In Memoriam 2025: 14 of the most influential cultural icons who left us this year

Join us as we pay homage to some of the most notable figures in the realms of art and entertainment who bid us farewell over the past twelve months.

While it's impossible to do justice to all the icons who left an indelible mark on our lives either through their achievements, performances or strength of character - we’ve chosen to celebrate 14 of the most influential and unforgettable.

David Lynch (1946 - 2025)

The beloved director-writer, well known for cinematic giants such as Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet died aged 78.

In 2024, Lynch revealed he had been diagnosed with emphysema and would not be able to leave his house to direct any longer.

Known for his unique blend of horror, noir, and European surrealism, Lynch created unforgettable works that linger in the imagination - from the nightmarish debut Eraserhead to the hypnotic mysteries of Mulholland Drive and the cult-classic TV series Twin Peaks.

He captured hearts and minds with Palme d’Or-winning Wild at Heart and the haunting beauty of The Elephant Man, earning four Oscar nominations and a lifetime achievement honorary Oscar in 2019.

Originally trained as a painter, Lynch turned his artistic eye to the screen, leaving behind a body of work that remains as enigmatic as it is influential. Even in his later years, confined by emphysema, he continued to inspire, with 2017’s Twin Peaks: The Return reaffirming his place as a master of the strange and unforgettable.

Roberta Flack (1937 - 2025)

The Grammy-winning singer and pianist whose soulful voice and intimate style defined the 1970s, passed away at the age of 88.

Flack’s rise to stardom came unexpectedly in her early 30s, with Clint Eastwood’s 1971 film Play Misty for Me using her rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” for a memorable love scene. The ballad topped the charts in 1972 and won a Grammy for Record of the Year.

In 1973, she followed this success with “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” becoming the first artist to win consecutive Grammys for Best Record.

Flack's other iconic hits from the 1970s included the smooth "Feel Like Makin’ Love" and two memorable duets with her close friend and former Howard University classmate, Donny Hathaway: "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You."

Gene Hackman (1930 - 2025)

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, the versatile Hollywood legend known for The French Connection, Unforgiven and The Royal Tenenbaums, died at 95.

His breakout came in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde, earning his first Oscar nomination, and he went on to win Best Actor for The French Connection (1971) and Best Supporting Actor for Unforgiven (1992).

A master of both intense drama and subtle comedy, Hackman also portrayed Lex Luthor in Superman and appeared in classics like Mississippi Burning, The Conversation, and Crimson Tide.

Retiring from acting in 2004, he later wrote several novels. Hackman is survived by three children from his first marriage and leaves behind a legacy as one of Hollywood’s most respected and enduring talents.

Val Kilmer (1959 - 2025)

The mercurial Hollywood star who embodied everything from ice-cold fighter pilots to rock-and-roll gods, died aged 65 from pneumonia.

Kilmer became a generation-defining figure through roles that refused to be played safely: Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in Top Gun, Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors, Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever, and the scene-stealing private detective Perry Van Shrike in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, Kilmer lost his voice following complications from treatment, effectively ending his prolific acting career. Yet his final on-screen appearance - a poignant return as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick - served as a graceful farewell to both the character and the audience that grew up with him.

Roy Ayers (1940 - 2025)

Roy Ayers, the pioneering jazz-funk vibraphonist, record producer and composer, whose warm grooves and sun-drenched melodies shaped generations of musicians, died at the age of 84 following a prolonged illness.

Nicknamed the "Godfather of Neo Soul", he began his recording career in 1963 with the album 'West Coast Vibes', and gained prominence after joining jazz flautist Herbie Mann in 1966.

In the early 1970s, he formed Roy Ayers Ubiquity, blending jazz, funk, and soul to create his own unique, feel-good sound. His 1976 hit 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine' became an instant classic, recognisable for its laidback groove and slightly distorted opening synthesizer riff.

Throughout his six-decade career, Ayers released numerous albums, composed the soundtrack for Jack Hill's 1973 blaxploitation film Coffy, toured Nigeria for six weeks with Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, and produced a beloved album by the group RAMP, titled 'Come into Knowledge'.

He also brought his vibraphone prowess to the track 'Find Your Wings' on Tyler, the Creator's fourth studio album 'Cherry Bomb', and had his own fictional radio station on the popular video game Grand Theft Auto IV.

Ozzy Osbourne (1948 - 2025)

Ozzy Osbourne was many things - a fearsome architect of heavy metal, a self-destructive rock star, and later, an unexpectedly sweet, slightly doddering father to millions via The Osbournes. But his place in music history was secured long before reality TV.

With Black Sabbath’s 1969 self-titled debut, Osbourne helped detonate what has often been described as the Big Bang of heavy metal. Released during the Vietnam War, the album shattered the peace-and-love ethos of the hippie era, replacing it with dread, distortion and doom.

Its follow-up, Paranoid, delivered genre-defining anthems - War Pigs, Iron Man and Paranoid - and cemented Sabbath as the blueprint for everything metal would become.

Twice inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - with Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024 - Osbourne remained a towering figure until the end. He died at the age of 76 just weeks after his farewell show.

Hulk Hogan (1953 - 2025)

The bandana-wearing titan who turned professional wrestling into global pop culture, died aged 71 after suffering cardiac arrest in Florida.

With his unmistakable look, booming catchphrases and larger-than-life persona, Hogan was not just a wrestler - he was the face of WWE at its commercial peak.

