In 2025, the world bid farewell to an astonishing array of cultural icons, political leaders, and trailblazers whose legacies shaped the last century. From the Vatican to Hollywood, and from scientific laboratories to the world’s stages, the year was marked by the passing of individuals whose lives had a profound impact on global society. Their stories, achievements, and the circumstances of their deaths offer a poignant snapshot of a year filled with both mourning and reflection.
Perhaps the most globally resonant loss was that of Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who died in April at the age of 88. According to Reuters, more than 250,000 mourners gathered at the Vatican on April 26 for his funeral Mass, a testament to his widespread influence. As the first Latin American pontiff, Francis was an outspoken reformer who put the poor at the heart of his papacy and softened the Catholic Church’s attitudes on contentious issues. He was known for his humility and for challenging the Church’s internal rigidity, once saying, “How much harm the women and men of the Church do when they erect walls. Rigidity is a sin that often enters into clerics.” His legacy, as noted by Free Malaysia Today, includes appointing more women to senior roles within the Church than any of his predecessors and shunning much of the papal pomp.
The world of literature and the arts also suffered significant losses. David Lodge, the British novelist famed for his campus trilogy, died on January 1 at 89, as reported by Free Malaysia Today. In the realm of theater, Tom Stoppard, the Czech-born British playwright celebrated for his dazzling verbal gymnastics and his Oscar-winning screenplay for “Shakespeare in Love,” died in November at 88, as detailed by Reuters. The Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, a towering figure in Latin American fiction and a would-be Peruvian president, passed away in April at 89.
Hollywood mourned the deaths of several luminaries. David Lynch, the visionary director behind “Blue Velvet,” “Mulholland Drive,” and the surreal TV series “Twin Peaks,” died in January at 78. Lynch once remarked, “I don’t know why people expect art to make sense when they accept the fact that life doesn’t make sense.” His films and series, as Reuters noted, enthralled audiences with their haunting and unconventional narratives. Diane Keaton, known for her Oscar-winning performance in “Annie Hall” and her iconic role in “The Godfather,” died in October at 79. Robert Redford, the quintessential American leading man and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, died in September at 89, leaving behind a legacy that championed independent cinema.
The music world lost pioneers across genres. Brian Wilson, the genius behind the Beach Boys’ harmonies and classics like “Good Vibrations,” died in June at 82. Ozzy Osbourne, the “Prince of Darkness” and frontman of Black Sabbath, died in July at 76, prompting an outpouring of grief in his hometown of Birmingham. Marianne Faithfull, whose voice defined Britain’s swinging ’60s with “As Tears Go By,” died in January at 78. Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican reggae star who helped globalize the genre alongside Bob Marley, died in November at 81. Sly Stone, the trailblazing neo-soul singer, succumbed to cancer in October at 82. Alan Bergman, one half of America’s legendary songwriting duos, died in July at 99.
In fashion, Giorgio Armani, the Italian designer whose minimalist suits became a global symbol of elegance, died in September at 91. His passing, as reported by Reuters, set off a “feeding frenzy” as his will instructed heirs to sell a significant part of the Armani group. Antony Price, the British fashion guru who dressed pop icons like Mick Jagger and David Bowie, died in December at 80.
The world of politics and activism also saw the departure of influential figures. Costas Simitis, the Greek prime minister who led the country into the eurozone, died in January at 88. Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s first president and a key figure in the nation’s independence from South Africa, died in February at 95. Jose “Pepe” Mujica, Uruguay’s beloved ex-president known for his modest lifestyle and progressive reforms, died in May at 89. Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, Nicaragua’s first female president and a champion of peace, died at 95. Dick Cheney, considered by many as the most powerful U.S. vice president in history for his role during the September 11 attacks and the wars that followed, died in November at 84.
Science and exploration lost giants as well. James Watson, the Nobel laureate co-credited with discovering the double-helix structure of DNA, died in November at 97. Jim Lovell, the commander of NASA’s dramatic Apollo 13 mission, died in August at 97. Jane Goodall, the revered British primatologist who transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and advocated for wildlife, died in October at 91.
Sports and entertainment icons were not spared. Hulk Hogan, the wrestling superstar who brought the sport into the mainstream in the 1980s, died in July at 71. Diogo Jota, the Portuguese soccer star who had just lifted the Premier League trophy with Liverpool, died in a tragic car accident in July at 28. Nicola Pietrangeli, Italy’s greatest tennis player before Jannik Sinner, died at 92. Rob Reiner, the director of “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride,” was found dead alongside his wife Michele Singer in December. Their son, Nick Reiner, was charged with first-degree murder, a shocking end to a celebrated Hollywood career.
The world of journalism and activism was shaken by the deaths of individuals who bore witness to history’s darkest chapters. Peter Arnett, the Pulitzer Prize-winning combat reporter, died in December at 91. Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters cameraman, was killed in an Israeli military attack on a Gaza hospital in August, one of several journalist deaths still under investigation.
Some deaths were marked by controversy or tragedy. Gene Hackman, the Oscar-winning actor of “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” died in February at 95. Autopsy results, as reported by Reuters, indicated he died of heart disease days after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, succumbed to a rare virus spread by mice. Charlie Kirk, the right-wing activist and close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was shot during an event in Utah in September, sparking a crackdown that affected hundreds of Americans.
From the arts to politics, from scientific discovery to activism, the legacies of these individuals will continue to shape the world. Their stories, as chronicled by Reuters and Free Malaysia Today, serve as reminders of the enduring power of passion, creativity, and courage in the face of life’s unpredictability.
