Celebrity death thread 2025

[Channel98]

Godchauk and her husband Keith were members of the Grateful Dead from 1972 to 1979 and appeared on six of the band's albums. She also released six albums with her own band and sang background vocals on albums by Cher, Boz Scaggs, Jerry Garcia, Elvis Presley, New Riders Of The Purple Sage and many others.

Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Grateful Dead singer, dies at 78

Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, a soulful mezzo-soprano who provided backing vocals on such 1960s classics as “Suspicious Minds” and “When a Man Loves a Woman” and was a featured singer with the Grateful Dead for much of the 1970s, has died at 78.

www.pbs.org

 

[Channel98]

Collins played Sarah Moffat in 13 episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-73) and 13 episodes of Thomas & Sarah (1979). She played Sue Harris in 14 episodes of Mount Pleasant (2011-12) and appeared in 19 movies and TV movies including Dough, From Time To Time, Paradise Road, City Of Joy, My Mother's Courage, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger (written and directed by Woody Allen) and Mrs. Caldicot's Cabbage War.

Pauline Collins, Oscar-nominated 'Shirley Valentine' star, dies at 85

Pauline Collins, the British actress who earned Tony and Olivier awards as Shirley Valentine in the '80s, died following a battle with Parkinson's.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Channel98]

Squeeze formed in 1974 in London. Lavis replaced Paul Gunn as drummer in 1975. Among the band's hits are Tempted, Hourglass, 853-5937, Cool For Cats, Up The Junction, Another Nail In My Heart, Annie Get Your Gun, Black Coffee In Bed and Trust Me To Open My Mouth.

Squeeze drummer Gilson Lavis dead at 74

https://www.stereogum.com/2328902/squeeze-drummer-gilson-lavis-dead-at-74/news/

 

[scotchandcigar]

Second. I was a big Squeeze fan, and I remember him. Great drummer.

 

[scotchandcigar]

Longtime NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue dies at 84

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/09/sport/football-nfl-former-commissioner-paul-tagliabue-dead

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Longtime NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue dies at 84

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/09/sport/football-nfl-former-commissioner-paul-tagliabue-dead

Second

 

[Channel98]

Harford played secretary Mrs. Nottingham in 45 episodes of The Paper Chase (1978-86) and Hilda Gunnerson in 34 episodes of Dynasty (1981-87) and appeared in nine movies and TV movies including Bud & Lou, The China Syndrome, The Wild & The Innocent and Inside Daisy Clover.

Betty Harford, ‘Dynasty’ and ‘The Paper Chase’ Actress, Dies at 98

Betty Harford, who made several appearances in “Dynasty” and “The Paper Chase,” died on Nov. 2 at 98 years old.

variety.com

 

[Channel98]

Kirkland played Helen Lawson in 65 episodes of Valley Of The Dolls (1994) and appeared in 163 movies and TV movies including JFK, Bruce Almighty, Edtv, Paint It Black, Lights Out, Altered Perceptions, Adam & Steve, Richard III, Wish You Were Dead, The Sting, The Way We Were, The Bride From Vegas and The Incredible Shrinking Woman.

Sally Kirkland, Oscar-nominated actor from 'Anna' and 'The Sting,' dies at 84

Kirkland died in hospice in Palm Springs early Tuesday, according to her agent.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[scotchandcigar]

Not sure this qualifies, but it's a big deal to Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel’s Lifelong Friend and 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Band Leader Cleto Escobedo Dies at 59: 'We Are Heartbroken'

Jimmy Kimmel's lifelong friend, Cleto Escobedo, has died at 59. He was the leader of Cleto and the Cletones, Kimmel's house band on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'

people.com

 

[Channel98]

As a fan of Jimmy Kimmel, I second that one.

Living In A Box took their name from the first song they recorded. Living In A Box reached #4 in the UK and #17 on the Hot 100 in 1987. The trio had five other British top-40 hits including Room In Your Heart and Blow The House Down. Darbyshire recorded two albums with Living In A Box and released three solo albums. He wrote songs for James Last, Mike Francis, Lisa Stansfield, Level 42 and others.

Living In A Box singer Richard Darbyshire dies aged 65

The star scored three top 10 hits between 1987 and 1989 before launching a career as a songwriter.

www.bbc.com

 

[Channel98]

The Champs formed in 1957 in Los Angeles. They recorded for Challenge Records, a label co-founded by Gene Autry, and took their name from Autry's horse Champion. Tequila was number one for five weeks in March-April 1958. Among the band's other hits are Chariot Rock, El Rancho Rock and Too Much Tequila.

Dave Burgess, The Champs Frontman Known for Hit Song 'Tequila,' Dies at 90

The Champs frontman Dave Burgess who is known for his hit song "Tequila" has died at 90. According to an Anglin Funeral Home, Inc. obituary obituary, he died on Sunday, Oct. 19 in Dover, Tenn. where he lived.

people.com

 

[MonoStereo]

I didn't see this until now, but just this morning while making breakfast I saw my frozen papusas in the freezer & was signing "Pap-u-saaaaaa" to the tune of "Tequila".

This is my fault.

The Champs formed in 1957 in Los Angeles. They recorded for Challenge Records, a label co-founded by Gene Autry, and took their name from Autry's horse Champion. Tequila was number one for five weeks in March-April 1958. Among the band's other hits are Chariot Rock, El Rancho Rock and Too Much Tequila.

Dave Burgess, The Champs Frontman Known for Hit Song 'Tequila,' Dies at 90

The Champs frontman Dave Burgess who is known for his hit song "Tequila" has died at 90. According to an Anglin Funeral Home, Inc. obituary obituary, he died on Sunday, Oct. 19 in Dover, Tenn. where he lived.

people.com

 

[HecticArt]

Well, I’ll raise a glass to Dave and give him a second.

 

[Channel98]

Tequila – the song, not the drink – became popular again after being featured in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985).