Jane Goodall, renowned chimpanzee researcher and activist, has died of natural causes while on a speaking tour in the US at the age of 91.
Her death was confirmed by the Jane Goodall Institute through social media posts.
Goodall was born in Hampstead, London on April 3, 1934. Over her 60 years of studying chimpanzees, she became a revolutionary scientist whose work transformed primatology, ethology, and anthropology. Goodall’s career began at 26 with her study of animals in Tanzania, exploring the habitat of chimpanzees in the wild. At the time, chimpanzees were threatened by environmental destruction and illegal trafficking.
Goodall’s unorthodox methods of research allowed for the protection of habitats and the funding of research centers. Her creation of the Jane Goodall Institute has made great strides to conserve the Great Apes.
Goodall is the inspiration for numerous films, including Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope (2023), Jane (2017), Jane’s Journey (2010), and many more.
The documentary Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope follows the Goodall’s journey from her early fieldwork to her evolution as a global advocate for conservation. Interwoven with stories of personal loss and professional victories, the film shows how Goodall’s resilience shaped her mission beyond science. She reflects on her path as a woman breaking into a male-dominated field, driven by the conviction to spark change.
Goodall is survived by her son, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick.
The Jane Goodall Institution issued a statement:
“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.”
Goodall has also become a feminist icon, inspiring generations of young girls by the way she defied obstacles in science and established a place for women in fieldwork once ruled by men. Her influence even reached pop culture when Mattel honored her with a Barbie in its Inspiring Women series, as well as a role in the Career of the Year Eco-Leadership team dolls as a recognition of both her scientific achievements and her advocacy for the planet.
The United Nations released a statement:
“Today, the UN family mourns the loss of Dr. Jane Goodall. The scientist, conservationist and UN Messenger of Peace worked tirelessly for our planet and all its inhabitants, leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity and nature.”
In an interview with Forbes, Goodall once said,
“Realize that it’s not you alone—together, collectively, we are making a difference. And there is a window of time, but we’ve got to get together and take action now.”
In tribute to Dr. Jane Goodall, Netflix has released the first episode of the docuseries, Famous Last Words. The series showcases reflective interviews with some of the world’s most influential cultural figures, who agreed to sit down and discuss their legacy, and give their final words, with the understanding that it would only be shared with the world after they passed.
This special installment of Famous Last Words features Goodall in one of her last interviews. The conversation is extremely honest and revealing and, knowing this would only air after she was gone, Goodall spoke movingly about her own death.
“Jane Goodall was fearless in all things. She deeply loved humanity and the natural world. It was clear to me in our conversation that she was approaching her final adventure with the same fearlessness, hope, humor and joy that she approached everything else in life. She was one of the world’s greatest and most beloved champions of good,” said Brad Falchuk, Executive Producer.
Famous Last Words is a unique documentary series that invites cultural icons to share their final words with the world. The series is based on the acclaimed Danish format Det Sidste Ord and captures longform, deeply personal conversations with luminaries. These interviews are recorded in private sessions with only the interviewer and interviewee present, and the footage is kept confidential until after the participant’s passing.
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