Brian Wilson, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century and a founding member of the Beach Boys, has passed away at the age of 82.
The musician and record producer was just days away from celebrating his 83rd birthday on June 20. His family shared the news with a statement on Instagram, alongside a recent photo of him sitting on a park bench.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” it read. “We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world,” and was signed: “Love & Mercy”
Wilson was a father of seven, welcoming daughters Carnie and Wendy (two-thirds of the group Wilson Phillips) with his first wife, Marilyn Lovell. With his second wife, the late Melinda Ledbetter, he adopted children Daria, Dakota, Delanie, Dash, and Dylan.
While Wilson had struggled with mental health for several years, he had been diagnosed with dementia in early 2024 and had entered into a second conservatorship.
Wilson’s final public appearance was in May of 2024, at the world premiere of Disney+ documentary The Beach Boys at the TLC Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. He was joined by his bandmates and his two oldest daughters, arriving in a wheelchair and receiving a standing ovation after the screening.
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