National League, and other key milestones in the sport.

Marianne Faithfull (1946–2025), As Tears Go By singer

Marianne Faithfull was a singer and actress who became a pop icon in the 1960s thanks to a string of successful singles and movies, as well as a romance with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.

Jules Feiffer (1929–2025), satirical cartoonist

Jules Feiffer was a cartoonist and writer whose satirical wit earned him a Pulitzer Prize in 1986 and made him one of the most influential cartoonists of the 20th century. 

Cecile Richards (1957–2025), former Planned Parenthood president 

Cecile Richards was a women’s rights activist who served as president of both the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, as well as founding Supermajority, an organization devoted to bringing more women into politics.

Mike Hynson (1942–2025), The Endless Summer surfer

Mike Hynson was a California surfer and surfboard designer who became a star of the scene in the 1960s when his adventures were captured in the 1966 documentary, “The Endless Summer.” 

Arthur Blessitt (1940–2025), pastor who traveled with a cross 

Arthur Blessitt was a Christian preacher who went on a record-breaking pilgrimage that saw him carrying a large cross through nearly every nation on Earth.

Claude Jarman Jr. (1934–2025), star of The Yearling

Claude Jarman Jr. was a former child star, best known for his performance in the 1946 movie “The Yearling.” 

UK Celebrity Deaths 2025

Though these famous figures have died, their legacies live on and continue to inspire and delight us. Join us as we remember celebrities who died in 2025.

Dayle Haddon (1948–2024), L'Oréal spokeswoman and actress

Dayle Haddon was a Canadian model-actress best known as the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover model and longtime L'Oréal spokeswoman.

Mike Rinder (1955–2025), Scientology official turned detractor

Mike Rinder was a lifelong Scientologist who broke away from the organization and became one of its biggest detractors.

Jimmy Carter (1924–2024), 39th president of the United States

Jimmy Carter was the 39th president of the United States of America, serving from 1977 to 1981.

John Marsden (1950–2024), Tomorrow, When the War Began author

John Marsden was an Australian author and educator best known for his 1993 young adult novel “Tomorrow, When the War Began.” 

Jim Tunney (1929–2024), longtime NFL referee

Jim Tunney was a referee in the National Football League who served the sport for over three decades, working in nearly 30 post-seasons, including three Super Bowls.

Rodney Jenkins (1944–2024), acclaimed horse jumper

Rodney Jenkins was one of the most celebrated equestrians of his time, a Hall of Fame show horse jumper who later had a successful career as a racehorse trainer.

Nikki Giovanni (1943–2024), celebrated poet and activist

Nikki Giovanni was an iconic poet of the 1960s and ‘70s Black Arts Movement who authored more than 30 books.

Peter Westbrook (1952–2024), Olympian who gave back

Peter Westbrook was a pioneering Olympic fencer whose legacy wasn’t just the accolades he won, but also the lives he touched through his nonprofit work.

Silvia Pinal (1931–2024), Mexican film star

Silvia Pinal was a Mexican star of film and television best known for her work with movie maker Luis Buñuel, including “Viridiana,” “The Exterminating Angel,” and “Simon of the Desert.” 

Fred R. Harris (1930–2024), former Oklahoma senator

Fred R. Harris was a former U.S. senator from Oklahoma who once chaired the Democratic National Committee and twice sought a presidential nomination.

Alice Brock (1941–2024), the real Alice of Alice’s Restaurant

Alice Brock was a restaurant owner immortalized in Arlo Guthrie’s epic classic song, “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” better known as “Alice’s Restaurant.” 

Barbara Taylor Bradford (1933–2024), A Woman of Substance author

Barbara Taylor Bradford was a British-American author whose 35 best-selling novels have sold millions of copies worldwide.

Tony Campolo (1935–2024), Red-Letter Christians co-founder

Tony Campolo was a pastor, sociologist, author, and spiritual advisor who penned dozens of books, was a popular television-show guest, and co-founded the Red-Letter Christian movement.

Arthur Frommer (1929–2024), creator of top-selling travel guides

Arthur Frommer was a travel writer best known for creating the Frommer’s brand of affordable-travel guidebooks.0

Clifton R. Wharton Jr. (1926–2024), former president of MSU

Clifton R. Wharton Jr. was a former Michigan State University president and deputy secretary of state who broke racial barriers when he took the MSU post in 1970.

Dorothy Allison (1949–2024), award-winning feminist author 

Dorothy Allison was an award-winning author whose stories about class struggles, feminism, and being queer in the South earned her widespread acclaim, especially her novel, “Bastard Out of Carolina.” 

Bruce Degen (1945–2024), The Magic School Bus illustrator

Bruce Degen was an artist and writer best known for illustrating dozens of books for young readers, including the beloved children’s book series “The Magic School Bus.”

Madeleine Riffaud (1924–2024), French Resistance fighter

Madeleine Riffaud was a journalist and fighter with the French Resistance in World War II, refusing to bow to the Nazis despite capture and torture.

Bernard Marcus (1929–2024), co-founder of The Home Depot

Bernard Marcus was a billionaire and philanthropist who was co-founder of The Home Depot hardware stores.

Lynda Obst (1950–2024), film producer who boosted women

Lynda Obst was a film producer who helped boost women’s role in Hollywood, best known for movies like “Sleepless in Seattle,” “Interstellar,” “Flashdance,” and “Adventures in Babysitting.”

Jeri Taylor (1938–2024), Star Trek writer and producer

Jeri Taylor was a television writer and producer best known for her work with “Star Trek,” including writing for “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and co-creating “Star Trek: Voyager.” 

Ron Ely (1938–2024), Tarzan of the 1960s

Ron Ely was an actor best known for starring in the 1960s television show “Tarzan” and hosting the Miss America pageant.

Yehuda Bauer (1926–2024), Holocaust scholar

Yehuda Bauer was a historian and scholar whose work as an authority on the Holocaust is widely seen as some of the most important in the world. 

Philip G. Zimbardo (1933–2024), Stanford Prison Experiment researcher

Philip G. Zimbardo was a psychologist, professor and author best known as the researcher who created and administered the Stanford Prison Experiment. 

Lilly Ledbetter (1938–2024), activist who fought for equal pay

Lilly Ledbetter was a Goodyear area manager turnedactivist whose Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. lawsuit resulted in landmark equal pay legislation, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.

Lily Ebert (1923–2024), Holocaust survivor and author

Lily Ebert was a Holocaust survivor and author who became a social media sensation when she took her quest to find the soldier who rescued her from a concentration camp to TikTok.

Lore Segal (1928–2024), Pulitzer Prize-finalist author

Lore Segal was an author and Holocaust survivor whose 2007 novel, “Shakespeare's Kitchen,” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in fiction.

Robert Coover (1932–2024), experimental novelist 

Robert Coover was an experimental author and educator who co-founded the nonprofit Electronic Literature Organization.

Christopher Ciccone (1960–2024), artist and Madonna’s brother

Christopher Ciccone was an artist and interior designer who was art director for his sister Madonna’s “Blonde Ambition” tour and later wrote a tell-all book about their life together.

Eduardo Xol (1966–2024), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition star

Eduardo Xol was a television star best known for his work on the reality show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” 

Elias Khoury (1948–2024), Lebanese novelist and activist

Elias Khoury was an award-winning novelist, author of “Gates of the Sun,” and activist from Lebanon best known as an advocate for the Palestinian cause.

Nelson DeMille (1943–2024), best-selling thriller author

Nelson DeMille was a best-selling author of thriller and suspense novels, best known for his John Corey and Joe Ryker series, published under the name Jack Cannon.