Michael Reagan, a conservative commentator and author who was the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan, has died at the age of 80.
His family released a statement Tuesday confirming his death on Sunday:
Crushed to hear the news of Michael Reagan’s passing. What a life he led and always with a huge smile. RIP to one of the best. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/yeWZXC0Ej8
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) January 6, 2026
Here's a bit of his biography:
Michael Reagan, the eldest son of former President Ronald Reagan and actress Jane Wyman, has died at 80, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute announced in a statement released from Simi Valley, California, on Tuesday.
Reagan was a conservative author, nationally syndicated radio talk show host and frequent public speaker who spent decades actively defending and promoting his father’s legacy through close involvement with the Reagan Library and Foundation.
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The Foundation and Library's statement by its Chairman of the Board, Fred Ryan, read in part:
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute mourns the passing of Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman, and a steadfast guardian of his father’s legacy.
Michael Reagan lived a life shaped by conviction, purpose, and an abiding devotion to President Reagan’s ideals. A successful author, nationally syndicated radio talk show host, and sought-after public speaker, Michael used his voice to champion freedom, personal responsibility, and the principles that defined his father’s presidency. Yet beyond his professional accomplishments, Michael was, above all, a devoted son and a deeply loyal friend to the Reagan Foundation and Institute.
Calling Michael Reagan's passing "a profound loss to all who knew him and to the millions who valued his dedication to preserving President Reagan’s legacy," Ryan included an passage from Pres. Reagan's book, An American Life, about Michael, in which he wrote:
“When I read his book, I had even more of a fatherly pride in Mike than I had had before…. he was happy and at peace with himself.” Those words speak not only to a father’s pride, but to the quiet strength and authenticity with which Michael lived his life.
The statement continued, noting that his "presence, warmth, and unwavering commitment will be deeply missed at the Reagan Library and far beyond its walls."
Fellow conservative radio host and Fox News host Mark Levin reacted to the news in an X post:
I am so sorry to hear just now that Michael Reagan has passed away. He was such a great patriot. My deepest condolences to his family. May he RIP.https://t.co/x4RGYYUazX
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) January 6, 2026
This is a breaking story. RedState will provide updates as more information becomes available.
[Editor's Note: This article was edited for clarity post-publication.]
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