Dave Mason – April 19
Source: Instagram
An English singer and guitarist who helped lay the groundwork for the rock band Traffic in 1967, joining forces with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Chris Wood, and leaving an enduring mark through compositions like “Feelin’ Alright” and “Hole in My Shoe” on albums including Mr. Fantasy and Traffic. Following his departure from the band amid creative friction, he forged a strong solo path with hits like “We Just Disagree” and the gold-certified album Alone Together, while crossing paths musically with Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, George Harrison, and Fleetwood Mac. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Traffic in 2004 and kept performing and giving back to causes close to him until the end. He was 79.
Dee Freeman – April 2
Source: Instagram
An American actress whose career stretched across television, film, and the stage, with memorable appearances in productions such as “The Young and the Restless,” “Dexter,” “Shameless,” “Six Feet Under,” and “The X-Files.” Before pursuing acting, she served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, then made her screen debut in the mid-1990s and steadily accumulated dozens of credits alongside a stage career that encompassed more than 80 productions. She was 66.
Valerie Perrine – March 23
Source: Instagram
An American actress whose career-defining performance came with her portrayal of Honey Bruce in “Lenny” in 1974, a role that brought her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and a Golden Globe win. She further cemented her place in 1970s cinema by playing Eve Teschmacher in “Superman” and its follow-up, while also appearing in cult favorites like “Slaughterhouse-Five” and “Can’t Stop the Music.” She was 82.
Nicholas Brendon – March 20
Source: Instagram
An American actor whose name is inseparable from his portrayal of Xander Harris — the fiercely loyal sidekick — across every one of the 144 episodes of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” a performance that brought him Saturn Award recognition. Beyond Sunnydale, he made a significant mark with his recurring role as FBI analyst Kevin Lynch on “Criminal Minds” and appeared in projects ranging from the sci-fi film “Coherence” to the sitcom “Kitchen Confidential.” He was 54.
Chuck Norris – March 19
Source: Instagram
An American martial artist, actor, and pop culture phenomenon who first captured public attention as a karate champion, winning multiple world titles before making the leap to Hollywood. His film career produced action staples like “Way of the Dragon” alongside Bruce Lee, “An Eye for an Eye,” “Missing in Action,” and “The Delta Force,” while television audiences knew him best as the lead of “Walker, Texas Ranger.” His larger-than-life image eventually took on a life of its own through the wildly popular “Chuck Norris Facts” internet meme, which humorously exaggerated his toughness to near-mythological proportions. He was 86.
Tommy DeCarlo – March 9
Source: Instagram
An American rock singer who became the voice of Boston starting in 2008, following a path that began with posting online covers of the band’s classic material in tribute to original vocalist Brad Delp, who had passed away in 2007. Boston founder Tom Scholz came across those recordings and brought DeCarlo in to audition, ultimately choosing him as the group’s touring lead singer. From that point on, DeCarlo took Boston’s signature sound to stages around the world, honoring what came before while introducing the music to a new generation. He was 60.
Neil Sedaka – February 27
Source: Instagram
An American singer, songwriter, and pianist who emerged as one of the defining teen pop voices of the late 1950s and early 1960s, representing the celebrated Brill Building era at its finest. Trained classically at the Juilliard School, he brought melodic precision to pop music with hits like “Oh! Carol,” “Calendar Girl,” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.” After a quieter stretch in the late 1960s, he mounted a remarkable comeback in the following decade with songs such as “Laughter in the Rain” and “Bad Blood,” reclaiming international attention. His songwriting also reached the recordings of Connie Francis, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Tom Jones. He was 86.
Robert Carradine – February 23
Source: Instagram
An American actor and member of the storied Carradine acting family, the youngest son of John Carradine and brother to David and Keith Carradine. He became a beloved figure in popular culture through his portrayal of lovable nerd Lewis Skolnick in the “Revenge of the Nerds” franchise, as well as Sam McGuire, the father at the center of the Disney Channel hit “Lizzie McGuire.” His career stretched back to 1972 and a debut in “The Cowboys” opposite John Wayne, encompassing notable work in “Mean Streets,” “The Big Red One,” and “The Long Riders,” in which he shared the screen with his real brothers. He was 71.
Eric Dane – February 19
Source: Instagram
An American actor who broke through to wide recognition playing the charismatic Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on “Grey’s Anatomy,” then demonstrated his versatility through roles like the principled Captain Tom Chandler in “The Last Ship” and the morally complex Cal Jacobs on HBO’s “Euphoria,” alongside film appearances in “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “Marley and Me.” He died following a battle with ALS. He was 55.
James Van Der Beek – February 11
Source: Instagram
An American actor whose rise to fame came through his central role as Dawson Leery, the dream-chasing, introspective teenager at the heart of “Dawson’s Creek” from 1998 to 2003, a show that also launched the careers of Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson. He continued to build his resume across film and television with appearances in projects including “Varsity Blues,” “The Rules of Attraction,” and “CSI: Cyber.” He died following a battle with colon cancer. He was 48.
