Art Garfunkel Opens Up on Longtime Struggle With Psoriasis

The 83-year-old singer revealed that the condition quietly persisted throughout much of his time in the public eye.

Art Garfunkel at the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert in New York City on Oct. 29, 2009. Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

After stepping back from the spotlight in recent years, eight-time Grammy Award winner Art Garfunkel is opening up about a long-private health struggle that shaped his life behind the scenes—even at the height of his musical career.

In an interview with People magazine, the 83-year-old singer shared that he has been living with psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune condition that causes skin cells to build up rapidly, resulting in scaling and inflammation. Though rarely discussed publicly, Garfunkel said the condition persisted quietly throughout much of his time in the public eye.

“Psoriasis is something I lived with quietly for many years. It was part of my life even during my most public moments, including on tours, but I rarely, if ever, spoke about it,” Garfunkel said.

“I found ways to cover it on stage, in photos and in my day-to-day life.”

Garfunkel explained that the discomfort and visible symptoms of the disease, including itching and scaling, took a toll not only physically but emotionally—particularly as a performer whose image and presence were central to his career.

“Performing is such a big part of who I am, so having to step back because of my psoriasis was difficult,” he said. “I could be in front of thousands of people but still have to cover up. It can affect your confidence, your comfort in your own skin, and it isolates you in ways people don’t always see.”

His treatment journey, he noted, spanned decades and involved a range of therapies—from topical creams and remedies to ultraviolet (UV) light therapy and coal tar applications—though most provided only temporary relief.

Garfunkel credits a turning point in his treatment to his dermatologist, who introduced him to ILUMYA, a biologic treatment developed by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries. After starting the new therapy, Garfunkel began to see significant improvements.

“After my first few doses, my skin began to clear up, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel the need to hide. Life started to change for me,” he said.

Art Garfunkel’s Career

Garfunkel, born Nov. 5, 1941, in Forest Hills, New York, is a singer, songwriter, and actor best known as one-half of the folk-rock duo Simon and Garfunkel, formed with Paul Simon in the 1960s.

The duo began performing together during their youth and gained national attention after the success of the single “The Sound of Silence” in 1965. They went on to release several commercially successful albums, including “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme,” “Bookends,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Following the group’s split in 1970, Garfunkel pursued a solo music career. His debut solo album, “Angel Clare,” included the hit single “All I Know.” He released several other albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including “Breakaway” and “Watermark.”

Garfunkel appeared in a number of films, including “Catch-22” (1970) and “Carnal Knowledge” (1971). He has also published poetry and essays and has been noted for undertaking long-distance walks across parts of the United States and Europe.

Simon and Garfunkel were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Over the years, the duo reunited for several concerts, including a notable performance in New York City’s Central Park in 1981, which drew over 500,000 people and was later released as a live album.