Reports about the death of singer-songwriter and satirist Tom Lehrer have surfaced online. He was a Harvard-educated mathematician who briefly served in the U.S. Army. These had a considerable impact on the music he created, as did his lifelong career in academia. He became very popular during the ’50s and the ’60s, often using his songs to make political commentaries in a humorous way.
Tom Lehrer cause of death explained
Lehrer passed away at his Cambridge home in Massachusetts on July 26, 2025, as per reports. He was 97 years old. David Herder, a friend of Lehrer, confirmed the news of his passing.
As reports of Lehrer’s death began to circulate, tributes started to pour in. Comedy singer-songwriter “Weird Al” Yankovic took to social media to share, “My last living musical hero is still my hero but unfortunately no longer living. RIP to the great, great Mr. Tom Lehrer.”
Lehrer was reportedly born in Manhattan, NYC, in April 1928, to parents Morris James and Anna Lehrer. He was seven years old when he began learning classical piano, but he was more drawn toward popular music of the era and would later receive lessons from a piano teacher specializing in contemporary popular music. While studying mathematics at Harvard, he started writing comedy songs.
Lehrer released two studio albums: Songs by Tom Lehrer (1953) and More of Tom Lehrer (1959). He also went on multiple music tours and put out several live and compilation albums. As an academic, Lehrer taught at Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of California, Santa Cruz. As mentioned above, he served in the U.S. Army and also worked for the National Security Agency (NSA) in the ’50s. (via The Washington Post)
Lehrer did not get married and has no kids. He reportedly did not leave behind an immediate survivor.
Originally reported by Tamal Kundu on ComingSoon.
