Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, who rose to fame across East Asia as the romantic lead in the 2001 television drama “Meteor Garden,” had died. She was 48.Her sister confirmed the news on Feb. 3 and revealed she had died of influenza.

Marianne Faithfull, a singer and actress known for hits like “As Tears Go By” and ex of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, died Jan. 30, a spokesperson confirmed. She was 78.Faithfull’s music rose to popularity in the 1960s, and helped helm the female wing of the British invasion, a term for U.K. artists becoming popular in the U.S. commonly associated with The Beatles. A fruitful and fraught relationship with the Rolling Stones helped define her early career.

Ryan Whyte Maloney, a contestant from Season 6 of “The Voice” who turned all four judges’ chairs in 2014, died at 44 years old. The singer, who was due for a stint of performances at the Ole Red Las Vegas, was proclaimed dead from an apparent suicide in the early morning of Jan. 28, 2025, the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner told USA TODAY.

Lynn Ban, the successful jewelry designer and “Bling Empire: New York” star, died Jan. 20. She was 51.

Ban’s death was announced by her son Sebastian in an emotional Instagram post. “My mum passed away on Monday. I know she wanted to share her journey after her accident and brain surgery, so I thought she would appreciate one last post sharing the news to people who supported her,” he wrote.

Cartoonist Jules Feiffer, best known for his eponymous comic strip in The Village Voice, died Jan. 17 of congestive heart failure, his representative Gail Hochman confirmed to USA TODAY. He was 95.

Feiffer’s big break came in 1956 when his “Feiffer” comic strip was picked up by the New York-based publication. It ran in syndication from 1959 until Feiffer’s departure from The Village Voice in 1997, though he continued to create new editions for other publications through 2000. A satirical cartoon known for its literate captions, the series often featured monologues in which the speaker exposed his own insecurities.

Garth Hudson, the last surviving member of The Band, died Jan. 21, his former manager, Jim Della Croce confirmed with USA TODAY. He was 87.

Hudson played keyboard for The Band, the influential rock group that formed in 1957 and was originally called the Hawks. The band famously performed with Bob Dylan and in 1968 released its debut studio album, “Music from Big Pink.”

Francisco San Martin, a soap opera star best known for his portrayal of Dario Hernandez on “Days of Our Lives,” reportedly died Jan. 16. He was 39.

A coroner’s report from the Los Angeles Medical Examiner and reviewed by USA TODAY appeared to correspond to the late star, which People and Deadline cited. The coroner’s report cited suicide as the cause of death.

Martin broke into primetime television with his portrayal of Fabian on “Jane the Virgin.”

John Sykes, the long-haired English guitarist who helped propel bands like Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy to fame in the 1980s, has died from cancer. He was 65.

The news was announced on his official Facebook page on Jan. 20.

“He will be remembered by many as a man with exceptional musical talent,” the statement reads, “but for those who didn’t know him personally, he was a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic man whose presence lit up the room.”

Joan Plowright, whose career spanned generations, died at 95, her family told the BBC, The Independent and other British outlets on Jan. 17. The Golden Globe- and Tony Award-winning actress and British dame made her acting debut in the 1956 film “Moby Dick” and broke out several years later in the 1960 film adaptation of “The Entertainer” alongside Laurence Olivier, whom she later married.

Linda Nolan, an Irish pop icon and West End star, died Jan. 15 at 65 from double pneumonia, a rep for Nolan confirmed.

A member of the girl group The Nolans, she recorded disco classics alongside her sisters and later ventured into a writing career.

Legendary director David Lynch died at 78, his family announced Jan. 16 on Facebook. A cause of death was not given, though Lynch revealed last year that he received a diagnosis of emphysema, a lung disease caused primarily by smoking, in 2020. Nevertheless, he told fans on social media at the time, “I am filled with happiness, and I will never retire.” Lynch was the mastermind behind “Twin Peaks,” the cult-classic TV series, and famous for a string of surreal films including the original “Dune” (1984), “Blue Velvet” (1986) and “Mulholland Drive” (2001). His big awards contender “The Elephant Man” (1980) garnered eight Oscar nominations, including best picture and best director.

Legendary soul singer Sam Moore died Jan. 10 at the age of 89, according to his representatives. He was one half of the duo Sam & Dave.

Peter Yarrow, the singer-songwriter, activist and founding member of the folk band Peter, Paul and Mary, died Jan. 7 at 86 after battling bladder cancer, his publicist Ken Sunshine confirmed to USA TODAY. Alongside Paul Stookey and Mary Travers, Yarrow formed and contributed compositions to the trio, which found success with original songs like “Puff, the Magic Dragon” and “Norman Normal.”

Richard Cohen, award-winning journalist and husband to former “Today” host Meredith Vieira, died after battling pneumonia for two months, Vieira’s rep confirmed to USA TODAY on Jan. 7. He was 76.

Cohen was a journalist, winning three Emmy awards for his work at CBS News before moving to CNN. Vieira and Cohen were married for nearly four decades and share three children: Benjamin, 36, Gabriel, 34, and Lily, 32.

Mexican actor Emilio Echevarría, best known for his roles in the films “Amores Perros” and “Y Tu Mamá También,” has died, the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences announced on Jan. 4. He was 80. A cause of death was not disclosed.

“The AMACC laments the sensitive death of actor Emilio Echevarría, who forged an enormous career in film and theater,” the Mexican Academy wrote.

Drag queen The Vivienne died at 32, according to publicist Simon Jones, who called the performer “an incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person” and asked for privacy as friends and family grieved the loss. Born James Lee Williams in Wales, The Vivienne loved Vivienne Westwood clothing and won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019.

Jeff Baena, a screenwriter and director who was married to actress Aubrey Plaza, died on Jan. 3. He was 47. Baena died at his home in California, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reviewed by USA TODAY. A cause of death was not available.

Baena and Plaza collaborated on numerous projects, including the 2014 dark comedy “Life After Beth,” which Baena wrote and directed.

Italian designer Rosita Missoni, co-founder of the eponymous fashion house known for its bright and patterned styles, died on Jan. 1 at the age of 93, a company official said.

She had launched the business in 1953 with her husband, the late Ottavio Missoni, developing a brand which gained international recognition and awards for its distinctive patterns and avant-garde use of textiles and an approach to fashion often compared to modern art. Rosita Missoni remained creative director for the womenswear collections until the late 1990s, when she passed the task on to her daughter, Angela Missoni.

Brenton Wood (born Alfred Jesse Smith), the soul singer known for the hits “The Oogum Boogum Song” and “Gimme Little Sign,” died at 83 years old on Jan. 3, his manager Manny Gallegos told Variety, the New York Post and TMZ. Gallegos told the Post and Variety that Wood’s final message to fans was a reference to his 1967 song: “Catch you on the rebound.”

Leo Dan, the legendary Argentine singer-songwriter of romantic hits that took Latin America by storm, has died. He was 82.

Dan died on Jan. 1, his family announced on his social media accounts. “This morning our beloved Leo Dan left his body in peace and with the love of his family,” read the statement on Instagram, originally written in Spanish. “Thus, he returned to the pure light of his Heavenly Father, to guide us and take care of us from infinity. … We invite everyone who was part of his story and who were touched by his legacy, to celebrate his love, his music and his life.” His hit records include “Celia,” “How I Miss You, My Love” (“Cómo Te Extraño Mi Amor”) and “Ask Me for the Moon” (“Pídeme la Luna”).