Jerry T. Hodges Jr. (1925–2024), Tuskegee Airman

Jerry T. Hodges Jr. was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran and one of the last remaining Tuskegee Airmen.

Roy Haynes (1925–2024), legendary jazz drummer

Roy Haynes was a Grammy Award-winning drummer whose career spanned more than 70 years and covered most major forms of jazz.

Dan Evans (1925–2024), former Washington governor and U.S. senator

Dan Evans was a three-term governor of Washington state in the 1960s and ‘70s who went on to serve as a U.S. senator in the ‘80s.

David Graham (1925–2024), voice of the Daleks in Doctor Who

David Graham was a British voice actor best known for his work on “Doctor Who,” where he voiced the Daleks; for voicing Grandpa Pig on “Peppa Pig;” and for playing several characters on the “Thunderbirds” shows and films.

Paul Goldsmith (1925–2024), nine-time NASCAR Cup winner

Paul Goldsmith was an auto racing pioneer who was a nine-time NASCAR Cup winner and the oldest living Indianapolis 500 veteran.

Laurent de Brunhoff (1925–2024), longtime Babar author and artist 

Laurent de Brunhoff was a French author and illustrator who carried on the work of his father, Jean de Brunhoff, the creator of Babar the Elephant.

Ali Hassan Mwinyi (1925–2024), former president of Tanzania

Ali Hassan Mwinyi was the second president of Tanzania after the country’s 1961 independence from Great Britain, serving from 1985 to 1995.

Adele Springsteen (1925–2024), Bruce Springsteen’s mother 

Adele Springsteen was the mother of singer and songwriter Bruce Springsteen; she bought him his first guitar, served as his legal secretary, and was a fan favorite at concerts. 

Bill Hayes (1925–2024), Doug Williams on Days of Our Lives

Bill Hayes was a singer who scored a number one hit in 1955 with “The Ballad of Davy Crockett,” then went on to play recurring character Doug Williams on the TV soap “Days of Our Lives” for over 50 years.

Ted Schwinden (1925–2023), former Montana governor

Ted Schwinden was an American politician elected to office in Montana, first in the state’s House of Representatives and later as a two-term governor.

M. S. Swaminathan (1925–2023), led India’s “green revolution”

Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan was an agricultural scientist, plant geneticist, and humanitarian whose work and leadership during India’s “green revolution” helped fight famine.

Giorgio Napolitano (1925–2023), two-time president of Italy 

Giorgio Napolitano was an Italian politician who became the first ever reelected president since the founding of the Italian Republic in 1947 and the longest serving president in its history.

í‰va Fahidi (1925–2023), author and Holocaust survivor

í‰va Fahidi was a Hungarian author and Holocaust survivor who, after seeing her family killed in Auschwitz and surviving forced labor at Buchenwald, wrote the memoir, “The Soul of Things.”  

Vincent Speranza (1925–2023), paratrooper who put beer in his helmet 

Vincent Speranza was a paratrooper during World War II who carried beer in his helmet for a wounded friend during the Battle of the Bulge.

Johnny Lujack (1925–2023), oldest living Heisman Trophy winner 

Johnny Lujack was a quarterback who was honored with the Heisman Trophy while playing for Notre Dame in 1947 and went on to play for the Chicago Bears. 

Virginia Zeani (1925–2023), Transylvanian opera singer

Virginia Zeani was an operatic soprano known for roles including her signature, Violetta in “La Traviata.”

Simone Segouin (1925–2023), heroine of the French Resistance

Simone Segouin was a French Resistance fighter during World War II, who helped capture German troops and deliver crucial messages.

Jean Faut (1925–2023), AAGPBL pitcher with two perfect games

Jean Faut was a star pitcher with the South Bend Blue Sox of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL).

Shoichiro Toyoda (1925–2023), transformative Toyota leader

Shoichiro Toyoda was a Japanese automotive executive and son of Toyota Motors founder Kiichiro Toyoda. He is credited with the success of Toyota’s modern global expansion.

Arthur Duncan (1925–2023), tap dancer on “The Betty White Show”

Arthur Duncan was a tap dancer and singer known for his regular appearances on “The Betty White Show” and “The Lawrence Welk Show.”

Miiko Taka (1925–2023), star of “Sayonara”

Miiko Taka was an actress who starred opposite in “Sayonara” and appeared in “Shōgun.”

Adolfo Kaminsky (1925–2023), forger who saved lives in the Holocaust

Adolfo Kaminsky was a forger who helped save thousands of lives in the Holocaust by falsifying documents for Jewish people.

Art McNally (1925–2023), NFL’s “father of instant replay”

Art McNally was an NFL official and executive who introduced the instant replay for reviewing plays.

Hiroshi Miyamura (1925–2022), Medal of Honor recipient     

Hiroshi Miyamura was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Korean War.

Gerald Stern (1925–2022), award-winning poet

Gerald Stern was a poet who won a National Book Award in 1998 for his collection “This Time: New and Selected Poems.”

