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David Bowie's social media accounts posted tonight that the musician and actor has died at age 69. The New York Times and other media have confirmed the news with Bowie's longtime publicist.
On Facebook:
David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief.
From the quick New York Times news story, posted typically while a full obituary is being prepared:
The multitalented artist, whose last album, “Blackstar,” was released on Friday — on his birthday — was to be honored with a concert at Carnegie Hall on March 31 featuring the Roots, Cyndi Lauper and the Mountain Goats. He also has a musical, “Lazarus,” running Off Broadway.
Born David Jones on Jan. 8, 1947, in South London, Mr. Bowie rose to fame with “Space Oddity,” in 1969, and later through his jumpsuit-wearing alter ego Ziggy Stardust. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.In a post on Twitter, there musician’s son, Duncan Jones, said, “Very sorry and sad to say it’s true. I’ll be offline for a while. Love to all.”
The BBC also cited Duncan Jones in confirming the news.
Bowie's breakthrough came with 1972's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.
His hits include Let's Dance, Space Oddity, Heroes, Under Pressure, Rebel, Rebel, Life on Mars and Suffragette City.He was also well known for creating his flamboyant alter ego Ziggy Stardust.
He also carved out an acting career including his role as an alien seeking help for his dying planet in Nicolas Roeg's The Man Who Fell to Earth in 1976.
He did a three-month stint as The Elephant Man on Broadway in the 1980s.
Bowie also starred in Marlene Dietrich's last film, Just a Gigolo (1978), and played Pontius Pilate in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).
The David Bowie star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located at 7021 Hollywood Blvd.
A few hours after hosting the Golden Globes tonight in Beverly Hills, Ricky Gervais tweeted:
I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 11, 2016