Catherine O’Hara – January 30
Source: Instagram
A Canadian actress, comedian, and writer celebrated for her razor-sharp comedic instincts and gallery of unforgettable characters. She first gained prominence in the 1970s as a standout cast member of “SCTV,” the Canadian sketch comedy institution that also produced talents like Martin Short, Rick Moranis, and Eugene Levy, earning an Emmy in 1982 for her writing contributions. She became especially cherished for her work with director Christopher Guest on mockumentary gems like “Waiting for Guffman,” “Best in Show,” and “A Mighty Wind,” as well as beloved film roles in “Beetlejuice” and “Home Alone.” In her later years, she introduced herself to a new generation through her Emmy-winning turn as the extravagant Moira Rose on “Schitt’s Creek.” She was 71.
Bob Weir – January 10
Source: Instagram
An American musician and songwriter who helped found the Grateful Dead and served alongside Jerry Garcia as one of the group’s central voices and frontmen for three decades. His jazz-influenced approach to rhythm guitar and his co-writing credits — including “Sugar Magnolia,” “Playing in the Band,” and “Cassidy” — became cornerstones of the band’s improvisational identity. After Garcia’s death in 1995, Weir carried the flame through RatDog and, most successfully, Dead and Company, connecting those songs to a whole new wave of listeners. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and honored at the Kennedy Center in 2024, he remained a tireless performer and advocate for environmental and social causes until the end. He was 78.
Brigitte Bardot – December 28
Source: Instagram
A French actress, singer, model, and animal rights advocate who became one of the most recognizable faces in world cinema during the 1950s and 1960s. After training as a ballerina and building early visibility as a teenage model for Elle, she broke through internationally with the 1956 film “And God Created Woman,” directed by her first husband Roger Vadim. She went on to appear in 47 films, among them Jean-Luc Godard’s “Contempt” and “Viva Maria!” alongside Jeanne Moreau, while also recording more than 60 songs and shaping fashion trends including the bikini and her signature tousled look. She stepped away from acting in 1973, redirected her passion toward animal welfare by establishing the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986, and was awarded the Legion of Honour in 1985. She was 91.
Camryn Magness – December 5
Source: Instagram
An American singer and musician who first turned heads as a teenager through YouTube performances in 2010, leading to a record deal with 5280 Media and her debut single “Wait and See.” She built her profile as an opening act for major touring artists, sharing stages with Greyson Chance, Cody Simpson, One Direction on their Up All Night and Take Me Home tours, and Fifth Harmony on a European leg of their 7/27 Tour, while releasing singles including “Set the Night on Fire” and “Now or Never” that reached US Top 40 radio. She died after being struck by a vehicle while riding an electric scooter in Fort Myers, Florida. She was 26.
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa – December 4
Source: Instagram
A Japanese-American actor whose filmography is populated with memorably formidable antagonists, including Shang Tsung in the “Mortal Kombat” films, Kwang in the Bond film “Licence to Kill,” and Commander Minoru Genda in “Pearl Harbor,” alongside earlier breakout roles in “The Last Emperor” and “Showdown in Little Tokyo.” Born in Tokyo to a Japanese actress and a Japanese-American father serving in the U.S. Army, he grew up across various American cities, studied at the University of Southern California, and maintained lifelong practices in martial arts and Chi healing. He was 75.
Jimmy Cliff – November 24
Source: Instagram
A Jamaican singer, songwriter, and actor whose work was essential in bringing reggae music to the world stage. Beginning his career as a teenager, he moved fluidly between ska, rocksteady, and reggae, building momentum before his starring role and soundtrack contributions to the 1972 film “The Harder They Come” made him an international name. Songs like “Many Rivers to Cross,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” and “The Harder They Come” became classics, and he remained a reggae cornerstone for decades, earning a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Jamaican Order of Merit. He was 81.
Ornella Vanoni – November 21
Source: Instagram
An Italian singer and songwriter born in Milan in 1934 whose career stretched across nearly seven decades, beginning in theater — including Bertolt Brecht productions under Giorgio Strehler — before she evolved into one of her country’s most beloved pop figures. Known for her deeply personal interpretations of Italian pop and Milanese dialect songs, particularly those steeped in the world of the criminal underworld, she earned the nickname “cantante della mala.” Major hits like “Senza fine” and “L’appuntamento,” multiple Sanremo Festival appearances, and worldwide record sales exceeding 65 million reflect the full scope of her reach. She also acted in films and was considered an enduring cultural icon in the world of fashion. She was 91.
Sally Kirkland – November 11
Source: Instagram
An American actress whose career spanned more than six decades and accumulated over 250 credits across film, television, and theater. Her most acclaimed work came with the title role in the 1987 independent film “Anna,” which brought her a Golden Globe for Best Actress and an Academy Award nomination, showcasing the intensity she brought to her best performances. Her broader filmography included “The Sting,” “JFK,” “Bruce Almighty,” and “Revenge.” She was 84.
