Deaths in May 2025

The following is a list of notable deaths that happened in May 2025. Names under each date are noted in the order of the alphabet by their last name, or pseudonym. Deaths of non-humans are also noted here, if worth noting.

Criteria
Every entry is backed by a source. Proper citations are used and no bare URLs so as to prevent link rot. The following are the requirements for adding a name to the list in its order: Name, age, origin, what the person is known for and his or her cause of death – if known – and a source for verification.

May 2025
31
Robert Anderson, 76, New Zealand cricketer (Otago, Central Districts, national team).Vale, Robert 'Jumbo' Anderson

30
Étienne-Émile Baulieu, 98, French scientist.https://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2025/05/30/etienne-emile-baulieu-pere-de-la-pilule-abortive-est-mort-a-l-age-de-98-ans_6609348_3382.html?lmd_medium=al&lmd_campaign=envoye-par-appli&lmd_creation=android&lmd_source=default
Prentis Hancock, 83, British actor (Space: 1999, Doctor Who).Prentis Hancock 1942-2025
Loretta Swit, 87, American actress.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20qzlxz1w0o

29
David Trist, 77, New Zealand cricketer (Canterbury) and cricket coach (Eastern Province, national team).Former Black Caps coach David Trist dies

28

27
Choi Jung-woo, 68, South Korean actor (Like a Virgin, City Hunter, Doctor Stranger).“City Hunter” And “Doctor Stranger” Actor Choi Jung Woo Has Passed Away (death announced on this date)
Vasily Funtikov, 62, Russian actor (Tuning Fork, Presumption of Innocence, The Sisters Liberty).Умер актер Василий Фунтиков, сыгравший роль Кроша 

26
Monna Tandberg, 85, Norwegian actress (Victoria L, Drømmeslottet, Bryllupsfesten).Monna Tandberg er død 
Marie Tomášová, 96, Czech actress (Anna Proletářka, Jan Hus, September Nights).Zemřela herečka Marie Tomášová 

25

24
Malini Fonseka, 78, Sri Lankan actress (Pilot Premnath, Bambaru Avith, Beddegama) and politician, MP (2010–2015).‘Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema’, Malini Fonseka passes away
Piro Milkani, 85, Albanian film director (The Lady from the City, The Sorrow of Mrs. Schneider), People's Artist of Albania.Albanian cinematography in mourning, the prominent director Piro Milkani passes away
Marcel Ophuls, 97, French filmmaker (The Sorrow and the Pity, Hotel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie).Oscar winning French documentary filmmaker Marcel Ophuls dies at 97
Teresita Reyes, 75, Chilean actress (Sussi, The Toast, Santos), cancer.Fallece la destacada actriz chilena Teresita Reyes a sus 75 años 

23
Mukul Dev, 54, Indian actor (Dastak, Yamla Pagla Deewana, Son of Sardaar).Actor Mukul Dev passes away at 54
Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina, 91, Algerian film director (Chronicle of the Years of Fire, Sandstorm, The Last Image) and screenwriter.Décès du producteur algérien Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, lauréat de la Palme d'or en 1975 

22
Alfredo Palacio, 86, Ecuadorian cardiologist and politician, president (2005–2007) and vice president (2003–2005).Falleció el expresidente Alfredo Palacio, médico y exmandatario ecuatoriano, a los 86 años 

21

20
Michael Roemer, 97, American film director and screenwriter (Nothing but a Man, The Plot Against Harry, Dying).Michael Roemer, Maker of Acclaimed but Little-Seen Films, Dies at 97
George Wendt, 76, American actor (Cheers, Forever Young, "Bill Swerski's Superfans").George Wendt, Who Played Norm on ‘Cheers,’ Dies at 76

19
Aurora Clavel, 88, Mexican actress (Tarahumara, Once Upon a Scoundrel, Mariana de la Noche).Muere la actriz Aurora Clavel a los 88 años 
Kathleen Hughes, 96, American actress (It Came from Outer Space, The Glass Web, The Golden Blade).Kathleen Hughes, Iconic Scream Queen of 'It Came from Outer Space,' Dies at 96

18

17
Gawn Grainger, 87, Scottish actor (Doctor Who) and writer.Actor and writer Gawn Grainger dies aged 87
Franco Merli, 68, Italian actor (Arabian Nights, Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, Down and Dirty).
Roger Nichols, 84, American songwriter ("We've Only Just Begun", "Times of Your Life") and composer.In Memoriam: Roger Nichols (1940-2025)
Zhu Yuanyuan, 51, Chinese actress (Ocean Heaven, Lost in Hong Kong, Sister), cancer.演员朱媛媛去世，年仅51岁 

