Wayne Osmond, who sang alongside his famous family in The Osmonds, died on New Year’s Day at 73 years old.
“Wayne Osmond, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully last night (January 1) surrounded by his loving wife and five children,” the family said in a statement on Thursday. “His legacy of faith, music, love, and laughter have influenced the lives of many people around the world. He would want everyone to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that families are forever, and that banana splits are the best dessert. We love him and will miss him dearly.”
Brother Merrill Osmond wrote in a social media post that Wayne suffered “a massive stroke.”
“My brother was a saint before he came into this world, and he will leave as an even greater saint than he came in,” Merrill wrote. “His departure from this earth will be a sad moment for some, but for those who are waiting for him on the other side, there will be a massive celebration beyond anything we can imagine.”
Osmond was born on Aug. 28, 1951 in Ogden, Utah. As a child, he began singing at weekly church services and for audiences in and around Ogden, along with his brothers Alan, Merrill, Jay, Donny, and Jimmy.
The Osmond Brothers soon went on to compete in a barbershop singing competition in California and booked gigs performing at Disneyland and in minor roles on TV. They hit it big after being discovered in the early ’60s by Andy Williams’ father, who encouraged his son to book the boys on his variety show.
The group went on to become TV staples, toured around the world and ultimately became known as teen idols of the 1970s. The Osmonds continued to perform in various configurations throughout the 2000s, and were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003.
In 2012, Wayne retired from the group after a stroke and damage caused by treatment for a brain tumor made it too difficult to perform on a regular basis. The family last publicly sang together in 2019 for sister Marie’s 60th birthday, according to Extra.
Wayne is survived by wife Kathlyn Louise White and their five children, as well as siblings Virl, Tom, Alan, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie, and Jimmy Osmond.
