Hollywood

A Look at Notable & Celebrity Deaths from January 2025 Week 3

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.

Mark Margolis (1939–2023), actor in Breaking Bad

Mark Margolis was an actor in film and televisionfor nearly 50 years, with roles in such popular hits as "Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul,Scarface, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,

Sharon Farrell (1940–2023), actress on The Young and the Restless

Sharon Farrell was an actress best known for her roles in the films “It’s Alive,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “The Stunt Man,” and “Marlowe,” as well as her seven-year run as Florence Webster on “The Young and the Restless.” 

Burny Mattinson (1935–2023), Disney animator for decades

Burny Mattinson was a Disney animator and the company’s longest serving employee, having worked there since 1953.

Stella Stevens (1938–2023), Nutty Professor & Poseidon Adventure star

Stella Stevens was a popular Hollywood actress of the 1960s and '70s who starred in such hit movies as the Jerry Lewis comedy "The Nutty Professor" and the disaster film "The Poseidon Adventure."

Raquel Welch (1940–2023), Hollywood icon

Raquel Welch was an iconic Hollywood actress of the 1960s and '70s who starred in “The Three Musketeers” and “Fantastic Voyage."

James Winburn (2022), Michael Myers stuntman in “Halloween”   

James Winburn was a legendary Hollywood stuntman who was the stunt double for the Michael Myers character in the 1978 classic horror film “Halloween.”    

Sylvia Wu (1915–2022), restaurateur to Hollywood stars

Sylvia Wu was the owner of the legendary restaurant Madame Wu’s Garden in Santa Monica, California, a popular destination for Hollywood stars.

Venetia Stevenson (1938–2022), glamorous 1950s Hollywood star  

Venetia Stevenson was an actress who starred in films in the 1950s and 1960s including “Darby’s Rangers.”

Henry Silva (2022), prolific character actor

Henry Silva was a prolific character actor known best for playing villains in such movies as “The Manchurian Candidate” and “Johnny Cool.”

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.”   

Gene LeBell (1932–2022), the “Godfather of Grappling” and legendary stuntman 

Gene LeBell was a legendary stuntman and martial artistknown for pioneering mixed martial arts who trained .

James Caan (1940–2022), legendary actor starred in “The Godfather”

James Caan was a longtime Hollywood star known for “The Godfather,” “Brian’s Song,” and “Misery.”

Fred Ward (1942–2022), star of “The Right Stuff”

Fred Ward was a longtime character actor who had starring roles in “The Right Stuff,” “Tremors,” and “Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins.” 

Jimmy Lydon (1923–2022), actor was Elizabeth Taylor’s first on-screen kiss

Jimmy Lydon was an actor who starred in the classic film “Life With Father,” and gave Elizabeth Taylor her first screen kiss in the movie “Cynthia.”

Peter Bogdanovich (1939–2022), acclaimed film director

Peter Bogdanovich was an iconic film director known for “The Last Picture Show,” “Paper Moon,” and “Mask.” 

Betty White (1922–2021), beloved star of “The Golden Girls”

Betty White was a beloved American actress who starred in "The Golden Girls" and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

Jane Powell (1929–2021), star of Hollywood’s Golden Age musicals

Jane Powell was an actress and singer who starred in musicals of Hollywood’s Golden Age, including “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.”

Charles Grodin (1935–2021), star of “The Heartbreak Kid” and “Midnight Run”

Charles Grodin was an actor known for a wide variety of film and TV roles, including “The Heartbreak Kid” and “Midnight Run.”

Chuck Hicks (1927–2021), tough-guy actor alongside Clint Eastwood and Ronald Reagan

Chuck Hicks was an actor and stuntman with notable roles in many Clint Eastwood films, as well as in “Dick Tracy.”

Monte Hellman (1929–2021), “Two-Lane Blacktop” director

Monte Hellman was a director whose cult classic films include “Two-Lane Blacktop.”

Black Film Directors' Great Movies

Black directors have been making acclaimed and popular movies for more than a hundred years, dating back to the early days of silent films. Though the Hollywood establishment hasn't always recognized them, their art has touched and entertained millions of people for generations. Join us as we celebrate the legacies of Black filmmakers who have died but live on in their great work.

Women Have Always Directed Movies

Women have been a part of moviemaking since the earliest days of cinema's beginnings - on both sides of the camera. From the first silent films to today's Oscar nominees, many great movies have been directed by women. Join us as we celebrate the legacies of female filmmakers who have died but live on in their great work.

Cicely Tyson (1924–2021), award-winning star of “Sounder,” “The Help”

Cicely Tyson, the award-winning actress whose film, television, and theater roles included “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman,” “Roots,” "King," "Sounder," and “The Help,” died Thursday, her family announced.

R.I.P. 2020: Remembering the Newsmakers Who Died

Of all the places the story of 2020 has been told, one of the most poignant has been the obituary pages. Journalists around the country have observed that obituary writing has been more personal, more emotional, and more meaningful this year as communities everywhere had to grieve under difficult pandemic circumstances. That's been true for everyday Americans, and it's also been true for the national newsmakers whose deaths made headlines. Join us now in this look back at some of the most honored celebrities who died in 2020.

Elsa Raven (1929–2020), “Back to the Future” actress

Elsa Raven was an actress known for roles including a brief but memorable one in “Back to the Future” when she begged people to “Save the clock tower!”

Sean Connery (1930–2020), James Bond star and Oscar winner

Sean Connery was an actor who became a superstar for his portrayal of James Bond in “Dr. No” and six other films in the classic spy series.

