Broadway composer and singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik dies at 56
Duncan Sheik, known for the 1996 hit “Barely Breathing” and the Tony-winning musical “Spring Awakening,” died of cardiac arrest at age 56, his family said.
Singer-songwriter and Broadway composer Duncan Sheik died on Thursday night at age 56, his mother told The New York Times. The cause was reported as cardiac arrest.
Sheik’s family posted an Instagram statement praising his impact, saying he was a “singular talent” whose work spanned pop music and theater. > "The world has lost a singular talent, and deeply influential voice in music and theater," the statement read.
Sheik first rose to mainstream attention in 1996 with the Grammy-nominated single “Barely Breathing.” He released nine studio albums, the latest in 2022, and continued to write for stage productions. His Broadway breakthrough came in 2006 when he and lyricist Steven Sater created the score for “Spring Awakening,” which earned two Tony Awards for best original score and best orchestrations, as well as a Grammy for best musical theater album.
Beyond “Spring Awakening,” Sheik composed music for productions such as “Alice by Heart,” “American Psycho,” “The Taming of the Shrew” and “The Secret Life of Bees.” He was also working on a film adaptation of “Spring Awakening,” though its status is unclear.
The artist had been receiving medical care in a “critical but stable” condition before his death. He was survived by his daughter with longtime partner Nora Ariffin, and he was a practicing Buddhist.
Sheik had previously spoken publicly about his struggle with alcohol addiction and credited Buddhist meditation with helping him manage performance anxiety. He remained active in music and theater projects up to his final months.