The death of Roy Black marks the passing of one of America’s most prominent criminal defense attorneys. Known for representing high-profile clients over a five-decade career, Black passed away on July 21, 2025, at his home in Coral Gables, Florida.
Here are more details about Roy Black’s death.
Roy Black cause of death explained
Roy Black, the high-profile criminal defense attorney and husband of Real Housewives of Miami alum Lea Black, has died at the age of 80. He passed away on Monday, July 21, at his Coral Gables home after battling an illness. He is survived by his wife Lea, their son RJ, and his daughter Nora from a previous marriage.
Following the news of his passing, Lea Black expressed gratitude on Instagram for the outpouring of support. She wrote, “Thank you all for your blessings. We will be announcing details for a tribute and celebration of life in a few weeks.” Though the exact cause of death has not been made public, reports confirm he had been unwell in recent months.
Originally from New York, Black moved to Miami for his college and legal education. Over the course of his legal career, Black became widely known for representing prominent figures in major criminal cases. His high-profile cases included names such as William Kennedy Smith, Jeffrey Epstein, Justin Bieber, Peter Max, Joe Francis, Helio Castroneves, and Kelsey Grammer.
Beyond the courtroom, Roy Black also contributed legal for NBC News and appeared in the 2005 reality-based legal series The Law Firm. He wrote the book Black’s Law in 1999, offering insights into his experience.
Black continued working at his Biscayne Boulevard law office up until his final days. His partner, Howard Srebnick, paid tribute following his death. Srebnick noted that Black was “the greatest criminal lawyer of our generation, perhaps in American history.” (via Bravo)
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon.
