Leonardo DiCaprio leads star tributes to Dr Jane Goodall
Leonardo DiCaprio, Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas are among the stars to pay tribute to the late Dr. Jane Goodall following her death.
Leonardo DiCaprio has remembered Dr. Jane Goodall as a "true hero for the planet".
The One Battle After Another actor has paid tribute to the animal welfare advocate after she passed away in California during a speaking tour at the age of 81 on Wednesday (01.10.25) and urged people to donate to conservation charities in honour of the zoologist.
He wrote on Instagram: "Today we have lost a true hero for the planet, an inspiration to millions, and a dear friend.
"For decades, Jane traveled the world with tireless energy, awakening generations to the wonder of the natural world. She spoke directly to the next generation, instilling hope, responsibility, and the belief that every individual can make a difference. She inspired millions to care, to act, and to hope. She never stopped.
"My deepest condolences to her family. Please join me in honoring her legacy by supporting @janegoodallinst and other conservation groups which she cared about.
"My last message to Jane was simple: 'You are my hero.' Now, we all must carry the torch for her in protecting our one shared home."
Jane Fonda declared her "heart breaks at the news" of Jane's death as she celebrated the work of the activist, who was regarded as the world's leading expert on chimpanzees and was known for her 65-year study on the creatures in Tanzania.
She wrote on her own Instagram account: "My heart breaks at the news that the brave, heartful, history-making Jane Goodall has passed. Through her work with chimps, she did more than any human being has, to let us understand the richness of animal lives: their intelligence, skills, unique personalities, use of tools, empathy, suffering when one of theirs was killed.
"I loved her very much. I think the best way we can honor her life is to treat the earth and all its beings like our family, with love and respect. [heart emoji] (sic)"
Michael Douglas also paid tribute to Jane.
He posted: "RIP to my fellow UN Messenger of Peace, Dr. Jane Goodall. Her legacy will forever be remembered for her unwavering dedication to our planet."
Maria Shriver is mourning the loss of someone she "adored" in Jane, who received her Minerva Award, which honours women "who serve on the front-lines of humanity", in 2009.
She wrote on Instagram: "Jane Goodall was a legendary figure and a friend. I admired her, learned from her, and was so honored to get to spend time with her over the years.
"She stayed at her mission and on her mission. She changed the world and the lives of everyone she impacted. The world lost one of its best today, and I lost someone I adored."
Ellen DeGeneres shared a clip from when Jane appeared on her eponymous talk show in honour of her 85th birthday, in which her guest recalled how few opportunities there were for women to be scientists when she was growing up.
The Jane Goodall Institute had announced Jane's death on their Instagram account.
They posted: "The Jane Goodall Institute has learned this morning, Wednesday, October 1, 2025, that Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute has passed away due to natural causes. She was in California as part of her speaking tour in the United States.
"Dr. Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world.(sic)"
