Movies

Wings Hauser (1947–2025), Vice Squad actor

Wings Hauser was a character actor whose many roles spanned decades and included parts in “Vice Squad,” “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Roseanne,” and many other productions.

Simon Fisher-Becker (1961–2025), Doctor Who actor

Simon Fisher-Becker was an English character actor known for his roles in “Doctor Who” and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” 

Gene Winfield (1927–2025), custom car designer for movies and TV

Gene Winfield was an icon of the custom car community whose designs were seen in such movies and TV shows as “Blade Runner,” “Star Trek,” and “Bewitched.”

George Lowe (1957–2025), Space Ghost Coast to Coast star

George Lowe was an actor best known for providing the voice of Space Ghost on the Cartoon Network series “Space Ghost Coast to Coast.”

James Houghton (1948–2024), Knots Landing star

James Houghton was an actor and screenwriter known for his onscreen work on “Knots Landing” and “The Colbys,” as well as his writing for “The Young and the Restless.” 

David Johansen (1950–2025), New York Dolls frontman

David Johansen was the frontman for the glammy proto-punk band the New York Dolls, who ended up being one of the most influential of the era, and also had a solo career under the name Buster Poindexter. 

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.”

Roberto Orci (1973–2025), Star Trek reboot screenwriter

Roberto Orci was a screenwriter and producer who worked on 2009’s “Star Trek” and its sequels, the “Transformers” film series, and other movies.

John Lawlor (1941–2025), The Facts of Life actor

John Lawlor was a character actor best known for his sitcom roles in “Phyllis” and “The Facts of Life.” 

Lynne Marie Stewart (1946–2025), Miss Yvonne on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse 

Lynne Marie Stewart was a veteran actress known for playing Miss Yvonne on “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” and Charlie’s mother on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” 

Peter Jason (1944–2025), Deadwood actor

Peter Jason was a prolific character actor best known for playing Con Stapleton in “Deadwood,” and for his many appearances in the films of director John Carpenter.

Souleymane Cissé (1940–2025), acclaimed Malian filmmaker

Souleymane Cissé was a Malian filmmaker whose work, especially 1987’s “Yeelen,” has been cited as among the greatest-ever examples of African cinema.

Biff Wiff (2025), I Think You Should Leave actor

Biff Wiff was a character actor who appeared on “I Think You Should Leave,” “Jury Duty,” Night Court,” “iCarly,” and many other shows.

Gene “Groove” Allen (1964–2025), Groove B. Chill rapper

Gene “Groove” Allen was a rapper and actor best known for his work in the hip-hop trio Groove B. Chill and for his roles in movies like “House Party” and “House Party 2.” 

Peter Tuiasosopo (1963–2025), Necessary Roughness actor

Peter Tuiasosopo was a former NFL center for the Los Angeles Rams who later became an actor, appearing in films including “Street Fighter and “Necessary Roughness.” 

Bruce French (1945–2025), veteran actor known for Passions

Bruce French was a veteran actor of stage and screen best known for portraying Father Lonigan in over 400 episodes of the NBC daytime drama, “Passions.”

Gene Barge (1926–2025), acclaimed saxophonist and producer 

Gene Barge was a saxophonist and producer whose talents crossed paths with generations of music icons, including Natalie Cole, Muddy Waters, The Rolling Stones, James Brown, Little Richard, and many more.

Olga James (1929–2025), Carmen Jones actress

Olga James was an actress and singer best known for her performance in the 1954 movie musical “Carmen Jones” opposite .

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.

Jan Shepard (1928–2025), actress in King Creole

Jan Shepard was an actress who starred alongside in “King Creole” and “Paradise, Hawaiian Style.” 

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.

Barry Michael Cooper (2025), New Jack City writer

Barry Michael Cooper was a journalist, screenwriter and producer best known for his “Harlem trilogy” of films: “New Jack City,” “Sugar Hill,” and “Above the Rim.”

Christian Juttner (1964–2024), star of Return From Witch Mountain

Christian Juttner was a child actor of the 1970s best known for “Return From Witch Mountain,” “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” and “The Magical World of Disney.” 

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.” 

Joan Plowright (1929–2025), Enchanted April actress

Dame Joan Plowright was an English actress who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in 1992’s “Enchanted April.”

