David Johansen, the dynamic and multi-talented frontman of the pioneering proto-glam-punk group New York Dolls, and the last remaining founding member of the band, has passed away at the age of 75. Johansen, who later gained widespread recognition in the 1980s and 1990s as the retro-styled crooner Buster Poindexter, died on Friday.
His wife, Mara Hennessey, confirmed to ABC News that Johansen passed away peacefully in his bedroom, surrounded by music, flowers, and the presence of both her and his stepdaughter, Leah.
“We shared an incredible journey together. He was truly one of a kind. I’m deeply thankful that we made his illness public before he left us, as it allowed the past few weeks to be filled with love and heartfelt messages from family, friends, and fans,” Hennessey said in a statement.
Leah Hennessey had disclosed in February that Johansen had been undergoing intensive treatment for stage 4 cancer for nearly a decade, with the disease having reached his brain five years prior. Additionally, she revealed that he had suffered a severe fall the day after Thanksgiving in 2024, fracturing his back in two places.
Due to the complications from his injury, his health deteriorated rapidly, requiring round-the-clock care from his wife, Leah explained in a post on the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund website—a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting musicians in financial need.
Reflecting on his health struggles, Johansen told Rolling Stone, “I’ve been living with this illness for a long time, still enjoying life, seeing friends and family, and carrying on. But this fall after Thanksgiving took things to a whole new level of hardship. This is the most excruciating pain I’ve ever endured. I’ve never been someone to ask for help, but this is an emergency.”
Born on January 9, 1950, in Staten Island, New York, Johansen initially performed with local bands before joining a group in 1971 that would later become known as the New York Dolls. As their lead vocalist and songwriter, he helped shape their raw, energetic sound. The band quickly made a name for itself in the New York music scene, blending gritty rock with an extravagant, gender-bending aesthetic—big hair, heavy makeup, high heels, velvet, and spandex.
Although the New York Dolls never achieved massive commercial success during their peak in the 1970s, they left an undeniable mark on rock history. Internal conflicts and lineup changes led to their disbandment in 1976 after only releasing two albums—New York Dolls and Too Much Too Soon. Both records featured Johansen’s signature vocals, with most songs written or co-written by him. Despite their brief time in the spotlight, the band played a pivotal role in shaping punk and glam rock, inspiring artists like Blondie, Aerosmith, the Sex Pistols, KISS, The Clash, David Bowie, Morrissey, Billy Idol, R.E.M., and Joan Jett.
Their flamboyant stage presence also influenced the glam-metal movement of the 1980s, with bands such as Poison, Twisted Sister, and Mötley Crüe adopting elements of their style.
Though they never secured a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the New York Dolls were nominated three times—first in 2001, and later in 2021 and 2022.
Following his time with the Dolls, Johansen pursued a solo career before reinventing himself in the 1980s as Buster Poindexter, a lounge singer with a slick pompadour and a love for classic jive tunes. Backed by The Banshees of Blue, he found success with his 1987 cover of Hot Hot Hot, a lively dance track that became his only charting single on the Billboard Hot 100.
As Poindexter, Johansen recorded four albums and became a familiar face on late-night television. He even spent the 1986-87 season performing with the Saturday Night Live house band.
Over the years, he continued making music, both as a solo artist and as part of various musical projects, including his blues band, The Harry Smiths, in the early 2000s. Around the same time, he reunited with surviving New York Dolls members, leading to three additional albums and sporadic live performances.
Beyond music, Johansen ventured into acting, most notably portraying the wisecracking, cigar-smoking Ghost of Christmas Past in the 1988 comedy Scrooged, starring Bill Murray.
In 2023, Johansen’s influence was highlighted in the documentary Personality Crisis: One Night Only, directed by Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi. The film showcased footage from his January 2020 cabaret performance at Café Carlyle in New York, a celebration of his 70th birthday and his decades-long impact on music.
Reflecting on his career in the documentary’s trailer, Johansen remarked, “Vegetarian, straight, gay—whatever. I just wanted to tear down those barriers and have a party.”
Johansen was married three times and went through two divorces. He is survived by his wife, artist Mara Hennessey, whom he married in 2013, and their daughter.