15 Famous Celebrities Who Died in October 2025

15. Daniel Naroditsky

Daniel Naroditsky, the 29-year-old chess grandmaster and streaming star, has died, leaving the global chess community in shock. A brilliant teacher with humor and heart, he turned strategy into storytelling and made thousands fall in love with the game. | © Instagram / Daniel Naroditsky

14. Leigh Anne Brodsky

Leigh Anne Brodsky, the powerhouse executive who helped turn SpongeBob, Dora, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into global icons, has died in New York at 67. A 2011 Licensing Hall of Fame inductee, she built empires from imagination and laughter. | © IMDb

13. Xavier Durringer

Xavier Durringer, the French filmmaker behind The Conquest, has died at 61 of a heart attack at his home in southern France. Known for his fearless storytelling, he blended grit, humor, and politics in films that never shied away from the truth. | © IMDb

12. Jilly Cooper

Jilly Cooper, the beloved novelist who made the “bonkbuster” a literary phenomenon, has died at 88 after a sudden fall. With her Rutshire Chronicles and the unforgettable Rupert Campbell-Black, she brought wit, scandal, and sparkle to British fiction for generations. | © IMDb

11. John Woodvine

John Woodvine, the distinguished British actor known for An American Werewolf in London and his commanding Shakespearean roles, has died at 96. A RADA graduate and Olivier winner, he brought grit, humor, and unmistakable presence to every performance, from Macbeth to Falstaff. | © ITV

10. John Lodge

John Lodge, the legendary bassist and songwriter for The Moody Blues, has died at 82. Surrounded by loved ones and the music that first inspired him, he left the world much like he lived, with harmony, heart, and timeless melodies still playing. | © John Lodge

9. Ron Dean

Ron Dean, the gravel-voiced Chicago actor known for roles in The Breakfast Club, The Fugitive, and The Dark Knight, has died at 87. A true hometown legend, he embodied the grit and humor of Chicago itself, turning even brief appearances into moments that felt unmistakably real. | © IMDb

8. Ben Lewis

Ben Lewis, the acclaimed Australian stage actor best known for Love Never Dies, has died in Sydney at 46 after a battle with bowel cancer. A gifted performer with a soaring voice, he brought unforgettable depth to the Phantom and every role that followed. | © IMDb

7. Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton, the beloved Oscar-winning star of Annie Hall, has died at 79 in Los Angeles. Known for her wit, signature style, and offbeat charm, she redefined what it meant to be effortlessly original on and off screen. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

6. Jane Goodall

Dr. Jane Goodall, the world-renowned primatologist and conservationist, has died at 91. From her groundbreaking discoveries about chimpanzees in Tanzania to a lifetime of environmental advocacy, she inspired generations to protect the planet and its creatures. | © Netflix

5. Drew Struzan

Drew Struzan, the visionary artist behind iconic posters for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Back to the Future, died on October 13 at 78. His hand-painted style defined generations of movie magic, turning Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters into timeless works of art. | © IMDb

4. D'Angelo

D’Angelo, the soul visionary who helped define the neo-soul era, died on October 14 at 51 after a private battle with cancer. From Brown Sugar to Black Messiah, his music reshaped R&B with gospel heart, funk groove, and a voice that felt like pure emotion. | © YouTube / D’Angelo

3. Samantha Eggar

Samantha Eggar, the British actress celebrated for The Collector and The Brood, died on October 15 at 86. An Oscar nominee and Cannes winner, she moved effortlessly between stage, screen, and television for more than six decades, leaving behind a legacy of elegance and intensity. | © IMDb

2. Ace Frehley

Ace Frehley, the legendary Kiss guitarist known as “The Spaceman,” died on October 16 at 74 after a fall at his New Jersey home. A Bronx-born rock icon, Frehley powered Kiss’s early sound, wrote classics like “Shock Me,” and later soared solo with his hit New York Groove. | © IMDb

1. Ike Turner Jr.

Ike Turner Jr., the 67-year-old son of Tina and Ike Turner, has passed away. A Grammy-winning producer and lifelong musician, he carried on his family’s legendary rhythm through decades of soulful performances. | © IMDb