As the final pages of the 2025 calendar turn, it's time to reflect on a year filled with remarkable celebrations, poignant goodbyes, and unforgettable moments in pop culture. From golden anniversaries to the loss of iconic figures, the year was a poignant tapestry of highs and lows that captivated audiences across Canada and the globe.
A Year of Milestones and Celebrations
The year 2025 shone a spotlight on significant birthdays and anniversaries. A constellation of stars celebrated their 50th birthdays, including actress Angelina Jolie, Spice Girl Mel B, Titanic star Kate Winslet, golf legend Tiger Woods, soccer icon David Beckham, actress Eva Longoria, and singer Sia.
It wasn't just people marking golden years. Cultural touchstones also hit major milestones. The digital camera, the pet rock, and the blockbuster film Jaws all turned 50. Microsoft, Saturday Night Live, Big Red gum, and Queen's epic "Bohemian Rhapsody" also celebrated half-centuries.
Other notable anniversaries included YouTube turning 20, Facebook reaching 21, and Farm Aid marking its 40th year. Gatorade and Barrel of Monkeys hit 60, while Special K cereal and Crest toothpaste turned 70. The Bic pen and the beloved Peanuts comic strip celebrated an impressive 75 years.
Proving that talent only deepens with time, several celebrities celebrated their 80th birthdays in 2025 while remaining active in their careers. This esteemed group included rocker Rod Stewart, Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry, actress Goldie Hawn, actor Tom Selleck, and the iconic Henry "The Fonz" Winkler.
Headlines, Screen Gems, and Sporting Triumphs
Beyond birthdays, 2025 delivered its share of unusual and captivating stories. Astronomers discovered 128 new moons orbiting Saturn. Thieves executed a brazen daytime heist at the Louvre in Paris, while in Spain, a separate criminal operation stole thousands of chairs from restaurants. The global fascination with Taylor Swift, encompassing both her music and her personal life, remained a constant headline feature.
In entertainment, new television series like The Pitt, The Studio, and The Paper grabbed viewer attention. The film Anora took home the Academy Award for Best Picture. Biopics and documentaries featured everyone from Bruce Springsteen and Superman to Mary J. Blige and Bono. The memoir scene was equally bustling, with releases from Lionel Richie, Brooke Shields, Christie Brinkley, Bill Gates, and Priscilla Presley.
The sports world witnessed its own celebrations, with championship victories for the Philadelphia Eagles (football), the Florida Panthers (hockey), the L.A. Dodgers (baseball), and the Oklahoma City Thunder (basketball).
A Final Curtain for Iconic Figures
Amidst the celebrations, 2025 was also a year of profound loss, as the world bid farewell to dozens of influential celebrities. The recent passing of filmmaker Rob Reiner (78) and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner (68), headlined a long list of notable deaths.
The year saw the loss of luminaries across many fields, including centenarian Hollywood star June Lockhart (100) and nonagenarians like architect Frank Gehry (96), actor Gene Hackman (95), and primatologist Jane Goodall (91).
The entertainment industry mourned the passing of actor Richard Chamberlain (90), actress Diane Ladd (89), actor-director Robert Redford (89), and singer Roberta Flack (88). The world also said goodbye to Pope Francis (88).
Music lost iconic voices and creators, including singers Connie Francis (87) and Sly Stone (82), Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson (82), Supertramp's Rick Davies (81), and musicians Chuck Mangione (84) and Marianne Faithfull (78).
From television and film, audiences mourned M*A*S*H star Loretta Swit (87), comedian Ruth Buzzi (88), actresses Diane Keaton (79) and Loni Anderson (79), filmmaker David Lynch (78), and actors George Wendt (76), Val Kilmer (65), and Malcolm-Jamal Warner (54).
The sports and wrestling world lost boxing legend George Foreman (76) and wrestling icon Hulk Hogan (71). The music community also grieved the loss of rock star Ozzy Osbourne (76), Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley (74), and musician D'Angelo (51).
This year's events, both joyous and somber, are commemorated in the massive Annual Year-in-Review Crossword puzzle. For those in Calgary looking to test their knowledge, the puzzle will be published in the Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun on December 24, with other Canadian newspapers following later in the month.
