Person
Neil Sedaka
Brooklyn, New York, USA
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 wro…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2023
ABBA Silver, ABBA Gold
Movie Himself - singer-songwriter
-
2022
Kylie Minogue V The Bee Gees
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
2021
This Is Pop
TV show Self
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2020
ABBA: In Their Own Words
Movie Self
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2019
ABBA Forever: A Celebration
Movie Self
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2015
Neil Sedaka - Legends in Concert
Movie Self
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2014
Good Morning Britain
TV show Self
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2014
Neil Sedaka: King of Song
Movie Self
- 2010
-
2007
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
TV show Self
-
2006
Legends
TV show Self
- 2006
-
2004
The Tony Danza Show
TV show Self
-
2002
American Idol
TV show Self - Guest Judge
-
1998
The King of Queens
TV show Neil Sedaka
-
1998
The Heaven and Earth Show
TV show
More credits
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1998
The Garden Party
TV show
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1997
The View
TV show Self
-
1995
The Music Biz
TV show Self
-
1994
Food Rocks
Movie Neil Moussaka (uncredited)
-
1991
Pebble Mill
TV show Self
-
1984
Surprise, Surprise
TV show Self - Performer
- 1983
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1982
Na sowas!
TV show Self
-
1981
Neil Sedaka: Live in Concert at the Jubilee Hall
Movie Himself
-
1979
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
TV show Theme Song Performance
- 1976
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1976
The Sonny and Cher Show
TV show
-
1976
Donny & Marie
TV show Self
-
1975
Saturday Night Live
TV show Self - Musical Guest
-
1975
In Concert: Neil Sedaka
Movie
- 1974
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1974
Tony Orlando and Dawn
TV show Self
- 1972
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1972
Musikladen
TV show Self
-
1972
Ein Kessel Buntes
TV show Self
-
1971
Look - Mike Yarwood!
TV show
-
1967
The Carol Burnett Show
TV show Self
-
1967
Playgirl Killer
Movie Bob
-
1966
Sting of Death
Movie Songs
