You’ve seen them in Seinfeld, Young Sheldon, and Deadwood, but did you know these underrated stars died in 2025

While the headlines in 2025 were dominated by the deaths of global icons, a quieter wave of grief followed the passing of actors, musicians, and cultural figures whose names may not have trended, but whose impact quietly shaped screens, stages, and songs for decades.

These are the artists you may not have remembered immediately, yet you’ve almost certainly seen, heard, or been moved by their work. From classic soap operas and cult films to groundbreaking satire and global beauty stages, here are five underrated celebrities we lost this year, and why they deserve a second look.

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Wings Hauser

Actor Wings Hauser died on March 15 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., at the age of 77, following a COPD diagnosis, as confirmed by his daughter, Bright Hauser.

He had a prolific TV career starting in the '70s, appearing in shows like Baretta, The A-Team, and House.

Hauser was also known for his film roles in Vice Squad and Michael Mann's The Insider, and he is perhaps best remembered for portraying Greg Foster on The Young and the Restless from 1977 to 1981, and again in 2010. He was the father of actor Cole Hauser.

Valerie Mahaffey

Valerie Mahaffey, the American actor best known for her roles in Desperate Housewives and Young Sheldon, died on 30 May at the age of 71.

In roles on Desperate Housewives, Big Sky, and Young Sheldon, she balanced dark comedy and quiet vulnerability, making her one of TV’s most quietly impactful actresses.

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Her five-decade career included stage, film and television work ranging from Shakespeare to the hit 1990s series Northern Exposure and Seinfeld.

Peter Jason

A quintessential character actor, Peter Jason died on 20 February, appeared in countless John Carpenter and Walter Hill films, including They Live, Deadwood, and In the Mouth of Madness.

Though often in the background, Jason brought a grounding presence and subtle depth to every scene, the kind of actor who elevates stories without demanding attention.

Tom Lehrer

Harvard-trained mathematician and musical satirist Tom Lehrer passed away on July 26 at the age of 97. Born on April 9, 1928, in Manhattan, he began piano lessons early and was inspired by Broadway tunes.

Lehrer graduated early from Loomis Chaffee School and went on to Harvard, where he earned a mathematics degree in 1946. He released his first album in 1953, selling around half a million copies before stopping public performances in 1960.

He briefly resumed in 1965 and stopped again in 1967. Lehrer later taught mathematics and musical theater at several institutions, including Harvard and MIT. In October 2020, he gave up rights to most of his songs.

Maureen Hingert

Maureen Hingert, the Sri Lankan actress and former Miss Universe runner-up, died on June 30 of liver failure on June 29 at the age of 88. Born in Colombo in 1937, she won the Miss Ceylon title in 1955 and was a 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe the same year.

This led to a contract with Universal, resulting in her uncredited role in the 1956 Western Pillars of the Sky. Hingert starred in several projects, including the Academy Award-winning musical The King and I, before landing her first credited role in the 1957 sitcom The Adventures of Hiram Holliday.

Under the name Jana Davi, she also appeared in Westerns like The Rawhide Trail and Gunmen from Laredo before retiring in the early 1960s.