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Rock icon Ozzy Osbourne has died, The Sun reports. He was 76.
The Osbourne family announced the news in the following statement on Tuesday to both The Sun and The Guardian:
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.” No cause of death was given, though Osbourne had experienced various forms of ill health in recent years.”
Per TMZ, the statement was signed by Ozzy’s wife Sharon Osbourne, as well as his children Jack, Kelly, Aimee who he shared with Sharon, and Louis, who he shared with his first wife, Thelma Riley.
Osbourne was one of the founding members of Black Sabbath, launching the band in 1967 alongside Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. However, he quit the band in 1978, and was kicked out in 1979 amid his struggles with alcohol and drugs, and was replaced by Ronnie James Dio, per Rolling Stone. The following year, he embarked on his solo career with his first solo album in the U.K., Blizzard of Ozz. He ultimately released 13 albums on his own.
On the TV front, Osbourne gave fans insight into his family life with The Osbournes, a reality series which aired for four seasons on MTV. Other TV credits of his include episodes of Fish Hooks, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Bubble Guppies, The 7D, and The Conners. Among his film credits are Private Parts, Little Nicky, Moulin Rouge!, Austin Powers in Goldmember, and Gnomeo &. Juliet.
Osbourne has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: in 2006 as a member of Black Sabbath, and in 2024 as a solo artist. He released his memoir I Am Ozzy in 2009, and Rolling Stone reports that he announced another memoir, Last Rites, slated to be released on Oct. 7.
Per TODAY.com, Osbourne revealed that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020.
According to the LA Times, Osbourne announced his retirement from touring in 2023, citing bring “not physically capable” of doing so. Per People, Osbourne performed his final show with the legendary rock band on July 5.
