2025 ends with a long list of deaths in the world of culture, art, entertainment, music and sport. From Oliviero Toscani to Pippo Baudo, from Ornella Vanoni to Brigitte Bardot, there are many well-known faces and iconic figures who have passed away in the last 12 months. Actors, music stars, photographers, writers, whose human and professional memory remains indelible.
13 January – Oliviero Toscani, 82 years old
An Italian photographer famous for the advertising campaigns that have marked history, Toscani was able to combine provocation and reflection. Among his most iconic images, the kiss between a priest and a nun and the portraits of those condemned to death in the United States. In recent years he had revealed that he suffered from amyloidosis.
January 16 – David Lynch, 78 years old
American director and screenwriter, master of visionary cinema. Among his masterpieces, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks. Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1990 and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in 2006, in 2020 he received the Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
February 26 – Gene Hackman, 91
Award-winning American actor, winner of two Oscars for The Hook of the Law and Unforgiven. His career spanned decades of cinematic success, until he retired from the scene in the 2000s. He died at his home in Santa Fe, next to his wife.
February 26 – Michelle Trachtenberg, 39 years old
American actress, known for the roles of Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl and Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She suffered cardiac arrest caused by complications related to diabetes mellitus.
March 3 – Eleonora Giorgi, 71 years old
A very talented actress, she made her film debut with Federico Fellini’s Roma in 1972. She worked with directors such as Dario Argento and Carlo Verdone, winning the David di Donatello for Best Leading Actress in 1982 for Borotalco.
March 5 – Bruno Pizzul, 87 years old
Historic Italian sports commentator, voice of the national football team from the 1986 World Cup until 2002. Host of programs such as Domenica Sprint and Domenica Sportiva, he was a point of reference for generations of fans.
March 21 – George Foreman, 76
Former American boxer, Olympic and world heavyweight champion. Famous for the historic “Rumble in the Jungle” challenge against Muhammad Ali and for regaining the world crown at 45 against Michael Moorer.
April 1 – Val Kilmer, 65 years old
American actor known for iconic roles such as Jim Morrison in The Doors, Doc Holliday in Tombstone and Batman in Batman Forever. His career has ranged from action cinema to music and theatre.
5 April – Antonello Fassari, 72 years old
Italian actor and comedian, famous for the role of the innkeeper Cesare in I Cesaroni. He also worked in cinema and theatre, playing roles in films such as Wall of Rubber and Criminal Novel.
April 13 – Mario Vargas Llosa, 89 years old
Peruvian writer, awarded numerous awards throughout his career, including the Cervantes Prize, the Príncipe de Asturias de las Letras Prize, up to the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2010. His novels include: The Green House, Aunt Julia and the Scribbler, The War at the End of the World, Don Rigoberto’s Notebooks, The City and the Dogs.
20 May – Nino Benvenuti, 87 years old
Olympic and world champion boxer, symbol of boxing in the 60s and 70s. In his career he played 90 matches, winning 82, and leaving an indelible mark on Italian sport.
May 23 – Sebastião Salgado, 81 years old
World-renowned Brazilian photographer and documentary filmmaker. After working as an economist, he dedicated his life to reporting on the conditions of workers, migrants and indigenous peoples, traveling to over 120 countries.
22 June – Arnaldo Pomodoro, 98 years old
Sculptor famous for the iconic bronze spheres. He contributed to contemporary art with works that combine geometry and metal experimentation, founding the Continuità group together with Lucio Fontana.
June 23 – Lea Massari, 91 years old
An intense dramatic interpreter for great directors such as Mario Monicelli, Sergio Leone, Michelangelo Antonioni and Dino Risi, the actress was an elegant and aristocratic protagonist of Rai’s black and white dramas.
24 June – Alvaro Vitali, 75 years old
Actor and comedian known for the character of Pierino in the Italian sexy comedy. He worked with Federico Fellini in films such as Fellini Satyricon and Amarcord.
July 3 – Diogo Jota, 28 years old
Portuguese footballer, striker for Liverpool and the Portuguese national team. He died in a car accident together with his brother André. He was the father of three children and recently married.
July 3 – Michael Madsen, 67 years old
American actor famous for his partnership with Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill) and for iconic roles in The Doors and Thelma & Louise.
