All Souls Day 2025: Honoring the celebrities we have lost this year
The loss of a beloved causes a void that can never be filled. In the case of celebrities, it leaves a mark both on those who have admired them and on the industry that housed their legacies.
But even long after they are gone, their radiant stars will continue to shine through those whose lives they have inspired.
To mark All Souls Day, let us look back at some of those we have lost this year.
Local Celebrities
Gloria Romero
Gloria Romero, an award-winning actress dubbed as the Queen of Philippine Cinema, died in January at the age of 91. The screen veteran’s career spanned decades, starring in several films including “Dalagang Ilocana,” “Tanging Yaman” and “Magnifico.”
Margarita Fores
Renowned celebrity chef, restaurateur, and owner of several high-end food joints Margarita Fores died in February. She was 65 years old.
Matutina
Evelyn Bontogon-Guerrero, best known for her role as Matutina in the hit 1970s sitcom “John en Marsha,” passed away in February at the age of 78.
Months prior to her passing, Matutina bared her long battle with osteoporosis, which had left her in a wheelchair. The veteran comedian had also revealed that she had been undergoing dialysis three times a week for nine years.
Pilita Corrales
Dubbed Asia’s Queen of Songs, Pilita Corrales touched the hearts of many with her hits “Kapantay ay Langit,” “A Million Thanks to You” and “Dahil Sa’yo,” among others. The veteran actress-singer died peacefully in her sleep last April with no lingering illness. She was 85.
Nora Aunor
Superstar and National Artist Nora Aunor died of acute respiratory failure in April, just a month before her 72nd birthday in May.
Known for her moniker “Ate Guy” and “La Aunor,” Aunor headlined several critically-acclaimed movies including “Minsa’y May Isang Gamu-Gamo” (1976), “Bona” (1980), “Himala” (1982), “Bulaklak sa City Jail” (1984), and more recently, “Mananambal” (2024).
Aside from acting, Aunor also had a singing career, being named the champion of the singing contest “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in 1967.
Hajji Alejandro
Hajji Alejandro died of complications due to stage 4 colon cancer in April. He was 70 years old.
Prior to his death, the OPM singer’s battle with colon cancer was made public by his longtime girlfriend Alynna Velasquez.
Alejandro started his entertainment career in the 1970s, and became popular as the “kilabot ng mga kolehiyala (college crush).” He is best known for his songs “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” “Nakapagtataka,” “Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan,” “Panakip-Butas,” “If I Were Man Enough,” and “May Minamahal.”
Jiggly Caliente
Drag superstar Jiggly Caliente gained widespread recognition after joining the American reality competition “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” She died in April at the age of 44 due to an undisclosed reason.
Ricky Davao
Dubbed an “actor’s actor,” Ricky Davao had proven his versatility in a wide range of entertainment genres, from hard drama, to action, to even comedy. He started his showbiz career as a stage actor, then as a dancer before transitioning to acting. He later dabbled in directing and was behind the TV series “The Seed of Love” (2023), “Nagbabagang Luha” (2021) and “Dahil sa Pag-ibig” (2019).
Davao had silently battled cancer before his passing in May. He was 63.
Amay Bisaya
Comedian Roberto Reyes, who used the screen name Amay Bisaya, rose to fame for his sidekick roles in Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) films. He died on May 8 at the age of 67.
Freddie Aguilar
Freddie Aguilar was an OPM icon who wrote songs with social themes such as “Bayan Ko,” “Katarungan,” “Magdalena,” “Pangako” and “Luzviminda,” among many others.
He was best known for his 1970s hit song “Anak,” which was released in over 50 countries, translated in 29 languages, and re-recorded in over 100 versions.
Aguilar died of multiple organ failure while confined at the Philippine Heart Center. He was 72.
Red Sternberg
“T.G.I.S.” star Red Sternberg died in May, just three days before his 51st birthday. He passed away after suffering a heart attack.
Stenberg portrayed the role of Kiko in the 1995 youth drama “T.G.I.S,” and also starred in the films “Cool Bulol,” “Laging Naroon Ka,” and “My Pledge of Love” before migrating to the United States.
