Ozzy Osbourne’s Cause of Death Revealed After Years of Health Struggles and Parkinson’s Battle
Take a look back at his health journey and how music and his family kept him going
Two weeks after legendary singer and black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne died, his cause of death has been revealed as “acute myocardial infarction” (a heart attack) and “out-of-hospital cardiac arrest” (a sudden stopping of heart function), according to a death certificate obtained by The New York Times. Both coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease with autonomic dysfunction were listed as “joint causes” contributing to his death.
Osbourne died at age 76 on July 22 after a years-long battle with Parkinson’s. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,” the statement made by the family read. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
The news came just weeks after Obsourne performed at his farewell concert (telling fans, “You have no idea how I feel—thank you from the bottom of my heart”) and several years after he first publicly shared his battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2020. Obsourne was laid to rest on July 30 in Birmingham, England, where his wife Sharon and kids Louis, Aimee, Kelly and Jack said an emotional farewell.
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Kelly opens up about her grief following Ozzy’s death
In an Instagram story yesterday, as reported by USA Today, Kelly wrote, “‘I’ve sat down to write this a hundred times and still don’t know if the words will ever feel like enough… but from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
“The love, support, and beautiful messages I’ve received from so many of you have truly helped carry me through the hardest moment of my life,” she continued. “Every kind word, every shared memory, every bit of compassion has meant more than I can ever explain.”
“’Grief is a strange thing—it sneaks up on you in waves—I will not be ok for a while—but knowing my family are not alone in our pain makes a difference,” she wrote. “I’m holding on tight to the love, the light, and the legacy left behind. Thank you for being there. I love you all so much.”
She added the hashtags #BirminghamForever and #OzzyForever to her post, as well as a clip of Ozzy’s song, “See You on the Other Side.”
What type of Parkinson’s disease did Ozzy Osbourne have?
Sharon Osbourne, 72, previously shared that the rock and roll legend had the Parkin 2 gene (PRKN 2), which, according to Daniel E. Kremens, MD, JD, FAAN, Professor of Neurology and Co-Director of the Movement Disorders Program at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, is “characterized by both motor and nonmotor symptoms, from tremors and balance issues to sleep problems or hallucinations.”
In 2020, Sharon told Good Morning America host Robin Roberts, “It’s like [Ozzy has] a good day, a good day and then a really bad day.” (Learn more about Parkinson’s disease symptoms here.)
Ozzy Osbourne’s Parkinson’s disease symptoms
Ozzy was vocal about the challenges Parkinson’s had introduced to his daily routine. He revealed in February that he “can’t walk,” noting that his legs had been severely affected. He had also struggled with speech difficulties and general fatigue.
In the aftermath of surgeries following a fall, Ozzy experienced numbness in his arms and cold legs. “I don’t know if that’s Parkinson’s…They cut nerves when they did the surgery. I’d never heard of nerve pain, and it’s a weird feeling,” he said on Good Morning America.
Sharon also spoke candidly about the pain of watching her husband struggle. “When I look at my husband, my heart breaks for him,” she admitted. “I’m sad for myself to see him that way, but what he goes through is worse. And sometimes when I look at him and he doesn’t know I’m looking at him, I cry.”
Despite the challenges of Parkinson’s, many individuals continue to lead fulfilling lives. “When you get up in the morning, you just jump outta bed,” Ozzy told Billy Morrison on his The Osbournes Podcast. “Oh, I have to balance myself, you know? But you know, I’m not dead, as you say. I’m still actively doing things.”
And staying active is key. “For most people with Parkinson’s disease, it is a very slow disease and they can continue to live productive, engaging lives for many years,” Dr. Kremens says. The key, he emphasizes, is receiving proper care and having a good support system.
How Ozzy Osbourne managed his Parkinson’s disease
There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but treatments can help manage symptoms. Ozzy had explored various treatments, including immune therapy in Switzerland. In 2020, he canceled his North American tour to travel and recover. “In April, we’re going to a professional in Switzerland. And he deals with getting your immune system at its peak,” Sharon explained at the time.
In 2024, Ozzy spoke about undergoing stem cell therapy, saying “I’ve just come back from the doctor after having some stem cells put in me. The thing is, you have it, and you go, ‘I don’t feel that great,’ but I don’t know what it would be like if I didn’t have it.”
Sharon also shared in February that Ozzy had to work with a physiotherapist every day to keep his muscles moving. “He’s fine,” she said, “…as fine as you can be with Parkinson’s.”
Music kept him going
Despite his health struggles, Ozzy remained dedicated to his music, which he credited as the source for his motivation. In July, he returned to the stage for his final Black Sabbath performance, marking his first reunion with the band in two decades.
“Parkinson’s isn’t something that goes away,” Sharon said. “You have it forever. There’s no cure. So he has battles with it.” But through it all, she said Ozzy remained strong. “His voice is as good as it’s ever been.”
The rocker had spoken about how music had been his saving grace. “The last six years have been full of some of the worst times I’ve been through,” he said in a press release. “There’s been times when I thought my number was up. But making music and making two albums saved me. I’d have gone nuts without music.”
Ozzy Osbourne’s prior health struggles
Ozzy’s health battles began long before his Parkinson’s diagnosis became public knowledge. Notably, he suffered a serious fall in 2019 that dislodged metal rods from a prior ATV accident and led to multiple spinal surgeries. The repeated procedures took a toll on him. “Tomorrow I have my final surgery on my neck,” he said on an episode of The Osbournes Podcast in 2024.
The surgeries, combined with Parkinson’s, left Ozzy struggling with nerve complications and movement. “My feet feel like I’ve got bricks tied to them when I’m walking,” he admitted. “I walked upstairs today and downstairs for the first time in a while, and my feet feel like I’ve got diving boots on when I’m walking. I think it’s the nerves… Then I was thinking, maybe I just need to get up off my *ss and walk around the block a few times.”
The truth about Ozzy and Sharon’s so-called ‘suicide pact’
In recent weeks, multiple sources reported that Sharon and Ozzy had allegedly agreed to a “suicide pact” if either of them had an illness that affected their brains.
Their daughter Kelly debunked this rumor, saying, “Stop making articles or posts about how you think my parents are having a suicide pact. That was bullsh*t my mom said to get attention one time.”
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