OBITUARIES
In this section, we remember the lives and legacies of those who shaped Hollywood—on screen, behind the camera, and in the quiet corners where art endures. Each profile offers not only a record of passing but a celebration of presence: the roles, the risks, the laughter, and the stories that remain. Through these remembrances, we honor the city’s long continuum of dreamers and creators whose work still flickers in the light of the projector and the imagination alike
Obituaries: Celebs we lost in 2025...
Recent Deaths...
Samantha Eggar
Samantha Eggar, Oscar-Nominated Star of The Collector, Dies at 86
Oct. 17 (HLR) - Samantha Eggar, the elegant British actress whose intensity and intelligence lit up films from The Collector to The Brood, died October 15, 2025, at her home in Sherman Oaks, California. She was 86. Born in Hampstead, London, Eggar began on the stage before moving into film in the early 1960s. Her breakout came with William Wyler’s The Collector (1965), earning her an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe, and the Best Actress prize at Cannes for her haunting portrayal of a kidnapped art student. Eggar’s varied career included roles in Doctor Dolittle, Walk, Don’t Run, The Molly Maguires, and David Cronenberg’s The Brood. She appeared in numerous television series—Star Trek: The Next Generation, Murder, She Wrote, Commander in Chief—and lent her distinctive voice to animated projects like Disney’s Hercules. Married once, to actor Tom Stern, she was the mother of producer Nicolas Stern and actress Jenna Stern. Friends remembered her as witty, compassionate, and fiercely devoted to her craft. A consummate performer unafraid of complexity, Samantha Eggar leaves behind a body of work that continues to captivate. Her voice, her presence, and her poise remain indelible on screen and in memory.
DIANE KEATON
Diane Keaton, Oscar-Winning Star of Annie Hall and The Godfather, Dies at 79
Oct. 12 (HLR) - Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning actress whose irreverence, openness, and idiosyncratic style shaped generations of American film, died in California on October 11, 2025, at the age of 79. A family spokesperson confirmed the news, requesting privacy. Keaton forged one of Hollywood’s most long-lasting and diverse careers over the course of five decades. Starting with her breakout role in The Godfather trilogy and her Oscar-winning performance in Annie Hall, she went on to films like Something’s Gotta Give and The First Wives Club, as well as her fashionably subversive off-screen life in work that extended to photography, producing, and writing. Her personal style, recognizable by her bowler hats, ties, and meticulous tailoring, was as celebrated as her on-screen work. A private funeral service will take place in Los Angeles. She is survived by two children, Dexter and Duke. With humor, candor, and a determination to be only herself, Diane Keaton redefined the modern movie heroine, leaving behind a legacy of elegance, independence, and ingenuity that will live on long after the curtain closes.
ROBERT REDFORD
Robert Redford, Screen Legend and Pioneer of Independent Film, Dies at 89
Sept. 17 (HLR) - Robert Redford — actor, director, and the subtly revolutionary creator of the Sundance Institute — died September 16 at his home in Sundance, Utah. He was 89. His publicist, Cindi Berger, said he passed peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by family. For more than six decades, Redford was the consummate American icon: smart, self-sufficient and a little bit elusive. His star-making role in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid made him a legend. The Sting, All the President’s Men, The Way We Were, and Out of Africa followed. He made decency cool and introspection epic. When he turned to directing, he was just as masterful. His 1980 debut, Ordinary People, a quietly devastating family drama, earned him the Academy Award for Best Director and proved that he was a true artist behind the camera, too. But off-screen, Redford was an even more transformative figure for the industry. With the founding of the Sundance Institute and its now-iconic festival, he created a home for filmmakers beyond the Hollywood studio system. What started as a small gathering in Utah grew into the center of the American independent film movement, launching the careers of filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino and Ava DuVernay, among many, many others. Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, he was raised in Van Nuys and attended schools for art and drama before working in television and the theater. A lifelong environmentalist and defender of artistic freedom, he used his platform to advocate for the power of stories that were both beautiful and driven by conscience. He is survived by his wife, Sibylle Szaggars Redford, daughters Shauna and Amy, and several grandchildren. Two sons — James and Scott — predeceased him. A private service will be held in Sundance, on the land he loved.
Photo By U.S. Embassy photographer JP Evans
What we do
We celebrate Hollywood—past and present. Through history, biography, and review, this blog explores the people, films, and places that shaped the dream factory, preserving its stories while connecting them to today’s entertainment world.