Every year I look back at the list of talented famous people who have passed away. It always amazes me at how big the list is. Some on the list are still fresh in our minds, while others make you go, “Oh yeah, I forgot about them.” As we wrap up 2025, allow me to tip my hat to some of them. (This is in no way a complete list)

January

• Brenton Wood (83) “Gimme Little Sign”
• Peter Yarrow (86) Peter of Peter, Paul and Mary, “Puff the Magic Dragon”
• Sam Moore (89) Sam of Sam and Dave, “Soul Man”
• Marianne Faithfull (78) “As Tears Go By”

February

• Jerry Butler (85) The Impressions, “He Will Break Your Heart”
• Roberta Flack (88) “Killing Me Softly With His Song”
• Robert John (79) “Sad Eyes”
• David Johansen (Buster Poindexter) (75) “Hot, Hot, Hot”

April

• Johnny Tillotson (86) “Poetry in Motion”
• Lenny Welch (86) “Since I Fell For You”
• Nino Tempo (90) “Deep Purple” (with April Stevens)

May

• Rick Derringer (77) Member of the McCoys, Music Producer, “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo”
• Alf Clausen (84) Composer – The Simpsons

June

• Sly Stone (82) Sly of Sly and the Family Stone, “Everyday People”
• Brian Wilson (82) The Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations”
• Lou Christie (82) “Lightning Strikes”
• Bobby Sherman (81) “Julie, Do You Love Me”
• Lalo Schifrin (93) Composer, “Mission Impossible Theme”

July

• Connie Francis (87) “Stupid Cupid”
• Chuck Mangione (84) “Feels So Good”
• Ozzy Osbourne (76) Black Sabbath, “Mama I’m Coming Home”
• Tom Lehrer (97) “The Vatican Rag,” “The Elements”

August

• Jane Morgan (101) “Fascination”

September

• Bobby Hart (86) Hart of Boyce and Hart, “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight”
• Brett James (57) Songwriter/Singer, “Jesus, Take The Wheel”

October

• Ace Frehley (74) Kiss, “Detroit Rock City”

December

• Raul Malo (60) The Mavericks, “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down”
• Steve Cropper (84), Guitarist, Producer, Booker T & The MG’s, “Green Onions”
• Carl Carlton (72) “Everlasting Love”

February

• Gene Hackman (95) “The French Connection,” “Superman”
• Michelle Trachtenberg (39) “Buffy, The Vampire Slayer)

March

• Richard Chamberlain (90) “The Thorn Birds,” “Dr. Kildare”

April

• Val Kilmer (65) “Top Gun,” “The Doors,” “Top Secret”
• Jay North (73) “Dennis the Menace”

May

• Ruth Buzzi (88) “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In,” “Sesame Street,” “The Dean Martin Show”
• Joe Don Baker (89) “GoldenEye,” “Cape Fear”
• George Wendt (76) “Cheers”
• Loretta Swit (87) “M*A*S*H*”
• Valerie Mahaffey (71) “Northern Exposure,” “Young Sheldon”

June

• Lynn Hamilton (95) “Sanford and Son”
• Rick Hurst (79) “The Dukes of Hazzard”

July

• Michael Madsen (67) “Reservoir Dogs”
• Malcolm-Jamal Warner (54) “The Cosby Show”
• Alfie Wise (82) “Smokey and the Bandit,” “Cannonball Run”

August

• Loni Anderson (79) “WKRP In Cincinnati”
• David Ketchum (97) “Get Smart”
• Danielle Spencer (60) “What’s Happening”
• Terence Stamp (87) “Superman,” “Crow”

September

• Graham Green (73) “Dances With Wolves”
• Pat Crowley (91) “Please Don’t Eat The Daisies”
• Robert Redford (89) “All The President’s Men,” “The Natural,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”
• Polly Holliday (88) “Alice,” “Flo”
• Claudia Cardinale (87) “The Pink Panther”

October

• Ed Williams (98) “The Naked Gun”
• Diane Keaton (79) “The Godfather,” “Annie Hall”
• June Lockhart (100) “Lost In Space,” “Lassie”

November

• Diane Ladd (89) “Wild at Heart,” “Petticoat Junction”
• Sally Kirkland (84) “The Sting,” “Private Benjamin”

December

• Peter Greene (60) “Pulp Fiction”
• Rob Reiner (78) “All In The Family,” “The Princess Bride”
• Anthony Geary (78) “General Hospital”
• Gil Gerard (82) “Buck Rogers”
• Brigitte Bardot (91) “Rum Runners,” “And God Created Women”

January

• Bob Uecker (90) St. Louis Cardinals (player), Milwaukee Brewers (announcer), Major League (actor)

March

• George Foreman (76) Boxer

July

• Hulk Hogan (71) Wrestler

September

• Ray Lane (95) Sportscaster

December

• Greg Biffle (55) NASCAR

January

• David Lunch (78) “Twin Peaks,” “Mulholland Drive”

February

• Clint Hill (93) Kennedy Secret Service Agent

March

• Bob Rivers (68) Radio Personality “Twisted Christmas”

April

• Andrew Gross (72) Author “The One Man”
• Wink Martindale (91) Game Show Host “Tic Tac Dough”
• Pope Francis (88) Pope

May

• Phil Robertson (79) Author/Businessman, TV Personality “Duck Dynasty”

July

• Jimmy Swaggart (90) Evangelist
• John MacArthur (86) Pastor

August

• Jim Lovell (97) Astronaut
• James Dobson (89) Author, Founder of Focus on the Family
• Frank Caprio (88) TV Judge

September

• Charlie Kirk (31) Co-founder of Turning Point USA

October

• Dame Jane Goodall (91) Zoologist

November

• Dick Cheney (84) Politician, Former Vice President

December

• Peter Arnett (91) Journalist
• Michele Singer Reiner (68) Photographer, Film Producer

_______

These were people who wrote or sang the songs we sang along with.

These were people who played those memorable melodies or solos.

These were people who made us laugh or cry.

These were people who had us on the edge of our seat.

These were people with whom some had their first crush on.

These were people who told us exactly what was happening in the game.

These were people who made a mark on the world.

May their memory live on as we look back on their lives and the impact they made.