Angela Lansbury (1925–2022), “Murder, She Wrote” star

Angela Lansbury was an actress whose career spanned stage, screen and television and included a long-running star turn on TV's “Murder, She Wrote.” She was a five-time Tony Award winner who was nominated for three Academy Awards and won six Golden Globes.

Art Laboe (1925–2022), legendary “Oldies but Goodies” DJ

Art Laboe was a legendary DJ known for coining the phrase “Oldies but Goodies,” and who was among the first to play Black and Latin music.  

Audrey Evans (1925–2022), Ronald McDonald House co-founder

Audrey Evans was a pediatric oncologist who co-founded the first Ronald McDonald House for families with children in the hospital.

David E. Grange Jr. (1925–2022), legendary Army Ranger

David E. Grange Jr. was a U.S. Army Ranger and three-star general for whom the annual Best Ranger Competition is named.

Virginia Patton (1925–2022), “It’s a Wonderful Life” actress 

Virginia Patton was an actress who is best remembered for playing the sister-in-law of Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey in the holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.”   

Peter Brook (1925–2022), Tony Award-winning theater and film director

Peter Brook was a British theater and film director known for his innovative work.

Elfrida von Nardroff (1925–2021), discredited winner in 1950s TV quiz show scandal

Elfrida von Nardroff  was a big winner on the fixed 1950s TV quiz show "Twenty-One."

Arlene Dahl (1925–2021), 1950s Hollywood star

Arlene Dahl was an actress known for 1950s movies including “Slightly Scarlet” and “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” as well as the mother of actor Lorenzo Lamas.

Rabbi Earl A. Grollman (1925–2021), prominent grief expert

Rabbi Earl A. Grollman was a grief expert who appeared on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and counseled grieving Americans after the Oklahoma City bombing and the .

Sue Thompson (1925–2021), singer known for “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)”

Sue Thompson was a singer known for 1960s songs including “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)” and “Norman.”

George Wein (1925–2021), Newport Jazz Festival founder

George Wein was a jazz impresario who founded the groundbreaking Newport Jazz Festival.

Hal Holbrook (1925–2021), actor known for “All the President’s Men,” “Into the Wild”

Hal Holbrook was an actor known for his one-man show, “Mark Twain Tonight!” as well as for roles in movies including “All the President’s Men” and “Into the Wild” and in the TV show “Evening Shade.”

Jim Feezel (1925–2020), WWII hero who drove tank through Dachau gate

Jim Feezel was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II who drove a tank through the gate of Dachau concentration camp, liberating its prisoners from the Nazis.

George W. Biggs (1925–2020), Tuskegee Airman who flew in three wars

George W. Biggs was a U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force veteran who flew as a Tuskegee Airman in World War II.

William Gates Sr. (1925–2020), philanthropist and father of Bill Gates

William Gates Sr. was a lawyer and philanthropist who was the father of Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates.

Brent Scowcroft (1925–2020), national security advisor to two presidents

Brent Scowcroft was national security advisor to two presidents, and .

Johnny Mandel (1925–2020), songwriter who composed “M*A*S*H” theme song

Johnny Mandel was an Oscar- and Grammy-winning songwriter who composed songs including the “M*A*S*H” theme (“Suicide Is Painless”) and “The Shadow of Your Smile.”

A.C. “Tony” King (1925–2020), survivor of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis

A.C. “Tony” King was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II who survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. His death leaves just eight Indianapolis survivors still living.

Tomisaku Kawasaki (1925–2020), pediatrician who identified Kawasaki disease

Tomisaku Kawasaki was a Japanese pediatrician who was the first to identify the inflammatory syndrome in children that became known as Kawasaki disease.

Bobby Lewis (1925–2020), “Tossin’ and Turnin’” singer

Bobby Lewis was an R&B singer who had a No. 1 hit in 1961 with “Tossin’ and Turnin’.”

Honor Blackman (1925–2020), actress known for roles in “Goldfinger” and TV’s “The Avengers”

Honor Blackman was an actress best known for playing Bond girl Pussy Galore in “Goldfinger” and Cathy Gale in TV’s “The Avengers.”

Forrest Compton (1925–2020), “Gomer Pyle” actor

Forrest Compton was an actor best known for his roles on “Gomer Pyle: USMC” and “The Edge of Night.” 

Rev. Clay Evans (1925–2019), civil rights leader and gospel legend

Rev. Clay Evans was the founder of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, where for 50 years he was a leading voice in the civil rights movement, evangelical broadcasting, and American gospel music. He supported Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s work in Chicago; he cofounded Operation PUSH, one of the nation’s pioneering civil rights organizations, with Rev. Jesse Jackson, whom he ordained at Fellowship in 1968; and he released eleven albums of gospel music, including “I’ve Got a Testimony,” which was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award in 1997.

Virginia Leith (1925–2019), starred in “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die”

She also starred in the classic film noir “A Kiss Before Dying.”