It hasn’t even been a week into January 2025, and already so much has happened. So far, we’ve lost talented individuals who have left their mark on the entertainment industry, whether through filmmaking, writing, or performing.
Fans and friends mourned for their loss and paid tribute through social media postings. Let’s take a moment to honour those who have left us.
1. The Vivienne
Over the weekend, it was confirmed that James Lee Williams, famously known as The Vivienne, the first winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, had passed away at the age of 32. The official Drag Race BBC Instagram page broke the tragic news to fans saying, “We are fiercely proud of The Vivienne’s achievements, including winning the first ever series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. Right now our thoughts are with their family and friends, the Drag Race sisterhood and their many fans.”
2. Jeff Baena
Filmmaker Jeff Baena, also known as actress Aubrey Plaza’s husband, was found dead at their Los Angeles home. He was 47 years old. It was reported that the screenwriter may have taken his own life. Many of his friends paid tribute to him and offered their condolences to Aubrey for her tragic loss.
3. Britt Allcroft
The producer and creator of one of the most beloved children’s TV series. Britt Allcroft, who helped develop the “Thomas & Friends” TV series, passed away at the age of 81. Although her death was announced over the weekend, her daughter revealed that the writer had apparently passed away on Christmas Day.
4. John Capodice
Known for his iconic roles in “Seinfeld”, “General Hospital”, and “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”, actor John Capodice was reported to have passed away a few days after his 83rd birthday. According to several media outlets, the star’s death was first reported on New Jersey’s Pizzi Funeral Home website, but the cause of death has yet to be announced.
5. Linda Lavin
Tony Award-winning actress and singer Linda Lavin is best known for her role as Alice Hyatt in the 1976 sitcom “Alice”. Her representative confirmed that she had passed away from lung cancer at the age of 87. The upcoming film “One Big Happy Family” will be one of her posthumous projects, set to be released later this year.
Sources: BBC, Variety, USAToday