July 22 – Ozzy Osbourne, 76 years old
Heavy metal icon, voice of Black Sabbath and internationally successful soloist. Nicknamed “The Prince of Darkness”, he influenced generations of musicians and rock fans.
July 24 – Hulk Hogan, 71 years old
Legend of world wrestling, he brought WWE to the general public and starred in films such as Rocky III. It was a symbol of American pop culture of the 80s and 90s.
6 August – Gianni Berengo Gardin, 89 years old
Internationally renowned photographer, author of over 260 books and 360 solo exhibitions. Considered one of the greatest Italian documentarians, he narrated twentieth-century society with his images.
August 7 – Jim Lovell, 97
American astronaut, commander of the Apollo 13 mission. First to fly four times in space, he is famous for the historic phrase “Houston, we have a problem” during the mission to the Moon.
16 August – Pippo Baudo, 89 years old
Rai’s iconic television host, he hosted 13 editions of the Sanremo Festival and programs such as Canzonissima and Fantastico. It has influenced Italian television for over half a century.
2 September – Emilio Fede, 94 years old
Italian journalist, director of Tg1 and Tg4. Prominent figure in the Italian information scene, known for his long television career.
4 September – Giorgio Armani, 91 years old
World-renowned stylist, synonymous with elegance and innovation. Founder of a fashion empire, he dressed numerous stars and Olympic teams.
9 September – Stefano Benni, 78 years old
Writer, journalist and playwright. Author of texts of great irony and satire, among his successes are Bar Sport and La Compagnia dei Celestini.
September 16 – Robert Redford, 89 years old
American actor and director, founder of the Sundance Institute. Winner of two Oscars, his iconic films include Butch Cassidy, The Sting and Days of the Condor.
23 September – Claudia Cardinale, 87 years old
Italian actress, symbol of auteur cinema, protagonist of films such as The Leopard and Once Upon a Time in the West. Winner of numerous national and international awards.
October 1 – Jane Goodall, 91
British ethologist, leading world expert on chimpanzees. His research has revolutionized the understanding of primate behavior and wildlife conservation.
3 October – Remo Girone, 76 years old
Theatre, cinema and television actor, famous for the role of Tano Cariddi in the TV series La Piovra.
October 11 – Diane Keaton, 79 years old
American actress, famous for her roles in The Godfather and Annie Hall, winner of the Oscar for Best Actress in 1978. Icon of style and Hollywood talent linked for a while to Woody Allen.
25 October – Mauro Di Francesco, 74 years old
Actor known for 80s seaside comedies such as Sapore di mare 2 and Abbronzatissimi. He also worked in theater and television.
4 November – Giorgio Forattini, 94 years old
Italian satirical designer and cartoonist, known as the “King of satire”. He told Italian history from the Years of Lead to Mani Pulite through his illustrations.
8 November – Peppe Vessicchio, 69 years old
Conductor, symbol of the Sanremo Festival and collaborator of great Italian and international artists.
November 17 – Alice and Ellen Kessler, 89
German twin sisters, icons of post-war European dance and variety shows. Famous for their stage presence and the theme song Da-da-un-pa by Studio Uno. Their exit from the scene together with a double assisted suicide caused a stir.
November 21 – Ornella Vanoni, 91 years old
Performer of songs such as Senza fine and L’avventura. Collaborator of great Italian authors, she has represented the authentic voice of Italian song for over six decades.
1 December – Nicola Pietrangeli, 92 years old
Italian tennis player, winner of 67 titles including two Roland Garros. Captain of the first historic Davis Cup won by Italy in 1976.
December 10 – Sophie Kinsella, 55 years old
British writer, author of international bestsellers such as I Love Shopping. In 2024 she announced that she was suffering from aggressive brain cancer.
December 14 – Rob Reiner, 78
American actor, director, screenwriter and producer, known for directing films such as Stand by Me, When Harry Met Sally… and Misery Must Not Die. His life tragically ended in his Los Angeles villa together with his wife Michele, where they were killed by their son Nick.
December 28 – Brigitte Bardot, 91 years old
French cinema star par excellence, BB interrupted an extraordinary acting career in 1973 to dedicate herself to animal protection. “The most beautiful woman in the world”, as she was defined in the ’50s and ’60s, had not acted for over half a century but her myth was still intact, a symbol of freedom and unscrupulousness.
