If 2025 has taught us anything, it’s that the internet loves two things: celebrity tributes and celebrity hoaxes. This year, we’ve had to say real, heartfelt goodbyes to some truly legendary women of the screen. But at the same time, social media and clickbait mills have “killed off” a few very much alive icons, who then had to watch their names trend for all the wrong reasons.
Let’s sort fact from fiction.
Michelle Trachtenberg (1985 – February 26, 2025)
Michelle Trachtenberg’s passing at just 39 really blindsided everyone. You will remember her from Euro Trip, Gossip Girl fans will remember her as Georgina Sparks, but she was probably most known for her role as Dawn on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even though she had been withdrawn from the spotlight for the past few years, the news of her passing still came as a shock. Especially for those who were looking forward to the Buffy revival.
Joan O’Brien (1936 – May 5, 2025)
Joan O’Brien was one of those actresses who just seemed to pop up next to every Hollywood legend in the late ’50s and early ’60s. She sang, she acted, and somehow always landed the best co-stars. She worked with Elvis, Cary Grant and even John Wayne. She died at 89, after decades of quiet retirement.
Maria Grazia Spina (1936 – March 13, 2025)
Maria Grazia Spina wasn’t a Hollywood star, but everyone in Italy grew up watching her. She started out in the late ’50s and quickly became a familiar face. She acted alongside some of the greats of Italian cinema, showed up on endless variety shows, and later became a steady presence on stage, proving she wasn’t just a pretty face from the golden age of film. By the time she passed away in Padua at 88, she’d built a career that basically traced the arc of postwar Italian entertainment.
Anita Kupsch (1940 – July 3, 2025)
A whole generation of Germans knew and loved Anita Kupsch, but what made her even more memorable was her voice, she dubbed stars like Goldie Hawn and Liza Minnelli. So even if you didn’t know her you, definitely recognised her voice in Germany. She passed away at 85, leaving a silence that fans say will be hard to fill.
Jean Marsh (1934 – April 13, 2025)
Jean Marsh was one of those names you might not recognize right away, but trust me, you’ve seen her influence. She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs—basically the OG Downton Abbey—and even snagged an Emmy for it. She also popped up in Doctor Who and Willow, proving she could do a bit of everything.
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Now for the “wait—what?” section:
Meryl Streep: Twitter Tried, Her Agent Denied
July brought another round of internet nonsense when an anonymous tweet claimed Meryl Streep had died of “respiratory complications.” Her agent had to step in with a statement, and Meryl herself made an appearance just to prove that yes, she’s still here—and probably more skeptical of Twitter than ever.
Julia Roberts: Very Much Alive
Julia Roberts gave everyone a scare this year—well, not really her, but the internet. In May, a random WhatsApp chain started going around claiming she’d died in a helicopter crash in Switzerland. Totally made up. In the real world, Julia was just living her life in Los Angeles, sipping on her morning coffee. Imagine checking your phone and finding out you’re supposed to be dead while you’re standing in line at Starbucks. Only Julia could be trending worldwide for doing absolutely nothing but existing.
Helen Mirren: Wine Glass in Hand, Laughing at the Rumors
April saw the internet “kill off” Helen Mirren in a supposed Adriatic cruise tragedy. Her response was peak Dame Helen: an Instagram video, wine glass in hand, laughing off the rumor—looking effortlessly glamorous while doing it.
Susan Sarandon: A Meme Queen Who Refuses to Die (Literally)
Susan Sarandon seems to be on an endless cycle of fake obituaries, and 2025 didn’t break the streak. This time, it was a sloppy Photoshop job paired with a fake Sean Penn quote. Sarandon’s response? A meme. Of course.
2025 has been a bittersweet year: we’ve genuinely lost some remarkable actresses who defined eras of cinema, television, and theater. However, it also serves as a reminder to not blindly believe everything we encounter online. If a star is really gone, you’ll hear it from more than a blurry meme or a sketchy tweet. Until then, if you see Julia Roberts trending, it’s probably because she’s buying coffee—not because she took her final bow.
