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David Johansen died at his home in New York City on Friday, February 28, according to a statement a spokesperson gave to Rolling Stone.
“Johansen [was] holding hands with his wife Mara Hennessey and daughter Leah, surrounded by music, flowers and love [at the time of his death],” the statement read. “He was 75 years old and died of natural causes after nearly a decade of illness.”
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Johansen had been battling stage 4 cancer for several years. Around the pandemic, doctors found that the cancer had progressed. According to a fundraiser website set up by his family, Johansen had also been diagnosed with a brain tumor in recent years. The family asked the public for financial help due to the ongoing medical bills, required at-home care, and overall stress that the downturn had taken.
In an update on Friday, February 14, Leah shared that her father was “bedridden and incapacitated.”
Less than one month before he died, Johansen’s daughter shared another health update — this time on her Instagram Stories.
“David is a legend but he’s also my very real very sick dad. I have so much to say but I guess I’ll be posting about this a lot and I don’t have to say it all now,” Leah Hennessey wrote on Monday, February 10, according to Us Weekly.
“I know how dire so many of our situations are right now, and how much fundraising literally everyone is doing but if you love David or any of the magick [sic] he’s brought into the world please just take a minute to read this or share it. Thank you guys as always,” Leah added.
Johansen, who co-founded the New York Dolls in 1971, is survived by his wife and daughter.