Michael Reagan, Son of President Ronald Reagan, Dies at 80

Published: January 7, 2026

By Lillie Liska

Michael Reagan, the eldest son of former President Ronald Reagan, died on Sunday. The conservative commentator was 80 years old.

His family announced his death on Tuesday, sharing that he was surrounded by his loved ones in Los Angeles.

“Michael was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 4th, surrounded by his entire family,” his wife, Colleen Reagan, and two children, Cameron Reagan and Ashley Reagan Dunster, wrote in a statement. “Our hearts are deeply broken as we grieve the loss of a man who meant so much to all who knew and loved him.”

“Michael was and will always remain a beloved husband, father, and grandpa,” the family continued.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute remembered him as a “steadfast guardian of his father’s legacy.”

“Michael Reagan lived a life shaped by conviction, purpose, and an abiding devotion to President Reagan’s ideals,” Fred Ryan, chairman of the foundation’s board, said in a statement. “A successful author, nationally syndicated radio talk show host, and sought-after public speaker, Michael used his voice to champion freedom, personal responsibility, and the principles that defined his father’s presidency.”

According to Andrew Coffin, vice president of the Young America’s Foundation and director of the Reagan Ranch, Michael died after a battle with cancer.

Born in 1945, Michael was adopted by Ronald Reagan and his first wife, Jane Wyman, just hours after his birth.

He was a founding analyst and columnist for Newsmax, a conservative news network.

“Michael Reagan was far more than a political commentator. He was the living embodiment of his father’s legacy, and throughout his life he worked tirelessly to carry forward Ronald Reagan’s torch for freedom, family, and faith,” Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy said.

Thought his life and career, Michael carried on his father’s legacy of faith and freedom, reflecting on those principles in a 2024 interview with Movieguide®.

“His faith was strong, but it became stronger after he was shot because he really felt he was saved for another purpose, as Pope John Paul was shot of few months later thought the same thing. He was saved [from] an assassin’s bullet for a higher purpose,” Michael explained. “And the two of them get together and bring peace to Poland and ultimately bring down the Berlin Wall.”

Throughout his presidency, Reagan missed going to church. Michael shared that after his time as president ended, he “never missed church again” until he had Alzheimer’s, when he had a minister come to his home.

“The minister would always leave and tell Nancy, ‘I went to minister to a President but the President ministered to me,’” Michael recalled.

Michael is survived by his wife, two children and their families. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers as they mourn his death.

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