Overview

• David Johansen, frontman of the groundbreaking proto-punk band New York Dolls, passed away at his Staten Island home at age 75 due to stage 4 cancer and other health complications.
• The New York Dolls, known for their gender-bending style and raw sound, were pivotal in shaping the punk rock movement of the 1970s, influencing bands like The Clash and the Sex Pistols.
• After the Dolls disbanded in 1976, Johansen found mainstream success in the 1980s with his lounge-lizard persona Buster Poindexter, including the hit song 'Hot, Hot, Hot.'
• Johansen also had a successful acting career, appearing in films such as 'Scrooged' and 'Married to the Mob,' and was featured in Martin Scorsese's 2023 documentary 'Personality Crisis: One Night Only.'
• He is survived by his wife Mara Hennessey and stepdaughter Leah Hennessey, who revealed his long battle with cancer and other health challenges in a heartfelt tribute.