New York Dolls frontman David Johansen dies aged 75 days after revealing cancer diagnosis

New York Dolls frontman David Johansen has died (Picture: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic) New York Dolls frontman David Johansen has died. The legendary 70s star died aged 75, just days after he revealed that he had a brain tumour and stage four cancer. The news of his death was confirmed in a statement which said he died on Friday at home surrounded by his family. According to Far Out Magazine, it 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. Johansen’s brain tumour and stage four cancer diagnosis were revealed just last month (Picture: Andrew H. Walker/REX/Shutterstock) ‘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. Leah wrote: ‘As hilarious and wise as David continues to be, he is physically debilitated and his care exceeds what we are capable of providing without specialized professional help.’ The New York Dolls first formed in 1971 in New York City, and were some of the earliest pioneers in punk music. (Picture: Alan Messer/REX/Shutterstock) She added: ‘David has worked continuously as a singer and actor for the better part of six decades, to the delight of his fans all over the world.  However, for the past five years, David has been unable to work as a performer.’ At the time, Johansen also released a statement that read: ‘We’ve been living with my illness for a long time, still having fun, seeing friends & family, carrying on, but this tumble the day after Thanksgiving really brought us to a whole new level of debilitation. ‘This is the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. I’ve never been one to ask for help but this is an emergency. Thank you.’ Johansen had a career in acting as well as music (Picture: REX/Shutterstock) The New York Dolls first formed in 1971 in New York City, and were some of the earliest pioneers in punk music. As well as vocalist Johansen, the band consisted of guitarist Johnny Thunders, bassist Arthur Kane, guitarist and pianist Sylvian Sylvain, and drummer Jerry Nolan. The latter two replaced Rick Rivets and Billy Murcia, who were the original guitarist and drummer, in 1972. The New York Dolls reached success with their albums New York Dolls, released in 1973, and Too Much Too Soon, in 1974. Johansen also featured in several films during the 1980s and 90s, and in 2000, had a brief role in the HBO series Oz. He also appeared in TV series The Adventures of Pete & Pete, and played the Ghost of Christmas Past in the Bill Murray-starring 1998 film Scrooged. He starred opposite Hulk Hogan in Mr Nanny in 1993, and held roles in Freejack, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, and, more recently, as a bartender in the 2015 Bill Murray Netflix special A Very Murray Christmas. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.