Music legend Neil Sedaka dead at 86 after being rushed to LA hospital
Music legend Neil Sedaka has died after being hospitalized in Los Angeles on Friday morning. He was 86.
The crooner’s family confirmed the news in a statement to TMZ: “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, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed.”
Sedaka did not feel well and was taken from his home in an ambulance around 8 a.m. local time, according to a report.
It was initially reported that he was recovering in the hospital, but details of his ailment were not made clear.
A rep for 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 Grammys between 1959 and 1977 and was subsequently inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Prior to Sedaka’s solo career taking off, he got his start as a member of The Tokens in the 1950s — years before the doo-wop group blew up with “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
He has been married to wife Leba Strassberg since 1962.
The couple share two adult children — daughter Dara, a 62-year-old vocalist, and son Marc, a 59-year-old screenwriter.
Sedaka collaborated with each of his kids in different ways, from duetting on “Should’ve Never Let You Go” with his eldest to working on children’s books with Marc.
The pianist gives glimpses of his grandchildren via Instagram, most recently in a September 2025 video.
At the time, he called his bond with grandson Michael and twin granddaughters Charlotte and Amanda a “special kind of love.”
Sedaka and Michael made headlines for their TikTok duets in 2025 — and even appeared on “Good Day New York” last week to perform together.
“He knows all of the forgotten children, the neglected children — the songs that were on albums — and he knows all of them,” Sedaka gushed to viewers at the time.