Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan and a longtime conservative commentator, has died at 80 following a battle with cancer.
Reagan died Sunday, January 4, 2026, surrounded by his entire family in Los Angeles, California. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute announced his death Tuesday, January 6, 2026, in a post on the social platform X.
The foundation called Reagan “a steadfast guardian of his father’s legacy.” Reagan’s wife, Colleen Reagan, and children, Cameron Reagan and Ashley Reagan Dunster, confirmed he was surrounded by family at the time of his death.
Born in 1945, Reagan was adopted hours after birth by Ronald Reagan and his then-wife, actor Jane Wyman. He spent decades as host of The Michael Reagan Show and served as a contributor to the Newsmax television network, using his platforms to champion conservative values and defend his father’s political legacy.
Reagan resided in Sherman Oaks, California, for many years. His second marriage to Colleen was decades-long, and the couple had two children together. His first marriage to Pamela Gail Putnam in 1971 lasted one year.
Following in his parents’ footsteps, Reagan pursued acting after attending Arizona State University and Los Angeles Valley College. He appeared in the television show “Falcon Crest” before transitioning to conservative talk radio, where he found his most enduring platform.
Reagan was a prolific author who chronicled both his personal struggles and his father’s influence. He wrote “On the Outside Looking in” and “Twice Adopted,” two autobiographical works that detailed his difficult childhood and journey of faith. In “Lessons My Father Taught Me,” published in 2016, he outlined the principles he learned growing up as the son of Ronald Reagan.
Throughout his life, Reagan devoted considerable energy to charitable causes. He chaired the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation for three years, focusing on the same disease that claimed his father’s life. Ronald Reagan died in 2004 from Alzheimer’s disease.
As president of the Reagan Legacy Foundation, Reagan worked tirelessly to preserve and promote his father’s political philosophy. President Reagan was known for his efforts to scale back government involvement in citizens’ lives and his commitment to winning the Cold War, principles that defined the Reagan administration and continue to influence conservative thought today.
The Reagan Presidential Foundation praised his dedication in its announcement. “Michael Reagan lived a life shaped by conviction, purpose, and an abiding devotion to President Reagan’s ideals,” the foundation stated.
Reagan’s commitment to his father’s legacy extended beyond his professional work. He maintained a close relationship with the Reagan Library, regularly attending events and engaging with visitors who came to learn about his father’s presidency. His presence at the library and foundation events was marked by genuine interest in connecting people to Ronald Reagan’s story and values.
Scott Walker praised Reagan as an inspiration, acknowledging his efforts to transmit conservative principles to younger generations. Walker’s tribute highlighted Reagan’s role not merely as a custodian of his father’s memory but as an active voice challenging Americans to embrace founding principles.
Reagan’s work in conservative media spanned decades of radio broadcasting, where he built a loyal audience through discussions of politics and culture. His show provided a platform for conservative viewpoints and allowed him to carry forward the ideological work his father began in the political arena.
Beyond broadcasting and writing, Reagan leveraged unconventional methods for fundraising and charitable work. He served on advisory boards for organizations focused on causes close to his heart, including foster care and adoption issues both domestically and internationally.
Reagan’s work with adoption-related causes held personal significance given his own adoption. His relationship with his adoptive parents, particularly his complicated feelings about being adopted, featured prominently in his memoirs. These works revealed a man who struggled with identity questions common to many adoptees while navigating the unique pressures of growing up in a politically prominent family.
The foundation that announced his death emphasized Reagan’s unwavering presence at library events, noting he never measured his time but rather the meaning of each interaction with visitors. His willingness to remain long after events concluded, speaking with guests who admired his father, demonstrated his commitment to keeping Ronald Reagan’s story alive for future generations.
Reagan is survived by his wife Colleen Reagan, their two children Cameron Reagan and Ashley Reagan Dunster, and his half-siblings Patti Davis and Ron Reagan Jr. His family remembered him as a beloved husband, father, and grandfather whose loss represents a profound void in their lives.
The impact of Reagan’s death extends beyond his immediate family to the broader conservative movement, which viewed him as a vital link to the Reagan era and its principles. His decades of work in media, charitable foundations, and political advocacy created a lasting imprint on American conservatism and ensured his father’s political philosophy remained relevant to contemporary debates.
Sources:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/michael-reagan-eldest-son-president-ronald-reagan-dies-80-rcna252710
https://www.dailynews.com/2026/01/06/michael-reagan-son-of-ronald-reagan-and-longtime-conservative-commentator-dies-at-age-80/
https://nypost.com/2026/01/06/us-news/michael-reagan-son-of-former-president-ronald-reagan-dead-at-80/
