Music legend Neil Sedaka died Friday morning in Los Angeles after being hospitalized. He was 86 years old.
The crooner’s family confirmed the news in a statement to TMZ, saying, “Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka. A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, a wonderful human being who will be sorely missed, at least by those of us who were lucky enough to know him.”
According to reports, Sedaka felt unwell and was taken from his home by ambulance around 8 a.m. local time.
It was initially reported that he was recovering in the hospital, but detailed symptoms have not been disclosed.
Representatives for Mr. Sedaka did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
The performer is best known for releasing multiple No. 1 hits in the 1960s, from “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” to “Calendar Girl.”
He was nominated for five Grammy Awards between 1959 and 1977 and was subsequently inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Before Sedaka’s solo career took off, he got his start as a member of The Tokens in the 1950s — years before the doo-wop group exploded with “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
He married his wife, Reba Strasberg, in 1962.
The couple has two adult children. Daughter Dara is a 62-year-old vocalist, and son Mark is a 59-year-old screenwriter.
Sedaka collaborated with her children in a variety of ways, including duetting “Should”ve Never Let You Go” with her eldest son and producing a children’s book with Mark.
The pianist has been giving glimpses of his grandchildren through Instagram, most recently in a video from September 2025.
At the time, he described his bond with his grandson Michael and twin granddaughters Charlotte and Amanda as “a special love.”
Sedaka and Michael became a hot topic with their TikTok duet in 2025, and last week they appeared together on “Good Day New York.”
“He knows all the forgotten children, the neglected children, all the songs that were on the album, and he knows all of them,” Sedaka gushed to viewers at the time.
