Local news

Loved and lost: 5 celebrities who died in 2025

From the 'Prince of Darkness' to one of the biggest fashion icons of our time, here are 5 celebrities the world mourned in 2025

Looking back on the year that was, the world lost several big names across the board, from actors and actresses, to renowned singers and fashion icons.
Here are five of the big names lost in 2025:

1. Diane Keaton (05/01/1946-11/10/2025)
With a career spanning more than five decades, actress Diane Keaton passed away in October at the age of 79.
Keaton rose to prominence in the New Hollywood movement and collaborated with, among others, Woody Allen, appearing in eight of his films.
Her career began on Broadway, acting in the original production of Hair (1968).

Diane Keaton

ALSO READ: 2 bakkies collide on N2 near eSikhaleni

2. Jimmy Cliff (30/07/1944-24/11/2025)
James Chambers, aka Jimmy Cliff, was a Jamaican ska, reggae and soul musician.
He was considered one of Jamaica’s most celebrated musicians and is credited with helping popularise reggae music internationally.
At the time of his death, he was the 4th reggae musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences. He was also nominated seven times for the Grammy Awards, winning twice.

Jimmy Cliff

3. Ozzy Osbourne (03/12/1948-22/07/2025)
The ‘Prince of Darkness’ is widely credited as a pioneer of heavy metal music.
He co-founded Black Sabbath in 1968, and rose to prominence in the 1970s as their lead vocalist, performing on the band’s first eight studio albums, including Black Sabbath, Paranoid (both 1970) and Master of Reality (1971).
He was fired in 1979 due to his problems with alcohol and other drugs, and launched his solo career in the 1980s.
He sold more than 100 million albums, including both his solo work and Black Sabbath releases.
Osbourne and Black Sabbath reunited for the 5 July 2025 Back to the Beginning benefit event at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK.

Ozzy Osbourne

4. Giorgio Armani (11/07/1934-04/09/2025)
Widely regarded as one of the most influential designers in contemporary fashion, this Italian fashion designer founded the luxury Armani brand with his partner, Sergio Galeotti, in 1975.
He became known for minimalist, deconstructed silhouettes, especially his jackets and suits, which are said to have redefined masculine and feminine elegance in a contemporary form.
He also played a pivotal role in shaping celebrity style, particularly red carpet fashion.

Giorgio Armani

5. Brigitte Bardot (28/09/1934-28/12/2025)
Often referred to by her initials BB, Bardot was a French actress, singer and animal rights activist. She became one of the best-known symbols of the sexual revolution.
Although she withdrew from the entertainment industry in 1973, she remained a major pop culture icon.
She was awarded the Legion of Honour in 1985.

Brigitte Bardot

Source: Wikipedia
Image credits: Wikimedia Commons

 

Don’t have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here:

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page  and follow us on Twitter.

For news straight to your phone invite us:

WhatsApp – 060 784 2695

Instagram – zululand_observer

At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!

Support local journalism

Add The Citizen as a preferred source to see more from Zululand Observer in Google News and Top Stories.

Tamlyn Cramer

With a background in publishing in the UK, Tamlyn has been in the news industry since 2013, working her way up from journalist to sub-editor. She holds a diploma in journalism from the London School of Journalism. Tamlyn has a passion for hard environmental news, and has covered many such stories during her time at the Zululand Observer. She is passionate about the written word and helping others polish their skill.
Back to top button