From Diogo Jota To Michael Madsen: 7 Celebrities Who Recently Passed Away
From iconic actors to legendary sportsmen, their legacies helped to shape the cultural landscape through their grit and presence. Here are 7 celebrities who recently left the world:
1. Diogo Jota
Liverpool's star footballer, Diogo Jota, passed away on the morning of 3rd July 2025 (Thursday) in a fatal car crash that also took the life of his brother, Andre Silva. Reportedly, the 28-year-old Portugal forward had just gotten married to his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, only 12 days ago (22nd June 2025). The couple shared 3 children: two sons named Dinis and Duarte, and a daughter.
2. Lee Seo Yi (이서이)
Confirmed by her manager on Wednesday (2nd July 2025), Korean actress Lee Seo Yi (이서이), who starred in 'Cheongdam-dong Scandal' and 'Killing Romance', passed away on 20th June 2025. The post described the 43-year-old actress as 'Radiant, beautiful and kind' and calls on fans to pray for her peace.
Apart from her acting career, the actress also ran a small flower shop where she planned to relocate and reopen in September 2025. No official cause of death has been released, and her agency remains silent out of respect for the family's wishes.
3. Kenneth Colley
Known for his role as Admiral Piett in 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi', Kenneth Colley passed away on 30th June 2025 (Monday). The 87-year-old retired actor had died peacefully at his home in Ashford, Kent, due to contracting COVID-19 and developing pneumonia.
'Ken continually worked on stage, film and television playing a vast array of characters, from Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian to evil and eccentric characters in Ken Russell films, and the Duke of Vienna in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure for the BBC', said his manager, Julian Owen.
4. Michael Madsen
Known for his tough guy roles in movies, Michael Madsen passed away at age 67 due to cardiac arrest in his home located in Malibu, California. His iconic performances included starring in Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs', and he has a decorated career spanning from TV Series, films, voice acting and is also an author. Additionally, in 2022, Michael's son, Hudson Madsen, had also passed away following a gunshot wound that was classified as suicide.
5. Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys frontman, Brian Wilson, passed away on 11th June 2025 due to respiratory arrest in his Beverly Hills residence. The 82-year-old co-founder of the iconic band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 with the rest of the band and would only reunite with them in 2012 for their 50th anniversary.
6. Walter Scott Jr.
Walter Scott Jr., vocalist and co-producer of the R&B group The Whispers, passed away on 26th June 2025 after a six-month-long battle with cancer. The 81-year-old had founded the group in 1969 with his identical twin brother, Wallace Scott, after serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The group took off in 1980 and released several gold and platinum hits.
7. Maureen Hingert
Sri Lankan first Miss Universe finalist, Maureen Hingert, passed away on 30th June 2025 at the age of 88. The beauty queen passed due to liver failure at the Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, surrounded by family. Other than her beauty pageant career, Hingert had also starred in films such as 'The King and I' and Gunmen From Loredo'.
Sources: Sky Sports, The Star, BBC, New York Times, People, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter
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Hype Malaysia
a day ago
- Hype Malaysia
From Diogo Jota To Michael Madsen: 7 Celebrities Who Recently Passed Away
Saying goodbye to these iconic figures, we remember their legacies and their names forever etched in history as public figures loved by their fans. Their contributions across film, music, and sports leave an indelible mark on audiences, and their absence will be deeply felt. From iconic actors to legendary sportsmen, their legacies helped to shape the cultural landscape through their grit and presence. Here are 7 celebrities who recently left the world: 1. Diogo Jota Liverpool's star footballer, Diogo Jota, passed away on the morning of 3rd July 2025 (Thursday) in a fatal car crash that also took the life of his brother, Andre Silva. Reportedly, the 28-year-old Portugal forward had just gotten married to his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, only 12 days ago (22nd June 2025). The couple shared 3 children: two sons named Dinis and Duarte, and a daughter. 2. Lee Seo Yi (이서이) Confirmed by her manager on Wednesday (2nd July 2025), Korean actress Lee Seo Yi (이서이), who starred in 'Cheongdam-dong Scandal' and 'Killing Romance', passed away on 20th June 2025. The post described the 43-year-old actress as 'Radiant, beautiful and kind' and calls on fans to pray for her peace. Apart from her acting career, the actress also ran a small flower shop where she planned to relocate and reopen in September 2025. No official cause of death has been released, and her agency remains silent out of respect for the family's wishes. 3. Kenneth Colley Known for his role as Admiral Piett in 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi', Kenneth Colley passed away on 30th June 2025 (Monday). The 87-year-old retired actor had died peacefully at his home in Ashford, Kent, due to contracting COVID-19 and developing pneumonia. 