Legendary Radio Host Don Imus Dead at 79: Reports

Radio personality Don Imus speaks at the 2010 AFTRA AMEE Awards at The Grand Ballroom at The Plaza Hotel on Feb. 22, 2010 in New York City. Larry Busacca/Getty Images for AFTRA

Longtime radio personality Don Imus died at the age of 79, according to reports on Friday.

Imus, who hosted “Imus in the Morning” for decades, died Friday morning in College Station, Texas, inside the Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, The Hollywood Reporter quoted a spokesperson as saying.

He was hospitalized on Christmas Eve, a representative told the news outlet. The cause of death is not clear.

“Don loved and adored Deirdre, who unconditionally loved him back, loved spending his time watching Wyatt become a highly skilled, champion rodeo rider and calf roper, and loved and supported Zachary, who first met the Imus family at age 10 when he participated in the Imus Ranch program for kids with cancer, having battled and overcome leukemia, eventually becoming a member of the Imus family and Don and Deirdre’s second son,” Imus’s family stated to the news outlet.

Imus is survived by his wife, Deirdre, as well as two sons Wyatt and Lt. Zachary Don Cates and daughters Nadine, Ashley, Elizabeth, and Toni.

On Twitter, Imus announced in early 2018 that March 29 of that year would “be the last ‘Imus in the Morning Program.’ Turn out the lights...the party’s over.”

Imus is best known for wearing a cowboy hat and making controversial and sometimes offensive statements.

“Shocking news on the passing of my friend, Don Imus. He will long be remembered as one of the true giants in the history of radio. My thoughts and prayers to Deirdre and Wyatt. God speed,” wrote WFAN radio host Mike Francesa on Twitter.

A number of other people mourned his death on social media.