Cocoy Laurel
Screen and stage veteran Victor D. Laurel, popularly known as Cocoy Laurel, died in June at the age of 72.
Laurel headlined numerous films, some of which are those with his onscreen loveteam partner and close friend Aunor. The pair starred in “Lollipops and Roses,” “Lollipops and Roses at Burong Talangka,” and “Impossible Dream.”
Cocoy was also a notable member of Repertory Philippines, where his biggest roles in theater include the Engineer in “Miss Saigon” and Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables.”
Lolit Solis
Veteran showbiz columnist and talent manager Lolit Solis died on July 3 after her long battle with kidney disease. She was 78.
Aside from being an entertainment columnist and a talent manager, Solis made a name in the showbiz industry as a show host. She had stints in the now-defunct talk shows “Startalk” and “CelebriTV.”
Fritz Ynfante
Fritz Ynfante gained prominence as a music, theater, film and TV director. He died at the age of 84 of “natural causes” at his home on July 21.
Bayani Casimiro
Comedian Bayani Casimiro Jr. died of cardiac arrest in July at the age of 57. He was best known for his role as Prinsipe K in the 1980s TV sitcom “Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!”.
Francis ‘Jun’ Posadas
Veteran filmmaker Francis “Jun” Posadas was known for his work in action, drama, and adult films during the 1980s and 1990s.
“Itlog,” “Kaulayaw,” “Tampisaw,” “Bakat,” and “Kerida” were among his works that earned him a familiar name among bold film audiences.
Posadas died in August. He was 76.
Mike de Leon
Mike de Leon was an award-winning filmmaker whose works such as “Sister Stella L,” “Batch ‘81,” “Kisapmata,” “Itim,” and “Kakabakaba Ka Ba?” tackled themes of social justice.
He also served as the producer of Lino Brocka’s “Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag” and Cirio Santiago’s “Happy Days Are Here Again.” The acclaimed director was active in the film industry until 2001, before he went on a hiatus. He made a final comeback as a director in the 2018 film “Citizen Jake.”
De Leon, 78, died in August.
Gloria ‘Loly’ Mara
Gloria Mara, known in showbiz and political circles as “Loly” or “Lollie,” passed away in October at the age of 86. Her filmography includes small and big screen projects such as “Ang Bagong Pamilya ni Ponching, “Bagets,” “Iisa Pa Lamang,” “Shake Rattle & Roll X,” “Shake Rattle and Roll Fourteen: The Invasion,” “Maria Mercedes,” “Praybeyt Benjamin,” and “Be Careful with My Heart.”
Davey Langit
Singer-songwriter Davey Langit’s death was confirmed by his wife in October. He was 38.
Langit, whose cause of death was not disclosed, had been diagnosed in August with spondylodiscitis, a form of spinal infection.
Langit joined the reality singing competition “Pinoy Dream Academy” in 2006, then released several tracks including “Selfie Song,” “Wedding Song” and “Dalawang Letra.”
Dwight Gaston
Dwight Gaston, a musician, art director, and costume designer, was best known for his appearances in “Oro Plata Mata” and “Scorpio Nights.” He was an artist and had also served as a screenwriter for the films “Shake, Rattle, and Roll 2,” “Gagamboy,” “Banyo Queen” and “Minsan Ko Lang Sasabihin”.
Gaston, 66, died of an undisclosed reason in October.
Emman Atienza
The sudden death of Emman Atienza, the youngest daughter of TV host Kim Atienza, was confirmed by her family last Oct. 24. The young social media personality, 19, reportedly died at their home in Los Angeles, California.
Emman’s family, through a statement, underscored her mental health journey and how she had been vocal about it.
“Emman had a way of making people feel seen and heard, and she wasn’t afraid to share her own journey with mental health. Her authenticity helped so many feel less alone,” the statement read.
