The death of Pope Francis likely affected the largest number of mourners in 2025. As the first non-European pope, the Argentine pontiff led the Catholic Church for 12 years and passed away at the age of 88, only a few months after he visited the Grand Duchy on Easter Monday.
French cinema icon Brigitte Bardot passed away at the end of the year at the age of 91. She defined the golden era of 1960s cinema before becoming a prominent activist later in life. Despite recurring controversies and heated public debates, Bardot remained a powerful symbolic figure. In her final years, she lived a notably modest life, far removed from her former stardom.
Jane Goodall, the pioneering British primatologist, also passed away in 2025 at the age of 91. Her groundbreaking research demonstrated that chimpanzees are far closer to humans than previously believed, showing that they use tools and experience complex emotions. Never afraid to challenge scientific conventions, Goodall dedicated her life to research, conservation, and education.
Few faces are as instantly recognisable as Robert Redford’s. The legendary actor, producer, and director died one month after his 89th birthday. He leaves behind a rich legacy through his work as an actor, producer, and director. His death is a significant loss, particularly for the independent film scene.
Italian cinema also mourned one of its greatest icons. Tunisian-born Claudia Cardinale, a symbol of Mediterranean beauty, passed away at the age of 87. She starred alongside Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon in The Leopard (Il Gattopardo) and was greatly admired by Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti.
Heavy metal lost one of its most polarising figures with the death of Ozzy Osbourne at the age of 76. A cult icon since the early 1970s, Osbourne provoked and fascinated audiences until the end. He died of cardiac arrest shortly after his final performance in Birmingham, which he delivered seated.
Rick Davies, singer, keyboardist, and co-founder of the band Supertramp, passed away at 81 following a long battle with cancer. The band’s distinctive sound left a lasting imprint on rock music.
“Beach Boy” Brian Wilson was already performing on stage a decade before Supertramp. The band’s lyrics, largely written by Wilson, evoked sunshine and a carefree spirit. Despite struggles with heavy drug use, depression, and schizophrenia, the Californian reached the age of 82.
Gene Hackman, remembered for iconic roles such as Lex Luthor in Superman and detective Popeye Doyle in The French Connection, passed away at the age of 95. His intense screen presence made him one of Hollywood’s most respected actors.
His cold gaze was one of his trademarks. The German actor Udo Krier, born in Cologne, was a regular in Hollywood and appeared in films by Warhol, Herzog, and Lars von Trier. Fearless in taking on unconventional roles, he passed away in California at the age of 81.
The legendary twins Alice and Ellen Kessler passed away together at the age of 89. After fleeing East Germany, they achieved international fame, performing alongside icons such as Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire.
American actress Diane Keaton continued performing until shortly before her death at 79. She rose to fame with her role in Coppola’s The Godfather and later became a muse for Woody Allen. Her distinctive androgynous style also cemented her status as a fashion icon.
Fashion legend Giorgio Armani remained at the helm of his empire until his death at 91. The Italian designer outlived many of his contemporaries and shaped modern elegance like few others.
Hulk Hogan, known worldwide as “Mr Wrestling”, passed away at the age of 71 due to a cardiac arrest. Standing two metres tall and weighing 137 kilograms, he became a pop culture figure beyond wrestling through film and television roles.
Felix Baumgartner loved living on the edge as an extreme athlete. He famously jumped from a height of 39 kilometres, broke the sound barrier at 1,360 km/h, and survived the highest balloon jump in history. Tragically, a flight on a motorised paraglider proved fatal, and the Salzburg-born daredevil broke his neck at the age of 56.
Former German biathlete Laura Dahlmeier, world champion and Olympic medallist, died after being fatally injured by falling rocks during a climb in Pakistan. Honouring her wishes, her body was not recovered.
Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer passed away at the age of 103. Having lost her entire family in Auschwitz, she dedicated her life to remembrance and education, speaking in schools and at official events to preserve the memory of the Holocaust.
Finally, two controversial political figures left the world stage: Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of France’s Front National, and Dick Cheney, former US Vice President under George W. Bush. They died at the ages of 84 and 96, respectively.
