The year 2025 has one of truly shocking celebrity losses. More than a handful of our favorite Black celebs took their last breaths, leaving their families, close friends and fans to mourn their departure. While every loss is worthy of recognition and honor, let’s take a look back at some of the most notable celebrity deaths that transpired this year that left us taken back and shaken to our cores.
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Assata Shakur
Activist Assata Shakur, Black Panther Party member and noted revolutionary, died in Cuba on Sept. 26. She was 78. Shakur moved to the Caribbean country in 1984, five years following her escape from a New Jersey prison, where she was serving a life sentence for the murder of a police officer; Fidel Castro granted Shakur (born Joanne Chesimard) political asylum, turning her into a symbol of strained relations between the country. For her supporters, Shakur spent nearly half a century as an icon of Black American freedom fighters and an example of the consequences of an imbalanced and biased criminal justice system.
D’Angelo
Neo-Soul singer D’Angelo died on Oct. 14. His death was confirmed by his former manager Kedar Massenberg and other sources close to his family and was attributed to a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 51. He is survived by his son Micheal Archer II, daughter Imani Archer, and youngest son Morocco.
Angie Stone
R&B songstress Angie Stone died the morning of March 1 following a car accident. The Columbia, S.C. native started her career in the 1970s as a member of female rap group The Sequence. She was nominated for several Grammys for her solo work, including in 2007 for her song “Baby” from her fourth solo album “The Art of Love & War.” She was 63.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, known best for playing Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” died on July 20. The actor was on a family trip to Costa Rica and died in an accidental drowning while swimming. An official autopsy later confirmed the cause of death as accidental “asphyxia by submersion.” He was 54.
Roberta Flack
Grammy-winning singer and true pioneering force in R&B Roberta Flack passed away on Feb. 24. She was 88 years old and surrounded by her family. Flack of course is known for her hit songs like “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and her Grammy-winning cover of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”
Irv Gotti
Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr., better known as Irv Gotti, passed away on Feb. 5. He was only 54. His children Angie, Sonny, and JJ stated in an Instagram post that he passed away surrounded by family and friends.
Gotti was a producer and the founder of the label Murder Inc., which was the label responsible for signing Ja Rule and Ashanti back in 1998. Murder Inc Records was also the label responsible for producing songs for other legendary artists such as Mary J Blige, DMX, and Jay-Z.
Ananda Lewis
On June 11, journalist and television host Ananda Lewis passed away after a battle with breast cancer. Lewis was beloved by many for time as MTV VJ and host of the BET talk show series “Teen Summit.” Lewis’ family confirmed her passing in a Facebook post writing, “She’s free, and in His heavenly arms. Lord, rest her soul.”
Sly Stone
Funk and soul legend Sly Stone, founding member of the band Sly and the Family Stone passed away on June 9 at age 82 after battling COPD and other underlying health issues. The singer was known for classic hits in the 196os and 1970s, including “Everyday People” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).” “While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come,” his family wrote in a statement announcing his passing.
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers, the legendary composer, vibraphonist, record producer, and jazz-funk artist, died on March 4 at 84. In a statement from his family, they said he passed away “after a long illness.” Often called “The Godfather of Neo Soul,” Ayers was an accomplished musician who released dozens of albums that spanned more than 60 years. He is known for his 1976 hit, “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” which has since become a classic record in R&B and Jazz.
George Foreman
Boxing legend George Foreman died on March 21 at the age of 76. His death was announced on his official Instagram page through a statement.
“Our hearts are broken. With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr., who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones,” the statement read. “A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.”
Foreman is survived by his wife and 11 children.
D’Wayne Wiggins
In an Instagram post shared on March 7 from the official group page, it was revealed that Wiggins passed away after a year-long battle with bladder cancer. He was 64. In the caption, the group asked for privacy during this difficult moment and thanks fans for all their love and support.
“D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California,” the post read in part. “He was a guitarist, producer, composer, philanthropist, mentor and founding member of Tony! Toni! Tone! He was deeply passionate about providing artist development and mentorship to emerging young musicians, helping to shape the early careers of many.”
Marshawn Kneeland
On Nov. 5, Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland reportedly died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 24. Prior to his death per NBC DFW, the Texas Department of Public Safety tried to stop the car the young player was driving for a traffic violation late in the night. Kneeland allegedly kept going, leading authorities in an alleged pursuit.
After shaking them off, Kneeland reportedly crashed into another car before his vehicle eventually came to rest on the Dallas Parkway. Local police later claimed that the young player walked away from the scene of the crash on foot. He was later located at 1:31 a.m. dead of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Voletta Wallace
Voletta Wallace, mother to late rapper Biggie Smalls, passed away on Feb. 21. She was receiving hospice care in her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and died of natural causes. She was 72 years old.
In a statement to her official Instagram, the post read:
We suffered a tremendous loss today. Our mother, our matriarch, the woman who dedicated herself to uplifting her son, Christopher Wallace, and preserving his legacy has passed. It is with immense sadness that we share this news with you, and ask that you give our family the space and time needed to grieve this monumental loss. Thank you for your continued outpouring of love, prayers and condolences in this difficult time.
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