David Johansen, the former lead singer of the legendary punk band New York Dolls, has revealed his battle with stage four cancer.
Johansen’s stepdaughter, Leah Hennessey, shared the diagnosis in a Sweet Relief fundraiser for her father’s medical expenses.
The heartwrenching plea revealed that Johansen, 75, has been in ‘intensive treatment for stage 4 cancer for most of the past decade.’
The disease progressed and in 2020 he developed a brain tumor.
Johansen’s family kept his health struggles private and only decided to open up about it now due to the ‘severe financial burden’ they are now dealing with due to the costs of his care.
Sadly, Johansen also broke his back in two places after falling down the stairs the day after Thanksgiving, and he underwent a successful surgery and spent a week in the hospital.
+8
View gallery
David Johansen, a former member of the punk band New York Dolls, has revealed his battle with stage four cancer; pictured 2006
However he ‘has been bedridden and incapacitated,’ Leah, whose mother is David’s wife Mara Hennessey, wrote.
‘Due to the trauma, David’s illness has progressed exponentially and my mother is caring for him around the clock.’
‘To continue his treatment and give him the best chance of recovery, David and Mara will need full time assistance. As hilarious and wise as David continues to be, he is physically debilitated and his care exceeds what we are capable of providing without specialized professional help,’ Hennessey added.
While her father has earned a living as a singer and actor for nearly 60 years, Hennessey explained he has not been able to work as a performer in the last five years.
‘Our most immediate needs are full time nursing, physical therapy and funding for day to day vital living expenses. With professional specialized care, we are hopeful that David can regain some mobility and independence,’ Hennessey said.
The fundraiser did not specify exactly what kind of cancer Johansen is battling.
It contained photos of David with Leah and Mara, along with a photo of the musician in the hospital.
In a statement obtained by Rolling Stone, Johansen called the latest development in his health ordeal ‘the worst pain’ he had ever endured.
+8
View gallery
The family shared this snap of Johansen in the hospital in their fundraiser
+8
View gallery
A musician and actor, Johansen served as the lead singer for the legendary punk-rock band New York Dolls before embarking on his own solo career; Johansen pictured in 1960
+8
View gallery
David’s stepdaughter Leah Hennessy, pictured, made the plea in a Sweet Relief fundraiser
+8
View gallery
David and his wife Mara Hennessy pictured
+8
View gallery
Johansen with Leah and Mara in New York in 2016
‘We’ve been living with my illness for a long time, still having fun, seeing friends and family, carrying on, but this tumble the day after Thanksgiving really brought us to a whole new level of debilitation,’ he explained.
‘This is the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. I’ve never been one to ask for help, but this is an emergency. Thank you.’
A musician and actor, Johansen served as the lead singer and songwriter for the legendary punk-rock band New York Dolls before embarking on his own solo career.
He has also created music as his alter ego, Buster Poindexter, including the 1987 hit Hot Hot Hot.
+8
View gallery
Johansen performing with the New York Dolls at the Reading Festival in 2004
+8
View gallery
A documentary about Johansen that was directed by Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi, Personality Crisis: One Night Only, was released in 2022; pictured 2014
As an actor, Johansen has numerous credits under his name, including a role as the Ghost of Christmas Past in the 1988 Bill Murray-led dark comedy Scrooged.
His family’s fundraiser reveals Johansen currently hosts The Mansion of Fun, a weekly radio show on SiriusXM.
He also had an exhibition of his paintings at the Elliot Temple Fine Arts gallery in New York over the summer.
A documentary about Johansen that was directed by Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi, Personality Crisis: One Night Only, was released in 2022.
