Hollywood and the MTV generation experienced several major losses in 2025. From music icons to reality TV pioneers, these stars helped shape pop culture through MTV and its sister networks.
Ozzy Osbourne Brought Heavy Metal — and Reality TV — to MTV
Osbourne died on July 22 at age 76. He first became famous in the early 1970s as the frontman of Black Sabbath, helping create the blueprint for heavy metal. Years later, he reached a whole new audience through MTV.
“The Osbournes,” which aired from 2002 to 2005, followed Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly, and Jack Osbourne in their daily lives. The show became one of MTV’s biggest hits and changed how celebrity families were shown on television.
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away,” his family said in a statement. “He was with his family and surrounded by love.”
He and Sharon Osbourne launched Ozzfest in 1996, which later inspired the MTV competition series “Battle for Ozzfest.”
Ananda Lewis Was One of MTV’s Most Recognizable Faces
Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis died at age 52. Her sister confirmed the news in a Facebook post on June 11.
“She’s free, and in His heavenly arms,” her sister Lakshmi wrote.
Lewis joined MTV in 1997 and quickly became one of the network’s most popular on-air personalities.
She hosted “Total Request Live” and “Hot Zone,” and in 1999, The New York Times referred to her as “the hip-hop generation’s reigning It Girl.”
Lewis later shared that she had been battling breast cancer, which eventually progressed to stage IV. Fans remembered her for her warmth, intelligence, and ability to connect with viewers.
Hulk Hogan Brought Reality TV to Wrestling Fans
Hogan died at age 71 on July 24, after suffering cardiac arrest, according to TMZ Sports. While his reality show aired on VH1, MTV’s sister network, it still placed him firmly in the MTV reality TV era.
“Hogan Knows Best” ran from 2005 to 2007 and followed Hogan’s life with then-wife Linda Hogan and children Brooke and Nick. The series became
VH1’s biggest reality premiere at the time and showed a softer, more personal side of the wrestling icon.
D’Angelo Changed How R&B Looked on MTV
Neo-soul singer D’Angelo died on October 14 at age 51, after battling cancer, according to his family.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, D’Angelo’s music videos for songs like “Brown Sugar” and “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” were in heavy rotation on MTV and would have gone “viral” if that had even existed then.
Ace Frehley Remained a Fixture of MTV’s Rock Era
Frehley died on October 16, at age 74, following injuries from a fall. His death was ruled accidental.
Beyond his role as KISS’s original guitarist, Frehley remained closely connected to MTV throughout the late 1980s.
He hosted “Headbangers Ball,” performed with Frehley’s Comet, and appeared in interviews and specials that kept him visible during MTV’s peak rock years.