Rhonda Fleming (1923–2020), star of Hollywood’s Golden Age

Rhonda Fleming was an actress known as the “Queen of Technicolor,” who was active in films of the 1940s and ‘50s.

Sue Nichols Maciorowski (1965–2020), Disney animation artist on “Hercules,” “Mulan”

Sue Nichols Maciorowski was an animation artist who worked on beloved Disney films including “The Lion King,” “Mulan,” and “Hercules.”

Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020), star of Black Panther

Chadwick Boseman, the actor who starred as T'Challa in "Black Panther," Jackie Robinson in "42," and Thurgood Marshall in "Marshall," died at his home in Los Angeles, his family .

Lori Nelson (1933–2020), “Revenge of the Creature” star

Lori Nelsonawas aa1950s Hollywood star known for ccRevenge of the Creatured and the TV series ccHow to Marry a Millionaire.da

Wilford Brimley (1934–2020), star of "Cocoon" and Quaker Oats ads

Wilford Brimley was a character actor known for his gruff and grumpy persona in movies including “Cocoon” and "The Natural," television shows such as “The Waltons” and “Our House,” and commercials for Quaker Oats and Liberty Medical’s supplies for diabetes patients.

Alan Parker (1933–2020), Oscar-nominated director of “Midnight Express,” “Mississippi Burning”

Alan Parker was a British film director known for movies including “Midnight Express,” “Mississippi Burning,” and “Bugsy Malone.”

Olivia de Havilland (1916–2020), Oscar-winning “Gone With the Wind” star

Olivia de Havilland was an Oscar-winning actress who played Melanie Hamilton in "Gone With the Wind" and won two Academy Awards for Best Actress.

Zizi Jeanmaire (1924–2020), French ballerina danced in Hollywood films

Zizi Jeanmaire was a French modernist ballerina who won international acclaim for her sexually suggestive dancing in the ballet “Carmen,” choreographed by her husband, Roland Petit. She later appeared in the Hollywood films “Hans Christian Andersen” (1952) with Danny Kaye, and “Anything Goes” (1956) with Bing Crosby. She was billed simply as Jeanmaire.

Naya Rivera (1987–2020), actress who starred as Santana Lopez in “Glee”

Naya Rivera was an actress best known for her role as Santana Lopez in the hit musical TV series “Glee.”

Kelly Preston (1962–2020), “Jerry Maguire” star

Kelly Preston was an actress known for roles in movies including “Jerry Maguire,” “Twins,” and “Sky High.” She was actor John Travolta’s wife.

Bettina Gilois (1961–2020), screenwriter of “Bessie,” “Glory Road”

Bettina Gilois was a screenwriter best known for her work on the HBO film “Bessie” and Disney’s “Glory Road.”

Ennio Morricone (1928–2020), Oscar-winning composer of movie soundtracks

Ennio Morricone was an Oscar-winning composer of movie soundtracks whose iconic music was the backdrop to films including “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”

Danny Hicks (1951–2020), costarred in “Evil Dead II”

Danny Hicks was an actor who was best known for playing Jake in “Evil Dead II.”

Carl Reiner (1922–2020), legendary comedy writer, director, and performer

Carl Reiner was a legendary comedy writer and performer who created "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and directed films including "The Jerk.”

Joel Schumacher (1939–2020), “Batman,” “The Lost Boys” director

Joel Schumacher was the legendary director whose movies included two “Batman” movies along with “The Lost Boys” and St. Elmo’s Fire.”

Pat Brymer (1950–2020), gopher puppeteer in “Caddyshack”

Pat Brymer was a puppeteer who operated the gopher puppet in “Caddyshack” (1980) and built an updated Lamb Chop puppet for .

Else Blangsted (1920–2020), acclaimed movie music editor

Else Blangsted was an acclaimed movie music editor known as the “Queen of Music Editors.” She fled from Germany to the United States to escape Nazi Germany.  

Gregory Tyree Boyce (2020), “Twilight” actor

Gregory Tyree Boyce was an actor best known for playing Tyler Crowley in the 2008 movie “Twilight.” The movie was the first in a series of films based on novels written by Stephenie Meyer.

Fred Willard (1933–2020), comic actor who starred in “Best in Show”

Fred Willard was a comic actor beloved for roles in films including “Best in Show,” “A Mighty Wind,” and “This Is Spinal Tap.” During his long career he also appeared in several TV shows, including "Fernwood 2 Night," "Real People," "Roseanne," "Murder, She Wrote," "Everybody Loves Raymond," and "Modern Family." His final recurring role was as Steve Carell's father in the upcoming Netflix series "Space Force."

Shirley Knight (1936–2020), “Sweet Bird of Youth” star

Shirley Knight wasan actress best known in the 1960s who was nominated for two Best Supporting Actress Oscars for her work in Sweet Bird of Youth and1aThe Dark at the Top of the Stairs.

Lyle Waggoner (1935–2020), costar of “The Carol Burnett Show” and “Wonder Woman”

Lyle Waggoner was a beloved cast member and announcer on “The Carol Burnett Show” from 1967 to 1974. Waggoner also costarred as Steve Trevor and Steve Trevor Jr. on TV’s “Wonder Woman” from 1975 to 1979.

Star Trek's Scotty, James Doohan, Was an Irish Canadian WWII Veteran With an Inspirational Legacy

Star Trek’s chief engineer, Montgomery Scott, may be the most famously Scottish person in all of pop culture. But here’s something fascinating: