Sedaka died at 86 on Feb. 27.

Neil Sedaka’s cause of death revealed

Sedaka died at 86 on Feb. 27.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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March 18, 2026 6:16 p.m. ET

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Neil Sedaka in Toluca Lake, Calif., in 2016. Credit:

Jennifer Lourie/Getty

Authorities have announced Neil Sedaka's official cause of death.

The legendary songwriter's death certificate, which was published by the *New York Post* on Wednesday, listed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease as the musician's cause of death.

Sedaka's place of death was listed as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was buried at Hollywood Funeral Home in Los Angeles.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries, which can lead to blood clots, strokes, and kidney failure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Neil Sedaka in London in 1976.

George Wilkes/Hulton Archive/Getty

Sedaka died Feb. 27 at 86. A representative for the singer provided a statement from his family to **.

"Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," the statement said. "A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed."

After briefly performing with the doo-wop group the Tokens, Sedaka found solo success with hit singles like "Calendar Girl," "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen," and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" in the early 1960s. He sold 40 million records between 1959 and 1963, making him the second-highest selling recording artist behind only Elvis Presley.

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The songwriter experienced a career resurgence in the '70s with No. 1 songs like "Laughter in the Rain" and "Bad Blood." He also penned hit songs for other artists, including "Love Will Keep Us Together" (made famous by Captain & Tennille) and "Solitaire" (recorded by the Carpenters).

Sedaka released over two dozen studio albums and wrote over 500 songs across his career, including tracks recorded by ABBA, Connie Francis, Elvis Presley, Cher, Sheryl Crow, Frank Sinatra, Carole King, and Andy Williams. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983 and was nominated for five Grammys

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Sedaka is survived by his wife, Leba Strassberg, and their two children, Marc and Dara.**

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