Last year we again had to say goodbye to popular personalities. In our retrospect we remember.
Published: 1:50 p.m
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Updated: 2:11 p.m
- Legendary artists like Arthur Cohn and Claudia Cardinale died in 2025
- Jane Goodall revolutionized science through her chimpanzee research
- Arthur Cohn won six Oscars and died on December 12th
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They have brought us great joy for decades and enriched our lives with their art. In 2025, with a heavy heart, we had to say goodbye forever to legendary artists like Arthur Cohn, Claudia Cardinale and, most recently, Brigitte Bardot. But they remain in our memories thanks to their impressive work.
1
Horst Janson (†89)
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He was active as an actor until old age. The most famous role of the trained teacher, however, remained Horst from “Sesame Street”. The last few years have been marked by health setbacks. First he had to be treated for a stroke, then he fell in the stairwell, which led to a cerebral hemorrhage. In the hospital he became infected with a germ and died in January, which, according to his family, was a relief for Horst Janson.
2
Gene Hackman (†95)
He was one of the great character actors, and with his striking face he enhanced unforgettable masterpieces such as “Bonnie & Clyde” (1967), “The French Connection” (1971) and “Superman” (1978). The death of Gene Hackman on February 18 caused speculation for weeks as the Oscar winner was found lifeless in his neglected home in the US state of New Mexico with his wife, who had died just a few days earlier.
3
Richard Chamberlain (†90)
The US actor became world famous as Father Ralph in the TV series “The Thorn Birds” and as Edmond Dantès in “The Count of Monte Cristo”. After an involuntary outing, he spoke openly about his homosexuality and his double life in his biography. He lived in seclusion with his long-time partner Martin Rabbett (72) in Hawaii, where he died on March 29th.
4
Anita Kupsch (†85)
The German actress Anita Kupsch is unforgettable as the doctor’s assistant Gabi Köhler in “Praxis Bülowbogen”. She also dubbed various stars such as Goldie Hawn (80) and Liza Minnelli (79). Unfortunately, her last years were marked by illness. First her husband Klaus-Detlef Krahn (79) cared for her at home, and most recently she lived in a Berlin nursing home, where she died on July 3rd.
5
Giorgio Armani (†91)
The world-famous fashion designer Giorgio Armani from Piacenza (I) started his career in Milan. He worked his way up from being a window dresser to becoming a designer. In 1975 he founded his own company with his then partner Sergio Galeotti (1945–1985), which continuously grew into a fashion empire. He remained the sole owner of his brand until his death on September 4th in Milan.
6
Robert Redford (†89)
You couldn’t be much more successful as an actor than him: Robert Redford starred in classics such as “Two Bandits” (1969), “The Clou” (1973), “Out of Africa” (1985) and “The Horse Whisperer” (1998). In his private life, he was strongly committed to environmental protection and the rights of the indigenous peoples of North America. He also founded Sundance, one of the most famous film festivals. He died in his sleep at home in Utah on September 16.
7
Claudia Cardinale (†87)
She was one of Italy’s outstanding film divas and played leading and supporting roles in classics such as “The Pink Panther” (1963) and “Play Me the Song of Death” (1968). She was considered an icon of European cinema early on and gracefully made the leap to Hollywood. After her career as an actress, she became an activist for women’s rights. Claudia Cardinale died on September 23rd at her home outside Paris.
8
Jane Goodall (†91)
Chimpanzees were her life: As a 23-year-old, the Londoner moved to Africa. Thanks to her personal relationship with great apes, the scientist revolutionized research. She was the first to observe that chimpanzees use tools and even wage wars against other groups of monkeys. Goodall was also an active environmentalist. She died on October 1 in Los Angeles.
9
Diane Keaton (†79)
She will be remembered by film lovers for her appearance in the “Godfather” dramas. But she also starred in wonderfully funny films such as “The Urban Neurotic” (1977) and “The Club of the She-Devils” (1996). She won many awards for this, including an Oscar. But there was also talk when she adopted two children when she was over 50. Diane Keaton died on October 11th in a hospital near Los Angeles from complications of pneumonia.
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This article was first published in “GlücksPost”. You can find out more about the world of Swiss celebrities, royals and sports stars in our magazine every Thursday: subscribe!
This article was first published in “GlücksPost”. You can find out more about the world of Swiss celebrities, royals and sports stars in our magazine every Thursday: subscribe!
10
Jack White (†85)
He composed music for millions and wrote hits for Tony Marshall, Roland Kaiser, Hansi Hinterseer, Roberto Blanco and David Hasselhoff. With over a billion records sold, Jack White was probably the most successful German producer ever. However, he was less lucky in love: he was married four times and died in tragic circumstances in October, shortly after his fourth wife left him.
11
Kessler twins (†89)
The internationally known sister couple Alice and Ellen Kessler appeared on stage together for more than 60 years, including with Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire and Harry Belafonte. But her life was not carefree: her two older brothers died of jaundice and typhoid, her father was a drinker and beat his wife and children. The Kessler twins died at home near Munich in mid-November and were buried together.
12
Udo Kier (†81)
As a baby, he survived a bombing raid during World War II. As a teenager he met director idol Rainer Werner Fassbinder, then went to the USA to succeed as an actor. His most famous films include “My Private Idaho” (1991), “Ace Ventura” (1994) and “Armageddon” (1998). He also appeared in music videos for Madonna and Korn. On November 23rd, Udo Kier died in his adopted home in the US state of California.
13
Arthur Cohn (†98)
He was our “Mister Oscar”! Arthur Cohn kept six of these awards at home in Basel. He won her for masterpieces such as “The Garden of Finzi Contini”, “Longing for Africa” and “The Children of Monsieur Mathieu”. The Swiss film legend’s friends included Al Pacino (85) and Michael Douglas (81). Cohn spent his last years in Jerusalem, where he died on December 12th.
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