The news of his death was confirmed by his daughter, who said he died on Friday at homeas Metro reports.
A statement issued to Far Out Magazine read: ‘David Johansen died at home in NYC on Friday afternoon holding hands with his wife Mara Hennessey and daughter Leah, surrounded by music, flowers, and love.
‘He was 75 years old and died of natural causes after nearly a decade of illness.’
Just last month, Leah revealed the extent of Johansen’s health issues, as she sought to raise money for his treatment and ongoing care.
She wrote: ‘Five years ago at the beginning of the pandemic we discovered that David’s cancer had progressed and he had a brain tumor.
‘There have been complications ever since. He’s never made his diagnosis public, as he and my mother Mara are generally very private people, but we feel compelled to share this now, due to the increasingly severe financial burden our family is facing.’
She revealed that Johansen had fallen down the stairs in November and broken his back in two places, incurring more medical fees and leaving him hospitalised for an extended period of time, as his wife became his carer.
“He’s never made his diagnosis public, as he and my mother Mara are generally very private people, but we feel compelled to share this now, due to the increasingly severe financial burden our family is facing,” the fundraiser’s description reads.
The album cover for the New York Dolls eponymous debut album released by Mercury Records. (Photo by Toshi Matsuo/Mercury Records/Getty Images)
1973: The album cover for the New York Dolls eponymous debut album released by Mercury Records. (Photo by Toshi Matsuo/Mercury Records/Getty Images)
In a statement shared by Brooklyn Vegan, Johansen said: “We’ve been living with my illness for a long time, still having fun, seeing friends and family, carrying on, but this tumble the day after Thanksgiving really brought us to a whole new level of debilitation.
