We’re only three months into 2025, and like years before, the unavoidable losses begin to leave the industry in mourning. Sadly, this year is no different and though more deaths will come upon us, we always make a point to pay tribute a few times throughout the year to those we’ve lost.
A couple of months into the new year, word came that The Young and the Restless vet James Houghton (Greg) passed away in August 2024, and in January, daytime was rocked by news that beloved General Hospital actress Leslie Charleson (Monica) had died after a long illness. Her Port Charles family, and other stars, flooded social media with their remembrances of the actress. Her castmate Wally Kurth (Ned, Days of Our Lives’s Justin) shared, “She was tough but vulnerable. A beautiful soul. I loved hearing Leslie laugh.” Lisa LoCicero (Olivia) added, “I will miss that smile so much… I remained a huge fan of Leslie even after she was a friend.”
Sadly, just a few days later, The Bold and the Beautiful and Days of Our Lives alum Francisco San Martin (Mateo, Dario) tragically passed away at just 39. Others followed, including The Edge of Night and All My Children alum Tony Roberts (Lee, Dr. Rosenstein). Some may recall him from also playing the iconic role of Max Kellerman in ABC’s 2017 Dirty Dancing remake. Passions’ Bruce French (Father Lonigan) passed away at 79, as did primetime actor and The Young and the Restless’ Peter ‘Navy’ Tuiasosopo (Koa) at 61.
February continued to deliver sad news and on the 26th, word came that All My Children standout Michelle Trachtenberg (Lily) was gone at just 39. Fellow Pine Valley alum Sarah Michelle Gellar (Kendall), whose character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer was the older sister of Trachtenberg’s Dawn, shared, “Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you. The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you.”
In March, tragedy struck again with the death of Young & Restless’ Pamela Bach (Mari Jo), who’d been married to Genoa City star David Hasselhoff (Snapper). Daytime’s first female producer Felicia Minei Behr died that same month, and news came that Days of Our Lives and General Hospital composer Martin Davich had passed in February. Guiding Light and One Life to Live alum Mark Dobies (Noah, Daniel) passed away at 65 and a few days later, so did Young & Restless actor Wings Hauser (Greg). He was 78 and the father of Yellowstone’s Cole Hauser (Rip).
Join us as we honor the stars mentioned above, as well as others, who have passed away since January by opening up our tribute photo gallery below.