Hollywood has bid farewell to influential entertainers from television, film, music, and beyond this year. Read on to honour the lives and legacies of the stars who passed away in 2025, includingThe Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Black Liberation Army activist Assata Shakur, The wire actor Isiah Whitlock Jr and more.
Richard Smallwood
Richard Smallwood, gospel singer and musical inspiration, died at 77. Smallwood died on December 30, of complications of kidney failure at a rehabilitation and nursing centre in Sandy Spring, Md., his representative Bill Carpenter announced.
Mickey Lee
Mickey Lee, a contestant on the latest season of the CBS TV show “Big Brother,” who was known for her vibrant personality and bold strategic moves to survive the game, died on December 25. She was 35.
Imani Dia Smith
Imani Dia Smith who starred in Broadway’s “The Lion King” as a child was killed in a stabbing over last weekend, she was 25.
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers the legendary jazz-funk vibraphonist and composer best known for Everybody Loves the Sunshine, died on March 4, 2025. He was 84. A pioneer of jazz fusion, Ayers’ influence extended across hip-hop, R&B, and neo-soul.
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer behind timeless classics such as Killing Me Softly with His Song and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, died on February 24, 2025. She was 88. Her voice and artistry defined an era of soul and quiet storm.
Sam Moore
Sam Moore one half of the iconic duo Sam & Dave, passed away on January 10, 2025, at the age of 89. Known for hits like Soul Man and Hold On, I’m Comin’, Moore helped shape the sound of classic soul music.
DJ Unk
The Atlanta rapper and producer who became a defining voice of mid-2000s Southern hip-hop with hits like Walk It Out and 2 Step, died in January 2025. He was 43.
George Foreman
George Foreman, boxing legend, Olympic gold medalist, and cultural icon, died on March 21, 2025. He was 76. Beyond the ring, Foreman became a successful entrepreneur and inspirational figure known worldwide.
Carmen de Lavallade
Carmen de Lavallade, the iconic dancer, choreographer, and actor, died on December 29, 2025, in Englewood, New Jersey. She was 94. A trailblazer in dance and theatre, her career spanned more than seven decades.
Angie Stone
Angie Stone, the Grammy‑nominated singer, songwriter, and key figure in neo‑soul music, died on March 1, 2025, after a fatal car accident in Montgomery County, Alabama. She was 63. Stone helped define the neo‑soul genre with timeless songs like Wish I Didn’t Miss You and left an enduring legacy in R&B.
Malcolm‑Jamal Warner
Malcolm‑Jamal Warner, beloved actor best known for portraying Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, died on July 20, 2025, at age 54. He drowned off the coast of Costa Rica while swimming during a family vacation, leaving behind a celebrated career in television and film. Wikipedia
D’Angelo
D’Angelo, the influential Grammy‑winning R&B artist whose albums like Brown Sugar and Voodoo reshaped modern soul and helped launch the neo‑soul movement, died on October 14, 2025, at age 51 after a battle with cancer.
Irv Gotti
Irv Gotti, the influential music producer and co‑founder of the iconic Murder Inc. record label that helped launch the careers of artists like Ja Rule and Ashanti, died on February 5, 2025, in New York City at the age of 54. His visionary work in hip‑hop and R&B made him one of the defining figures of late‑1990s and early‑2000s music, leaving a lasting legacy across the industry.
Voletta Wallace
Voletta Wallace, the devoted mother of legendary rapper The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) and a tireless steward of his legacy, died on February 21, 2025, in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. She was 78. After her son’s tragic death in 1997, Wallace became an influential figure in preserving his artistry and memory, founding the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation and managing his estate, ensuring his impact on hip‑hop culture endured.
Sly Stone
Sly Stone the groundbreaking funk and soul musician and frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, died on June 9, 2025, at the age of 82. A pioneer of psychedelic funk whose genre‑blending sound helped redefine popular music in the 1960s and 1970s, Stone’s work influenced generations of artists and left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.
Assata Shakur
Assata Shakur, the activist and former Black Liberation Army member whose life became a symbol of resistance and Black liberation, died on September 25, 2025, in Havana, Cuba, at the age of 78. A controversial figure who inspired generations of activists, Shakur’s legacy in the struggle for racial justice continues to shape movements for equity and freedom.
Isiah Whitlock Jr.
the beloved actor known for his unforgettable roles in The Wire and Veep as well as his frequent collaborations with director Spike Lee, died on December 30, 2025, in New York at the age of 71 following a brief illness. He was celebrated for his portrayal of corrupt state senator Clay Davis on HBO’s The Wire, where his iconic delivery and larger‑than‑life presence left a lasting mark on television. Whitlock’s versatile career also included memorable film roles and television appearances, and he was widely praised as both an exceptional performer and a cherished colleague.
Juliette Powell
the American‑Canadian media expert, tech ethicist, author, and trailblazing broadcaster, died on June 3, 2025, in New York at the age of 54 from complications of acute bacterial meningitis. She first gained prominence as the first Black woman crowned Miss Canada in 1989 and went on to become a beloved VJ on MusiquePlus and MuchMusic, where she hosted shows like Electric Circus and Bouge de là! before building a distinguished career as a business advisor, technology commentator, and educator.