Former US President Ronald Reagan’s son, the well-known conservative commentator Michael Reagan, passed away at the age of 80 in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 4.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute announced this news on social media platform X on Tuesday, January 6, referring to Michael Reagan as “a steadfast guardian of his father’s legacy.”
The Foundation said, “Michael Reagan’s life was shaped by belief, purpose, and enduring dedication to President Reagan’s ideals. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Colleen, son Cameron Reagan, daughter Ashley Reagan Dunster, and the entire Reagan family.”
According to a report by Usnews on Tuesday, January 6, Michael Reagan’s family stated that he passed away surrounded by his loved ones.
In a statement, his family said that Michael Reagan was “called home to the Lord” and described him as a “beloved husband, father, and grandfather.” The statement expressed gratitude for the public’s prayers and requested privacy for the family during this difficult time. While some media reports have mentioned cancer as the cause of his death, the Foundation and his family have not officially disclosed the specific cause in their announcement.
Michael Reagan was born in 1945 to Irene Flaugher and was adopted by Ronald Reagan and his first wife, actress Jane Wyman, shortly after birth. Following in his parents’ footsteps, he pursued a career in entertainment after attending Arizona State University and Los Angeles Valley College. He appeared in television shows like “Falcon Crest.”
As a conservative figure, Michael Reagan hosted “The Michael Reagan Show,” a talk radio program, for nearly two decades and contributed as a columnist for the conservative media outlet Newsmax TV. He authored several books including autobiographical works like “On the Outside Looking in” and “Twice Adopted,” which narrate his childhood experiences, adoption story, and spiritual journey. His book “Lessons My Father Taught Me,” published in 2016, details the experiences and lessons he learned from his father.
Throughout his life, Michael Reagan actively engaged in charity work, raising funds for organizations like the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Statue of Liberty Restoration Fund through activities such as motorboat racing.
He served as a committee member of the Mixed Roots Foundation, focusing on foster and adoption issues in the US and globally, and was the chairman of the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation for three years, the disease that caused his father Ronald Reagan’s death in 2004.
As the President and Chairman of the Reagan Legacy Foundation, Michael Reagan dedicated himself to advocating for his father’s legacy. President Reagan, a conservative leader, was known for shrinking the size of the US government during his tenure and winning the Cold War.
In his second marriage, Michael Reagan and his wife Colleen shared decades of life together, raising two children.