Neil Sedaka, the legendary singer known for hits such as 'Breaking Up Is Hard', 'Little Miss Devil', and 'Calendar Girl', has died at the age of 86.
The music industry is mourning the loss of legendary singer-songwriter, Neil Sedaka, who passed away at the age of 86 on February 27, 2026. Neil was known for delivering hit songs such as Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, Calendar Girl, Laughter in the Rain, and more. The singer's death was confirmed by his family, who released a statement with TMZ and Variety to announce that they were left "devastated" with the loss of their "husband, father, and grandfather". As tributes continue to pour in for the iconic legend, many fans are now looking back at his personal life and decades-long marriage to his wife, Leba Strassberg. Here's everything to know about it.
Neil Sedaka is survived by his wife, Leba Strassberg. The couple's love story began in the 1950s at Esther Manor, where Neil was performing with a band at the resort, and Leba, the daughter of Esther Goldstein Strassberg, one of the resort's owners was present there. They developed a chemistry at the first meeting, and soon the young romance developed into love, and they tied the knot in 1962. Since then, the duo's marriage has lasted for more than six decades, which is rare in the entertainment industry.
Over the years, Leba Strassberg ensured she stayed out of the spotlight while she looked after their family and supported her husband behind the scenes in his thriving career. Despite achieving global fame and working on a hectic schedule, Leba and Neil maintained a strong bond. In fact, his official website reveals that Neil used to credit his family for being the grounding force in his life. Sharing their affection for him after his demise, the singer's family stated:
"Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Neil Sedaka. 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."
Together, Neil and Leba welcomed two children, Marc and Dara Sedaka. They both followed creative paths to carve out unique careers for themselves. According to Sedaka's official page, Dara became a recording artist and also worked as a vocalist for television and radio commercials. On the other hand, Marc built a successful career as a screenwriter in Los Angeles.
Marc married Samantha Sedaka, and the couple has three children. The late singer-songwriter was a proud grandfather to twin granddaughters, Amanda and Charlotte, as well as to a grandson, Michael. Notably, his grandkids inspired some of his later projects, including the children's album, Waking Up Is Hard to Do, in which he reimagined his classic hits. It eventually became a family, with Marc adapting many songs and Sedaka's granddaughters providing backup vocals.
Neil Sedaka's family did not release the official cause of Sedaka's death. Instead, their statement simply confirmed his passing. However, TMZ reported that deputies from the Los Angeles County West Hollywood Sheriff's Station acted on a medical request call on the morning of February 27, 2026. They assisted before Neil was taken to a Los Angeles hospital around 8 a.m. local time. According to Rolling Stone, the singer was unwell for some time before his hospitalisation. Some representatives later confirmed that he had passed away soon after.
Rest in peace, Neil Sedaka. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family in this difficult time.
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