Neil Sedaka's Cause of Death Confirmed as Cardiovascular Disease
Neil Sedaka, the singer and songwriter known for hits like 'Calendar Girl' and 'Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,' died at age 86 on February 27 in Los Angeles. His death certificate, released in March 2026, indicates he succumbed to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with kidney failure as a contributing factor. The condition involves plaque buildup in arteries and is a leading global cause of mortality. Sedaka's family described his passing as sudden. A Juilliard-trained pianist from Brooklyn, he had a long career in pop music, writing songs for various artists and maintaining influence across generations.
Key facts
- Neil Sedaka died on February 27 at age 86 in Los Angeles.
- His cause of death was atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with kidney failure as a contributing factor.
- Sedaka was a singer and songwriter with hits such as 'Calendar Girl' and 'Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.'
- He was a Juilliard-trained classical pianist from Brooklyn, New York.
- His family issued a statement calling his death sudden and expressing devastation.
Entities
Artists
- Neil Sedaka
- Howard Greenfield
Institutions
- Juilliard
- American Heart Assn.
Locations
- Los Angeles
- Brooklyn, N.Y.