'Ken continually worked on stage, film and television playing a vast array of characters, from Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian to evil and eccentric characters in Ken Russell films, and the Duke of Vienna in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure for the BBC', said his manager, Julian Owen. 4. Michael Madsen Known for his tough guy roles in movies, Michael Madsen passed away at age 67 due to cardiac arrest in his home located in Malibu, California. His iconic performances included starring in Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs', and he has a decorated career spanning from TV Series, films, voice acting and is also an author. Additionally, in 2022, Michael's son, Hudson Madsen, had also passed away following a gunshot wound that was classified as suicide. 5. Brian Wilson The Beach Boys frontman, Brian Wilson, passed away on 11th June 2025 due to respiratory arrest in his Beverly Hills residence. The 82-year-old co-founder of the iconic band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 with the rest of the band and would only reunite with them in 2012 for their 50th anniversary. 6. Walter Scott Jr. Walter Scott Jr., vocalist and co-producer of the R&B group The Whispers, passed away on 26th June 2025 after a six-month-long battle with cancer. The 81-year-old had founded the group in 1969 with his identical twin brother, Wallace Scott, after serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The group took off in 1980 and released several gold and platinum hits. 7. Maureen Hingert Sri Lankan first Miss Universe finalist, Maureen Hingert, passed away on 30th June 2025 at the age of 88. The beauty queen passed due to liver failure at the Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, surrounded by family. Other than her beauty pageant career, Hingert had also starred in films such as 'The King and I' and Gunmen From Loredo'. Sources: Sky Sports, The Star, BBC, New York Times, People, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter
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The Star
2 days ago
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Soccer-Tears and tributes as players honour Jota at Club World Cup
Jul 4, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; The Al Hilal FC and Fluminense FC teammates line up during a moment of silence in remembrance of Liverpool F.C. soccer star Diogo Jota and André Silva during a quarterfinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Camping World Stadium. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images ORLANDO, FLA (Reuters) -Al-Hilal's Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo broke down in tears during the minute's silence held for their former Portugal teammate Diogo Jota before their side's Club World Cup quarter-final against Fluminense on Friday. Jota, a Liverpool forward, and his younger brother Andre Silva were killed in a car accident in northwestern Spain on Thursday morning when their Lamborghini veered off the road and caught fire. Tributes have continued to pour in for Jota and Andre with footballing greats including Cristiano Ronaldo and Steven Gerrard, joining the Prime Ministers of Portugal and Britain in mourning the loss. Friday's match between Al-Hilal and Fluminense in Orlando began with players and fans observing a minute's silence in memory of Jota and Andre. Neves, one of Jota's closest friends who played with the 28-year-old during their days at Wolverhampton Wanderers, issued a touching tribute on Instagram about an hour before kick-off. "Wherever you are, I know you're going to read this, we've never been one for this sort of thing and maybe now I'll regret it a little, but you know what you mean to me just as much as I know what I am to you," Neves said. "More than a friendship, we're family, and we're not going to stop being family just because you've decided to sign a contract a little further away from us! "When I go to the national team, you'll still be by my side at the dinner table, on the bus, on the plane... you'll always be there with me, as usual. We'll keep laughing, making plans, sharing our lives with each other. "I'll make sure you're always there and I'll make sure your family never lacks anything while you're there, far away but thinking of us, waiting for us ... "As of today, you'll be on the pitch with me, and we'll follow our path together, on the stage where we met." Chelsea's Portuguese forward Pedro Neto also paid a heartfelt tribute to his friends when he walked out on the field with a shirt bearing their names before their quarter-final against Palmeiras in Philadephia. "We spoke with Pedro yesterday and this morning and this afternoon and it was completely Pedro's decision to play or not to play," Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said after his team's 2-1 win. "He did, he made a fantastic effort to play this game, to play with his teammates, and we really appreciate what he has done. "I just said to the players that this win is especially for him because we know how close he was, and the effort that he has made. So no doubt that we really appreciate what he decided in the end." The funerals of the brothers are expected to take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) in the Portuguese town of Gondomar. (Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Goa and Fernando Kallas in Philadelphia, editing by Nick Mulvenney)