Sam Rivers – October 18
Source: Instagram
An American bassist and co-founder of Limp Bizkit, whose heavy, groove-centered playing helped shape the nu metal band’s sound alongside guitarist Wes Borland and frontman Fred Durst. He appeared on all of the group’s major albums, including “Three Dollar Bill, Y’all” and “Significant Other,” which achieved enormous commercial traction in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Outside Limp Bizkit, he worked as a producer and collaborated with other artists in rock and metal. He was 48.
Ace Frehley – October 16
Source: Instagram
An American musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the original lead guitarist of Kiss, which he co-founded, and the creator of the band’s iconic “Spaceman” persona. His guitar work — marked by flashy solos, a natural flair for melody, and pioneering use of effects including a rocket-firing guitar — helped define Kiss’s sonic identity during the 1970s, with contributions like “Shock Me” and “Cold Gin.” He left the band in 1982 and built a successful solo career before rejoining Kiss for their reunion tour in 1996, staying through 2002. He was 74.
John Lodge – October 10
Source: Instagram
An English musician who dedicated more than five decades to the Moody Blues as the band’s bassist, vocalist, and songwriter, joining in 1966 and helping to shape their pioneering blend of orchestral rock and psychedelic sound. His songwriting contributions include fan favorites “Ride My See-Saw” and “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band),” and his bass playing was widely regarded as a benchmark in the genre. He also maintained a parallel solo career across multiple albums and earned induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. He was 82.
Jane Goodall – October 1
Source: Instagram
A British primatologist and ethologist whose long-term fieldwork with wild chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park transformed the scientific understanding of primate behavior. Beginning her research in 1960 under the guidance of anthropologist Louis Leakey, she documented the emotional lives, social complexity, and tool-use of chimpanzees in unprecedented detail, overturning longstanding assumptions about what separates humans from other animals. She founded both the Jane Goodall Institute and the Gombe Stream Research Center, inspired countless women in the sciences, and spent decades advocating for wildlife and environmental protection. She was 91.
Joshua Allen – September 30
Source: Instagram
An American dancer and actor from Fort Worth, Texas, who won the fourth season of “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2008 at just 19 years old. Largely self-taught and deeply influenced by Michael Jackson, he impressed audiences and judges alike with his versatility across hip-hop, contemporary, ballroom, and Bollywood styles. After his competition win, he appeared in “Step Up 3D,” the 2011 remake of “Footloose,” and television series including “Community” and “American Horror Story.” He died after being struck by a train. He was 36.
Claudia Cardinale – September 23
Source: Instagram
An Italian actress whose path to stardom began after she won a beauty contest in Tunisia in 1957, which opened doors to film contracts and a move to Italy. She rose quickly through roles in landmark films including “Rocco and His Brothers,” “The Leopard,” Federico Fellini’s “8½,” and Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in the West,” establishing herself as one of the most internationally admired actresses of her era. Over a career encompassing more than 100 films, she was celebrated as much for her talent and range as for her beauty. She was 87.
Robert Redford – September 16
Source: Instagram
An American actor, director, and producer who became one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars through roles in films like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Sting,” and “All the President’s Men,” while earning an Academy Award for directing “Ordinary People” and later receiving an honorary Oscar recognizing his career-long contributions. Beyond performance and direction, he founded the Sundance Institute and Film Festival, creating a vital platform for independent cinema that reshaped the landscape of American filmmaking. A committed environmentalist and political voice, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and remained influential in the industry for decades. He was 89.
Ricky Hatton – September 14
Source: Instagram
A British professional boxer known as “The Hitman,” whose all-action fighting style and grounded, approachable personality made him a favorite with fans worldwide. He held titles across the light-welterweight and welterweight divisions, including IBF, WBA, and IBO light-welterweight belts as well as the WBA welterweight title, with notable wins over Kostya Tszyu, José Luis Castillo, and Paulie Malignaggi. The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 2005, and he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024. After retiring from competition, he transitioned into boxing promotion and training. He was 46.
Mark Volman – September 5
Source: Instagram
An American vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter who co-founded The Turtles in the 1960s and helped deliver the group’s signature hit “Happy Together.” After the band dissolved in 1970, he and bandmate Howard Kaylan went on to perform as the duo Flo and Eddie, with Volman adopting the Flo pseudonym. The pair also joined Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention and contributed backing vocals to recordings by T. Rex and Bruce Springsteen. Volman continued performing in his later years despite health challenges including a throat cancer diagnosis and Lewy body dementia. He was 78.
Giorgio Armani – September 4
Source: Instagram
An Italian fashion designer and businessman widely considered among the most consequential forces in the history of modern fashion. He launched his company in 1975 and remade the industry’s approach to elegance, favoring clean lines, refined fabrics, and a minimalist sensibility that made sophisticated dressing feel effortless. Often called the “king of Italian fashion,” he extended the Armani name across accessories, fragrances, hotels, and luxury ventures of all kinds, and his suits in particular became Hollywood shorthand for understated glamour. He was 91.
