Neil Sedaka
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- March 13, 1939
- Died
- February 27, 2026 (aged 86)
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York, USA
Biography
Neil Sedaka (March 13, 1939 — February 27, 2026) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Beginning his music career in 1957, he sold millions of records worldwide and wrote or co-wrote over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard Greenfield and Phil Cody. After a short-lived tenure as a founding member of the doo-wop group the Tokens, Sedaka achieved a string of hit singles over the late 1950s and early 1960s, including "Oh! Carol" (1959), "Calendar Girl" (1960), "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" (1961), and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (1962). His popularity declined by the mid-1960s, but revived in the mid-1970s, solidified by the 1975 US Billboard Hot 100 number ones "Laughter in the Rain" and "Bad Blood". Sedaka maintained a successful career as a songwriter, penning hits for other artists, including "Stupid Cupid" (Connie Francis), "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" (Tony Christie), and "Love Will Keep Us Together" (Captain & Tennille). As a performer, he had ten No. 1 hits and four as a songwriter. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983 and continued to perform, mounting mini-concerts on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sedaka was hospitalized in Los Angeles after experiencing an undisclosed medical emergency and later died on February 27, 2026, aged 86.
Known For
Filmography
ABBA Silver, ABBA Gold
Movie · as Himself - singer-songwriter
Kylie Minogue V The Bee Gees
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
This Is Pop
TV · as Self · 1 ep
ABBA: In Their Own Words
Movie · as Self
ABBA Forever: A Celebration
Movie · as Self
Neil Sedaka - Legends in Concert
Movie · as Self
Neil Sedaka: King of Song
Movie · as Self
Good Morning Britain
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Neil Sedaka: That's When the Music Takes Me
Movie
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Neil Sedaka: The Show Goes On
Movie
Legends
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Tony Danza Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
American Idol
TV · as Self - Guest Judge · 1 ep
The King of Queens
TV · as Neil Sedaka · 1 ep
The Heaven and Earth Show
TV · 1 ep
The Garden Party
TV · 1 ep
The View
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Music Biz
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Food Rocks
Movie · as Neil Moussaka (uncredited)
Later... with Jools Holland
TV · 1 ep
Pebble Mill
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Surprise, Surprise
TV · as Self - Performer · 1 ep
Neil Sedaka Says: All You Need Is the Music
Movie
Na sowas!
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Neil Sedaka: Live in Concert at the Jubilee Hall
Movie · as Himself
Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
Movie
The Sonny and Cher Show
TV · 1 ep
Donny & Marie
TV · as Self · 1 ep
In Concert: Neil Sedaka
Movie
Saturday Night Live
TV · as Self - Musical Guest · 1 ep
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
Movie · as Self
Tony Orlando and Dawn
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Ein Kessel Buntes
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Musikladen
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Look - Mike Yarwood!
TV · 1 ep
Playgirl Killer
Movie · as Bob
The Carol Burnett Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Instant Love
Movie · as Himself
Shindig!
TV · as Self - Singer / Pianist · 1 ep
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV · as Self · 3 eps
The Merv Griffin Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Mike Douglas Show
TV · as Self - Guest Co-Host · 3 eps
Festival in Rhythm
Movie · as Himself
The Dick Clark Show
TV · as Self · 8 eps
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV · as Self · 2 eps