Life is fragile, and without notice, many of our favourite stars can leave us forever. Over the past week, many celebrities have passed away, leaving a legacy in music, television and movies. From Chinese singer-songwriter Khalil Fong to South Korean actress Kang Myung Joo, here are six stars who recently left the world:
Khalil Fong (方大同)
The Chinese music industry was shocked to hear of singer-songwriter Khalil Fong’s passing on 1st March 2025 (Saturday). According to his agency, Fu Music, the star passed away peacefully on 21st February 2025 (Friday) after succumbing to an undisclosed illness. Fans and fellow entertainers, including JJ Lin and Wang Lee Hom, have taken to social media to mourn the music icon.
Kang Myung Joo (강명주)
Fans of South Korean actress Kang Myung Joo mourned the star after her passing at age 54, reportedly from cancer. The actress’ daughter shared the devastating news on 28th February 2025 (Friday) through social media. Kang Myung Joo is best known for her role in the 2022 tvN drama, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo”. She also starred in other dramas, including “See You in My 19th Life” and “A Time Called You”.
Angie Stone
The American R&B scene lost an icon after renowned singer Angie Stone reportedly died at age 63. The Grammy-nominated singer lost her life in a fatal car crash that happened on 1st March 2025 (Saturday). Angie entered the music scene in the late 1970s as a member of the all-female hip-hop trio The Sequence. The star is regarded as a pioneer in the music industry, paving the way for female rappers and hip-hop artists.
Carl Dean
While not a celebrity, businessman Carl Dean inspired one of music’s most recognisable songs. The husband of country legend Dolly Parton died on 3rd March 2025 (Monday) due to natural causes at age 82. The couple have been married for nearly 60 years. Dolly also previously revealed that Carl inspired her hit song, “Jolene”, which has been covered by many pop and R&B stars, including Beyonce and Miley Cyrus.
Monta Mino (みの もんた)
Japanese citizens mourned the recent death of renowned Japanese television presenter Monta Mino. He died on 1st March 2025 (Saturday) at 80. The famed host has been a familiar face on Japanese television for several decades, hosting some of the country’s top variety and talk shows. In 2006, Monta Mino was recognised by the Guinness World Record as the television host with the most hours on live TV in a week, with 11 show appearances.
Yu Yang (于洋)
The Chinese film world was devastated by the loss of renowned actor Yu Yang, who passed away at age 95. He reportedly died on 1st March 2025 (Saturday) at his home in Beijing. The star’s career began in 1947 when he was only 17, before moving on to act in various iconic Chinese films. Yu Yang is considered one of the country’s most prominent film stars known for his stirring performances that captivated audiences across generations.
Sources: South China Morning Post, China Press, Entertainment Weekly, GMA, GPB, Japan Times