He squared off against icons including Andre the Giant, Randy Savage, The Rock and even WWE chairman Vince McMahon, winning at least six WWE championships along the way.

In later years, Hogan became as known for controversy as spectacle, openly supporting Donald Trump and delivering a theatrical endorsement at the 2024 Republican National Convention. His life beyond the ring was also marked by high-profile lawsuits and public reckonings - most notably his privacy case against Gawker Media and the fallout from racist language captured on tape, for which he later apologised.

Robert Redford (1936 - 2025)

The legendary Oscar-winning actor, best known for his roles in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, The Sting, Three Days Of The Condor, All The President’s Men, Spy Game, All Is Lost and countless other classics, died in his sleep at his home in Utah, aged 89.

Redford, a performer who stood out for his charisma and talent, was also the Sundance Film Festival founder and a dedicated liberal activist who fought for Native Americans, environmental causes and LGBTQ rights.

Following his death, Martin Scorsese released a statement, which read: "Bob was a unique artist, in front of and behind the camera. He was also a dedicated member of The Film Foundation board, and he gave the world of American cinema something irreplaceable and lasting with Sundance. It saddens me to know that I won’t be seeing him again. And I’ll never forget my time with him.”

Giorgio Armani (1934 - 2025)

The Italian fashion designer who built a multibillion-dollar empire and redefined modern style died at 91.

Born in 1934, Armani launched his menswear label in 1975 and quickly became known for his elegant, unlined jackets, relaxed silhouettes, and the iconic “power suit” for women.

Over five decades, he dressed Hollywood stars, business leaders, and style-conscious clients worldwide, turning understated sophistication into a global brand spanning clothing, accessories, home goods, and more.

Longtime devotees to Armani included Jodie Foster, Sean Penn, George Clooney, Sofia Loren and Brad Pitt.

So significant was the impact of Armani style, not only on how people dressed but how they approached fashion, that in 2000 New York’s Guggenheim museum presented a retrospective of Armani’s first 25 years in fashion.

Jane Goodall (1934 - 2025)

The conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking chimpanzee field research and globe-spanning environmental advocacy, died at the age of 91.

While living among chimpanzees in Africa decades ago, Goodall documented the animals using tools and doing other activities previously believed to be exclusive to people and also noted their distinct personalities.

Her observations and subsequent magazine and documentary appearances in the 1960s transformed how the world perceived not only humans' closest living biological relatives but also the emotional and social complexity of all animals, while propelling her into the public consciousness.

“Out there in nature by myself, when you’re alone, you can become part of nature and your humanity doesn’t get in the way,” she said in 2021.

“It’s almost like an out-of-body experience when suddenly you hear different sounds and you smell different smells and you’re actually part of this amazing tapestry of life.”

In her later years, Goodall devoted decades to education and advocacy on humanitarian causes and protecting the natural world.

Diane Keaton (1946 - 2025)

Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning actress beloved for her wit, charm, and iconic style, died aged 79.

Best known for her collaborations with Woody Allen, including Annie Hall, as well as hits like The Godfather, Reds, Father of the Bride, The First Wives Club and Book Club, Keaton was a defining presence in film for more than five decades.

She made her screen debut in Honeymoon in Vegas (1970) and quickly became known for performances that combined intelligence, humor, and vulnerability.

Her career spanned generations, from the star-making comedies of the 1970s to later collaborations with Nancy Meyers, proving she could be both hilariously sharp and heartbreakingly human.

Frank Gehry (1929 - 2025)

World-renowned Canadian-American architect and designer Frank Gehry died at the age of 96 after a short respiratory illness.

Gehry designed some of the most imaginative buildings ever constructed and achieved a level of acclaim seldom afforded any architect

His fascination with modern pop art led to the creation of distinctive, striking buildings. Among his many masterpieces are the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Berlin’s DZ Bank Building.

He also designed an expansion of Facebook’s Northern California headquarters at the insistence of the company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

Gehry was awarded every major prize architecture has to offer, including the field’s top honour, the Pritzker Prize, for what has been described as “refreshingly original and totally American” work.

Rob Reiner (1947 - 2025)

Rob Reiner, actor, director and producer, died in Los Angeles, aged 78, alongside his wife Michele.

From Emmy-winning “Meathead” on All in the Family to a string of iconic films, Reiner helped define modern Hollywood.

He directed classics including This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, and A Few Good Men, blending sharp storytelling with heart and humour.

A co-founder of Castle Rock Entertainment, he also brought The Shawshank Redemption, Seinfeld, and The Green Mile to the screen.

Brigitte Bardot (1934 - 2025)

Rising to international fame in the 1950s and 60s with films like And God Created Woman, Le Mepris, and The Night Heaven Fell, Bardot became a symbol of French culture, sexual liberation, and cinematic glamour.

Born into a Parisian bourgeois family, she was discovered as a teenager and quickly became one of the most photographed women in the world. Retiring from film at 39, Bardot devoted herself to animal rights, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and campaigning globally on behalf of seals, wolves, and other animals.

Her later years were marked by controversy. Bardot frequently voiced far-right political opinions, criticised immigration, and was convicted multiple times in French courts for inciting racial hatred.

Despite the debates surrounding her politics, Bardot’s influence on cinema, music, fashion, and French cultural life remains undeniable.

French President Emmanuel Macron took to X, to share his condolences. "Her films, her voice, her dazzling fame, her initials, her sorrows, her generous passion for animals, her face that became Marianne - Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom. A French existence, a universal radiance. She touched us. We mourn a legend of the century."