The entertainment industry is already mourning the loss of several actors, singers, performers, creatives, executives and all-around industry legends this year.
The Hollywood Reporter is highlighting some of the most well-known names who have died in 2025, including Val Kilmer, Gene Hackman, Michelle Trachtenberg, David Lynch, Irv Gotti and Jeff Baena.
Kilmer, who won praise for memorable roles as Iceman in Top Gun, Doc Holliday in Tombstone and Batman in Batman Forever, died at age 65 of pneumonia in Los Angeles, his daughter, actress Mercedes Kilmer announced.
Hackman, the much-admired two-time Oscar winner and his second wife, Betsy Hackman, 64, were found dead in February at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The actor died of severe cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor, officials later announced.
Trachtenberg, who started her career as a child performer before rising to fame for her roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, died in February at age 39.
Lynch, the writer-director known for his films and TV series including Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks, died in January at age 78. Last year he revealed that he was suffering from emphysema after many years of smoking and couldn’t leave the house over fears of getting COVID-19.
Gotti, a record executive, music producer and entrepreneur who founded of Murder Inc. Records, died in February at age 54.
Baena, an indie film director and writer who was married to actress Aubrey Plaza, died in January at age 47 by suicide, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. “This is an unimaginable tragedy,” Plaza shared in a statement at the time. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”
Below are more of this year’s most notable deaths in Hollywood, and check out THR‘s obituaries page for other 2025 industry deaths, as well as last year’s entertainment deaths here.
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Jeff Baena
June 29, 1977 – Jan. 3, 2025
Jeff Baena, an indie film director and writer and Aubrey Plaza‘s husband, died on Jan. 3. He was 47. The filmmaker died by suicide on Friday in his Los Angeles home, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. Read his full obituary here.“”
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Sam Moore
Oct. 12, 1935 – Jan. 10, 2025
Sam Moore, who with partner Dave Prater helped bring the sound of the church to pop music with a string of call-and-response hits as the high tenor in the famed Stax Records duo Sam & Dave, died on Jan. 10. He was 89. Full obituary here.“”
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David Lynch
Jan. 20, 1946 – Jan. 16, 2025
David Lynch, the writer-director whose films and TV series including Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks portrayed a seemingly bucolic America, only to reveal it as teeming with the mysterious and macabre, died on Jan. 16. He was 78. Read his obituary.“”
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Joan Plowright
Oct. 28, 1929 – Jan. 16, 2025
Joan Plowright, the distinguished actress of the post-war British stage whose considerable skill as a performer was at times eclipsed by her fame as the third and last wife of Laurence Olivier, died on Jan. 16. She was 95. Full obituary here.“”
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Irv Gotti
June 26, 1970 – Feb. 5, 2025
Irv Gotti, a noted record executive, music producer and entrepreneur best known as the founder of Murder Inc. Records, has died, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed. He was 54. Full obituary.“”
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Michelle Trachtenberg
Oct. 11, 1985 – Feb. 26, 2025
Michelle Trachtenberg, the veteran actress who started as a child performer with high-profile roles like the title character in Harriet the Spy before finding success on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, died on Feb. 26. She was 39. Read her obituary here.“”
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Gene Hackman
Jan. 30, 1930 – February 2025
Gene Hackman, the versatile leading man renowned for his smoldering performance as hard-nosed New York City narc Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection, has died. He was 95. The much-admired two-time Oscar winner and his second wife, Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found dead Feb. 26 at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Read full obituary here.“”
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Val Kilmer
Dec. 31, 1959 – April 1, 2025
Val Kilmer, the charisma-oozing leading man who lost himself portraying such tormented, self-loathing characters as Jim Morrison, gunslinger Doc Holliday and Batman during his all-too-brief career, died on April 1 of pneumonia. He was 65. Full obituary here.“”
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Don Mischer
March 5, 1940 – April 11, 2025
Don Mischer, the Emmy-accumulating director-producer who called the shots on the biggest live entertainment events in the world, from Super Bowl halftime shows and Olympic opening ceremonies to the Oscars and the Emmys, died on April 11. He was 85. Full obituary here.“”
Source: Hollywoodreporter
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