Neil Sedaka

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

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Saturday Night Live

The View

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

The King of Queens

American Idol

The Merv Griffin Show

All Movies (17)

• ABBA Silver, ABBA Gold2023 · as Himself - singer-songwriter
• Kylie Minogue V The Bee Gees2022 · as Self (archive footage)
• ABBA: In Their Own Words2020 · as Self
• ABBA Forever: A Celebration2019 · as Self
• Neil Sedaka - Legends in Concert2015 · as Self
• Neil Sedaka: King of Song2014 · as Self
• Neil Sedaka: That's When the Music Takes Me2010
• Neil Sedaka: The Show Goes On2006
• Food Rocks1994 · as Neil Moussaka (uncredited)
• Neil Sedaka Says: All You Need Is the Music1983
• Neil Sedaka: Live in Concert at the Jubilee Hall1981 · as Himself
• Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special1976
• In Concert: Neil Sedaka1975
• The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 19741974 · as Self
• Playgirl Killer1967 · as Bob
• Instant Love1964 · as Himself
• Festival in Rhythm1960 · as Himself

All TV Shows (31)

• This Is Pop2021 · as Self
• Good Morning Britain2014 · as Self
• The Alan Titchmarsh Show2007 · as Self
• Legends2006 · as Self
• The Tony Danza Show2004 · as Self
• American Idol2002 · as Self - Guest Judge
• The King of Queens1998 · as Neil Sedaka
• The Heaven and Earth Show1998
• The Garden Party1998
• The View1997 · as Self
• The Music Biz1995 · as Self
• Pebble Mill1991 · as Self
• Surprise, Surprise1984 · as Self - Performer
• Na sowas!1982 · as Self
• The Sonny and Cher Show1976
• Donny & Marie1976 · as Self
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Musical Guest
• Tony Orlando and Dawn1974 · as Self
• Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest1972 · as Self
• Musikladen1972 · as Self
• Ein Kessel Buntes1972 · as Self
• Look - Mike Yarwood!1971
• The Carol Burnett Show1967 · as Self
• Shindig!1964 · as Self - Singer / Pianist
• Shindig!1964 · as Self - Singer
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self - Guest Co-Host
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self
• The Dick Clark Show1958 · as Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self