Obituaries for 2025

[Timber Rattler]

I grew up with all his games in the 1970s!

Colossal Fossil Fight was my favorite!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa1aAwrMDU8

[catfish1957]

Knock his block off!   I loved that game as a yute.

Same here...   talk about a heck of a way to vent off.   I think I eventually busted those buttons. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBELxior3Lg

[Free Vulcan]

  Mr. Meyer, you brought a lot of happiness to a lot of kids.

[Kamaji]

Burt Meyer, inventor of the Lite Brite, Toss Across, Mousetrap board game, and Rock'em Sock'em Robots, diesat 99

https://people.com/lite-brite-rock-em-sock-em-robots-toymaker-burt-meyer-dies-at-99-11855947

RIP

[mountaineer]

Richard Branson's wife Joan Templeton, dead at 80.
https://www.skynews.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity-life/love-you-forever-virgin-group-billionaire-sir-richard-bransons-wife-joan-dead-at-80/news-story/7f42030be18c64b7ec012b9b2e3a9fc7

[Fishrrman]

"Burt Meyer, inventor of the Lite Brite, Toss Across, Mousetrap board game, and Rock'em Sock'em Robots, diesat 99"

99...?
Sounds like he was able to hit his personal "game extended" button more than once...!

[GtHawk]

"Burt Meyer, inventor of the Lite Brite, Toss Across, Mousetrap board game, and Rock'em Sock'em Robots, diesat 99"

99...?
Sounds like he was able to hit his personal "game extended" button more than once...!

Unfortunately his score counter only went double digits☹️

[rustynail]

Frank Urban “Fuzzy” Zoeller Jr., who won two major titles in playoffs, including the 1984 U.S. Open, died on Nov. 27 at the age of 74.

[GtHawk]

RIP Mr. Zoeller, 74 is too young!

[mountaineer]

Fuzzy was one of my favorites of his era.

[jmyrlefuller]

Antone "Chubby" Tavares, lead singer of the 1970s family band Tavares, dies at 80

Among the group's top-40 hits were "It Only Takes a Minute," "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel," "Don't Take Away the Music" and "Whodunit."

https://lost45.com/2025/11/30/11-30-25-chubby-tavares-passes/

[jmyrlefuller]

Steve Cropper, Stax Records' house guitarist who played for Booker T and the M.G.'s, the Blues Brothers and countless soul sessions, dies at 84

https://variety.com/2025/music/news/steve-cropper-dead-guitarist-booker-t-otis-redding-blues-brothers-1236599198/

[Cyber Liberty]

Steve Cropper, Stax Records' house guitarist who played for Booker T and the M.G.'s, the Blues Brothers and countless soul sessions, dies at 84

https://variety.com/2025/music/news/steve-cropper-dead-guitarist-booker-t-otis-redding-blues-brothers-1236599198/

We don't hear enough about Studio Musicians....

[Wingnut]

One of the Turtles singers died.  Don't have a link.  Maybe someone here has it.  "Happy Together.

[jmyrlefuller]

One of the Turtles singers died.  Don't have a link.  Maybe someone here has it.  "Happy Together.

Mark Volman died back in September. He's mentioned upthread a few pages.

[Wingnut]

Mark Volman died back in September. He's mentioned upthread a few pages.

Okay.  Nevermind then. 

[Free Vulcan]

Udo Kier, Familiar Movie Villain and Fixture of the Offbeat, Dies at 81



Udo Kier, a child of wartime Germany who stumbled into acting in his 20s, then leveraged his steely Teutonic air and outsider magnetism into a six-decade career comprising roles in more than 280 movies, from an X-rated Andy Warhol horror film to an Arnold Schwarzenegger action feature, died on Sunday in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 81.

His death was confirmed by his management company, Richard Schwartz Management. No cause was given.

With looks that bore a passing resemblance to Terence Stamp, the British acting heartthrob of the 1960s, Mr. Kier had ice-blue eyes that, in service of villainous roles, could look as menacing as a shark’s. He often gravitated to transgressive fare, whether produced by Mr. Warhol or directed by the boundary-pushing Italian filmmaker Dario Argento.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/movies/udo-kier-dead.html

[Free Vulcan]

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, actor who performed in 'Mortal Kombat,' has died at 75



Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, a Tokyo-born actor known for his roles in the film "Mortal Kombat" and TV series "The Man in the High Castle" has died. He was 75.

Tagawa died surrounded by his family in Santa Barbara from complications due to a stroke, his manager, Margie Weiner, confirmed on Thursday.

"Cary was a rare soul: generous, thoughtful, and endlessly committed to his craft," she said in an email. "His loss is immeasurable. My heart is with his family, friends, and all who loved him."

https://abc7ny.com/post/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa-actor-performed-mortal-kombat-has-died-75/18253705/

[GrouchoTex]

Raul Malo, lead singer of the Mavericks, passed away today.
Battling cancer, he was 60.

This one stings a bit. The Mavericks are one of my favorite bands.
Me and Mrs @GrouchoTex  have birthdays in September.
Last year, we bought tickets to see them in September in Sugar Land, but the news came out that he was battling cancer.
They didn't tour until he was in remission this spring.
It was a great show.
Then, we saw them again at the Woodlands in July with Willie Nelson, another great show.
We heard recently the the cancer had returned.

From the news:

Malo died Monday night, his wife, Betty Malo, posted on his Facebook page. He had been battling cancer. The frontman of The Mavericks had documented his health journey on social media since he disclosed in June 2024 that he was receiving treatment for colon cancer.

In September 2025, Malo said on Instagram that he was battling LMD, or leptomeningeal disease, a rare complication when cancer spreads to membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

[GtHawk]

From the news:

Malo died Monday night, his wife, Betty Malo, posted on his Facebook page. He had been battling cancer. The frontman of The Mavericks had documented his health journey on social media since he disclosed in June 2024 that he was receiving treatment for colon cancer.

In September 2025, Malo said on Instagram that he was battling LMD, or leptomeningeal disease, a rare complication when cancer spreads to membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

He was one of my wife's favorites, sad news indeed, I also enjoyed his music, at least that can’t be taken away.

[Lando Lincoln]

From the news:

Malo died Monday night, his wife, Betty Malo, posted on his Facebook page. He had been battling cancer. The frontman of The Mavericks had documented his health journey on social media since he disclosed in June 2024 that he was receiving treatment for colon cancer.

In September 2025, Malo said on Instagram that he was battling LMD, or leptomeningeal disease, a rare complication when cancer spreads to membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

I became a fan when I was working in Louisville, 1996 or so. His voice was amazing. All you had to do was listen to the simple little song O! What a Thrill. Very Orbison-like. But he insisted he honor his Cuban American roots with his music. He did what he wanted to do - not what the record companies wanted. And, his bandmates respected that.

I saw him in concert once when he opened for Dwight Yoakam. Such joyous energy. Yes, a big loss.

@Luis Gonzalez

[deb]

Jubilant Sykes RIP

https://www.tmz.com/2025/12/09/jubilant-sykes-dead/


If you’ve not heard him sing before, he was remarkable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-heAIVdqM8&t=100s

[Luis Gonzalez]

I became a fan when I was working in Louisville, 1996 or so. His voice was amazing. All you had to do was listen to the simple little song O! What a Thrill. Very Orbison-like. But he insisted he honor his Cuban American roots with his music. He did what he wanted to do - not what the record companies wanted. And, his bandmates respected that.

I saw him in concert once when he opened for Dwight Yoakam. Such joyous energy. Yes, a big loss.

@Luis Gonzalez

Lost a great talent.