David Lynch (1946–2025), creator of Twin Peaks

David Lynch was an acclaimed surrealist director best known for challenging works like “Eraserhead,” “Mulholland Drive,” and “Blue Velvet,” as well as the cult hit television show “Twin Peaks.” 

Bob Uecker (1934–2025), Milwaukee Brewers broadcasting legend

Bob Uecker was a former major league baseball catcher who became the longtime broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers, as well as a comedic actor known for “Mr. Belvedere” and “Major League.”

Buck White (1930–2025), country musician with The Whites

Buck White was a Grand Ole Opry member and the patriarch of the family group The Whites. 

Bill Byrge (1938–2025), Bobby from the Ernest comedies

Bill Byrge was a character actor best known for playing the quirky character Bobby in the “Ernest” series of movies.

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.” 

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.

Charles Shyer (1941–2024), Father of the Bride writer-director

Charles Shyer was a filmmaker known for such movies as “Private Benjamin,” which he co-wrote and co-produced, and “Father of the Bride,” which he co-wrote and directed.

Angus MacInnes (1947–2024), Star Wars’ Gold Leader

Angus MacInnes was a Canadian actor best known for playing Jon "Dutch" Vander, the Y-wing pilot Gold Leader in the original “Star Wars” film, as well as for giving audiences laughs in the comedy “Strange Brew.”

Jeff Baena (1977–2025), The Little Hours filmmaker

Jeff Baena was a screenwriter and director known for such movies as “I Heart Huckabees” and “The Little Hours,” as well as the husband of actress Aubrey Plaza.

Geoffrey Deuel (1943–2024), Chisum co-star

Geoffrey Deuel was an actor best known for his roles in the John Wayne movie “Chisum” and the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.”

Olivia Hussey (1951–2024), Romeo and Juliet star

Olivia Hussey was an actress best known for her starring performance as Juliet in filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli’s “Romeo and Juliet.” 

Linda Lavin (1937–2024), star of Alice

Linda Lavin was a Tony Award-winning Broadway actress and singer who starred on TV in the hit sitcom “Alice.” 

Art Evans (1942–2024), Die Hard 2 actor

Art Evans was an actor best known for his performance as chief airport engineer Leslie Barnes in “Die Hard 2.” 

Diane Delano (1957–2024), Northern Exposure actress

Diane Delano was a veteran actress best known for her roles as Barbara Semanski, the Alaskan state trooper on the quirky “Northern Exposure,” and science teacher Bobbi Glass on the teen drama “Popular.” 

Jill Jacobson (1954–2024), actress in Falcon Crest, Star Trek

Jill Jacobson was an actress known for roles in such TV shows as “Falcon Crest,” “The New Gidget,” and two versions of “Star Trek.” 

Miho Nakayama (1970–2024), Japanese singer and actress

Miho Nakayama was an award-winning Japanese singer and actress who rose to fame with a succession of Top 10 singles and the 1995 film “Love Letter.” 

Malcolm Smith (1941–2024), Baja 1000 racing legend

Malcolm Smith was a racing driver known for his five wins at the Baja 1000 and four at the Baja 500, both notoriously grueling desert races.

Thom Christopher (1940–2024), One Life to Live star

Thom Christopher was an actor and soap opera star best known for his long runs on “One Life to Live” and “Loving,” as well as for playing Hawk on “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.” 

Scott L. Schwartz (1959–2024), Ocean’s Eleven actor and wrestler

Scott L. Schwartz was an actor and pro wrestler best known for playing Bruiser in “Ocean’s Eleven” and its two sequels.

Marshall Brickman (1939–2024), Annie Hall and Jersey Boys cowriter

Marshall Brickman was a screenwriter best known for his collaborations with filmmaker Woody Allen, most notably the Best Picture-winning classic, 1977’s “Annie Hall,” for which the pair won an Oscar.

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.” 

Earl Holliman (1928–2024), Police Woman costar

Earl Holliman was an actor best known for his award-winning work in the 1956 western romance “The Rainmaker,” and starring opposite Angie Dickinson in the TV drama “Police Woman.”

Jim Abrahams (1944–2024), Airplane! filmmaker

Jim Abrahams was part of the Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker (ZAZ) filmmaking team, known for such comedies as “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun.”  

Michael Villella (1940–2024), villain from The Slumber Party Massacre

Michael Villella was an actor best known as the drill-wielding villain from the 1982 cult-classic horror film, “The Slumber Party Massacre.”