While no official confirmation has yet been released, the news has been reported via several media outlets and sources close to Hollis. Many are also already paying tribute to the influential musician on social media including the musician’s cousin, Anthony Costello, Paul Webb – his former band mate – and Tim Pope, who directed Talk Talk’s music videos.
His cousin-in-law Anthony Costello tweeted on Monday: “RIP Mark Hollis. Cousin-in-law. Wonderful husband and father. Fascinating and principled man.
The news was first reported on Monday by Anthony Costello, a relative of Hollis, and subsequently confirmed by Hollis’s former bandmate Paul Webb, who posted, “I am very shocked and saddened to hear the news of the passing of Mark Hollis. Musically, he was a genius and it was an honour and privilege to have been in a band with him. I have not seen Mark for many years, but like many musicians of our generation I have been profoundly influenced by his trailblazing musical ideas. He knew how to create depth of feeling with sound and space like no other.”
He had retired from recording over 20 years ago – “I choose for my family,” he said of his decision, “I can’t go on tour and be a good dad at the same time” 
Hollis released his first and only solo album, also called Mark Hollis, in 1998. When asked about his decision not to tour anymore or maintain a public persona, he said: “I choose for my family. Maybe others are capable of doing it, but I can’t go on tour and be a good dad at the same time.” He later retired from the music industry, and was little heard from publicly. An article about him last year was headlined “How to disappear completely.”
His last known music was created for TV drama Boss starring Kelsey Grammer and TI.