16
Meta Velander, 100, Swedish actress (Honeymoon, Dear Alice, Marmalade Revolution).Skådespelaren Meta Velander är död – blev 100 år 

15
Kostas Lychnaras, 86, Greek film director (Christ Recrucified, Konstantinou kai Elenis, To kafe tis Charas).Πέθανε σε ηλικία 86 ετών ο Κώστας Λυχναράς -Σκηνοθέτης των «Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης» και «Το καφέ της Χαράς» 

14
Cornal Hendricks, 37, South African rugby player (Bulls, Boland Cavaliers, national team), heart attack.Shock and disbelief in rugby community after sudden death of Cornal Hendricks

13
José Mujica, 89, Uruguayan politician (president of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015), oesophagus cancer.https://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2025/05/13/jose-pepe-mujica-ancien-president-de-l-uruguay-et-grande-voix-de-l-amerique-latine-est-mort_6605847_3382.html?lmd_medium=al&lmd_campaign=envoye-par-appli&lmd_creation=android&lmd_source=default
Leila Negra, 95, German singer and actress (Münchhausen, The Star of Rio, Salto Mortale).Schwarze Zeitzeugin der NS-Zeit ist tot  

12

11
Robert Benton, 92, American film director (Kramer vs. Kramer, Places in the Heart) and screenwriter (Bonnie and Clyde), Oscar winner (1980, 1985).Robert Benton, Oscar-winning director of Kramer vs Kramer, dies aged 92
John Edwards, 80, American Hall of Fame singer (The Spinners).John Edwards, lead singer of the Spinners, dies at 80
Arjun Menon, 48, Singaporean cricket player (national team) and coach (Chile, Malawi).Former Singapore cricketer and coach Arjun Menon dies in Malawi

10
Bob Cowper, 84, Australian test cricketer.Australian Test cricketer Bob Cowper dies aged 84
Larry Lee, 78, American musician (The Ozark Mountain Daredevils) and songwriter ("Jackie Blue").Larry Michael Lee

9
Fred Graham, 96, New Zealand rugby union player (New Zealand Māori) and artist, AFNZ Icon (since 2018).Arts Icon Fred Graham Passes Away

8
Jiří Bartoška, 78, Czech actor (Sekal Has to Die, All My Loved Ones, Angel of the Lord), president of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.Actor and president of Karlovy Vary Film Festival Jiří Bartoška dies at 78
James Foley, 71, American film director (Glengarry Glen Ross, Who's That Girl, Fifty Shades Darker), brain cancer.James Foley, Director of ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ and ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Sequels, Dies at 71 (death announced on this date)
Josaia Raisuqe, 30, Fijian rugby union footballer (Stade Français, Nevers, Fiji 7s), traffic collision.Fiji international Josaia Raisuqe dies aged 30

7
Cleopa Msuya, 94, Tanzanian politician, prime minister (1980–1983, 1994–1995) and first vice president (1990–1995), heart failure.

6
Bill McCaw, 97, New Zealand rugby player (Southland, national team).Bill McCaw, who was the oldest living All Black, dies aged 97

5

4
Aleftina Evdokimova, 85, Russian actress (Tender Age, Let the Charms Last Long, Courier).Умерла народная артистка Алефтина Евдокимова 

3

2
Ricky Davao, 63, Filipino actor (Ang Padrino, Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat sa Akin) and television director (!Oka Tokat).Viva confirms Ricky Davao dead, 63 (death announced on this date)
Jean-François Davy, 79, French film director (Bananes mécaniques, Surprise Sock) and producer.Jean-François Davy, réalisateur et producteur de films pornographiques, est mort à l'âge de 79 ans 
Sir Bob Jones, 85, New Zealand property investor and politician.High-profile businessman Sir Bob Jones dies (death announced on this date)
Alessandro Quasimodo, 82, Italian actor (The Seventh Floor, A Milanese Story), theater director and poet.E' morto Alessandro Quasimodo 

1
Jill Sobule, 66, American singer-songwriter ("I Kissed a Girl", "Supermodel"), house fire.Jill Sobule, Singer-Songwriter of Groundbreaking 1995 Song ‘I Kissed a Girl,’ Killed in House Fire
References

Category:May 2025 events
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