Louie Reyes
Veteran singer Louie Reyes passed away in October, as confirmed by her husband Cesar Dela Fuente. Reyes was a jazz singer whose numerous song renditions including Pauline Wilson’s “Follow Your Road” was a hit in the 1970s.
International celebrities
Marianne Faithfull
British singer and actor Marianne Faithfull died at the age of 78 in January. She is known for her hits “As Tears Go By,” “Come And Stay with Me,” “This Little Bird “and “Summer Nights.”
She also starred in theatre productions and films including “The Girls on a Motorcycle.”
Lee Joo-sil
“Squid Game” and “Uncanny Counter” star Lee Joo-sil died in February, three months after she was diagnosed with stomach cancer. She was 80 years old.
Barbie Hsu
Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu passed away in February due to pneumonia caused by influenza complications while on a family vacation in Japan.
Barbie gained prominence in the Philippines with her hit drama “Meteor Garden” where she portrayed the role of for her role as Shancai. She also appeared in numerous films and series including “Meteor Garden II,” “Eternity: A Chinese Ghost Story,” “Corner With Love,” and “Future X-Cops.”
Kim Sae-ron
Kim Sae-ron, born July 2000, started her career as a child model then made her acting debut in the 2009 film “A Brand New Life.” She also headlined the 2010 Korean film “The Man from Nowhere.”
Kim was found dead at her home in Seoul on Feb. 16. Her demise sparked discussion on the culture of harassment on social media, with her alleged past romance with Kim Soo-hyun also resurfacing.
Michelle Trachtenberg
Michelle Trachtenberg died in February due to complications from diabetes. The actress, 39, was popular for her roles in the series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl.”
Gene Hackman
Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his classical pianist wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their home in February. It was later ruled that he died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, while Arakawa died of hantavirus, pulmonary syndrome.
Among the notable works of Hackman, who was regarded as one of the greatest American actors of the 20th century, was the 1971 crime thriller “The French Connection” and the 1992 film “Unforgiven.”
Van Kilmer
Val Kilmer, who was best known for his roles in “Batman Forever” and “Top Gun,” died of pneumonia in April. He was 65.
The Hollywood actor also had stints in Broadway productions.
Ed Gale
Ed Gale, the physical performer of Chucky and Howard the Duck, died in May at the age of 61.
Robert Redford
Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema Robert Redford passed away in September at the age of 89.
Redford rose to stardom in the 1960s then led films including “The Candidate,” “All the President’s Men” and “The Way We Were. His film “Ordinary People” won the 1980 Oscar best director and best picture.
Connie Francis
Connie Francis was the voice behind the hits “Pretty Little Baby” and “Stupid Cupid.” She died in July at the age of 87.
Ozzy Osbourne
Just weeks after his farewell concert in July, legendary Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, died. He was 76.
Osbourne was instrumental in pioneering heavy metal in the 1970s. Black Sabbath was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
D’Angelo
Celebrated soul musician D’Angelo died in October after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 51.
The artist was an R&B icon and neo-soul pioneer whose hits include “Brown Sugar” and the “Untitled (How Does It Feel).”
Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley was the original lead guitarist and founding member of the 1970s rock band Kiss. He wass popular for his trademark galactic makeup and smoking guitar.
According to his family, Frehley, 74, died peacefully surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, following a fall.
Diane Keaton
Award-winning actress Diane Keaton died of pneumonia on Oct. 11. She was 79.
Keaton’s notable films include “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather,” “Play in Again Sam,” “Manhattan,” “Manhattan Murder Mystery,” “Reds,” “Marvin’s Room,” and “Something’s Gotta Give,” among many others.
Other international celebrities who passed away this year were Wayne Osmond, Jeff Baena, drag queen The Vivienne, David Lynche, Joan Plowright, Liang Youcheng, Lee Yoo-joo, Roberta Flack, Kang Myung-joo, Carl Dean, Pamela Bach, Simon Fisher Becket, Richard Chamberlain, James Foley, James Cathcart, Kelley Mackey, Lee Min, Terence Stamp, Jerry Adler, Rick Davies, and Jang Hae-young. /edv
