By Cliff Potts, Editor-in-Chief, WPS News
Dateline (first line of the article):
Rochester, NY; Clearwater, FL; Birmingham, UK – July 25, 2025This past week marked a period of profound loss across music, wrestling, and television, with four legendary figures passing within a matter of days.
This past week marked a period of profound loss across music, wrestling, and television, with four legendary figures passing within a matter of days.
🎸 Ozzy Osbourne — Metal’s Madman Falls Silent
Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic frontman of Black Sabbath and high priest of heavy metal, died at 76 on July 22, 2025. His voice and persona defined a genre, and his solo career brought hits like “Crazy Train” to generations of fans. Osbourne also pioneered the reality TV genre with The Osbournes, cementing his place in pop culture history. He passed away in Birmingham after years battling Parkinson’s disease.
🎺 Chuck Mangione — Jazz’s Gentle Horn Quiets
Flugelhornist and composer Chuck Mangione died peacefully in his sleep on July 22, at the age of 84. Best known for the smooth-jazz classic “Feels So Good”, Mangione was a Grammy-winning innovator with over 30 albums and a beloved pop culture cameo on King of the Hill. His legacy remains one of melodic brilliance and laid-back sophistication.
🤼 Hulk Hogan — Wrestling’s Immortal Falls
Terry Gene Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, passed away from cardiac arrest on July 24 at 71, at his home in Clearwater, Florida. Hogan revolutionized pro wrestling, headlining the first WrestleMania and becoming a global sensation through Hulkamania and his later turn as a founding member of the NWO. A two-time WWE Hall of Famer, Hogan’s legacy shaped sports entertainment forever.
📺 Malcolm-Jamal Warner — A Sudden, Shocking Loss
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, beloved for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, died in an accidental drowning on July 20, aged just 54. Warner was also a Grammy-winning musician and powerful voice for racial and social justice. His passing leaves a void in both entertainment and activism.
📝 Reflections on a Painful Pattern
It is rare to see so many cultural giants fall in such a short window. Between July 20 and July 24, the world lost voices that defined genres, broke barriers, and built memories for millions. We are reminded—loudly—how quickly eras can end.
APA Citations:
- The Guardian. (2025, July 22). Ozzy Osbourne obituary: Frontman of Black Sabbath dies at 76. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jul/22/ozzy-osbourne-obituary
- Houston Chronicle. (2025, July 22). Jazz musician Chuck Mangione dies at 84. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/chuck-mangione-jazz-musician-death-20784583.php
- The Sun. (2025, July 24). Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan dead at 71. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/36000835/hulk-hogan-dead-wwe
- Economic Times. (2025, July 20). Actor Malcolm‑Jamal Warner dies at 54 by drowning. https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/celebrity-deaths-this-week-from-malcolm-jamal-warner-to-ozzy-osbourne-to-hulk-hogan-here-are-the-stars-world-lost/articleshow/122887556.cms
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