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Marianne Faithfull, actress and singer renowned for such hit songs as As Tears Go By and Tomorrow’s Calling has died from natural death causes. The singer began her rise to fame in the mid-sixties after launching her singing career under the guidance of Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham who discovered her at 16. Following the success of her track, As Tears Go By, co-written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Marianne’s career continued on a trajectory, eventually earning her recognition as a global pop sensation of the ’60s.
After over seven decades plagued with career, health, and personal challenges, the crooner passed away in January 2025. Marianne Faithfull’s spokesperson confirmed her death on Thursday, January 30, in a heartbreaking statement that read,
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of singer, songwriter, and actress Marianne Faithful. Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will dearly be missed.”
Marianne’s Rocky Career and Personal Life
Born in December 1946 in Hampstead, Marianne Faithfull grew up in London with her parents, making some of her earliest career strides performing folk music in coffeehouses across the city. After her discovery at a Rolling Stones launch party, the crooner delved into professional singing, releasing her self-titled debut album in 1965, following a handful of successful singles that paved her way to stardom. Following a failed marriage to John Durber which lasted less than a year and yielded her son Nicholas, Marianne commenced her high-profile relationship with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.
The two became the power couple of the sixties, and their romance inspired hits like You Can’t Always Get What You Want, and Wild Horses. Following their breakup in the 70s, Marianne experienced one of the darkest moments of her life, battling heroin and cocaine addiction, anorexia, and homelessness. The infamous drug bust fur rug incident, where she was busted wearing only a fur rug during a drug search, happened around this time. The actress admitted years later that the incident destroyed her.
After her tumultuous battles in the ’70s, Marianne made a music comeback with the 1979 album, Broken English, her most critically acclaimed to date. She went on to release more hits while boosting her popularity with movies like Hamlet, The Girl on a Motorcycle, and The Black Rider, snagging a handful of awards and nominations for her artistic pursuits. Some of Marianne Faithfull’s more recent works before her death include her 2018 penultimate album Negative Capability, the Spoken Word album She Walks In Beauty released in 2020, and her musical collaborations.
As Tears Goes By Singer Marianne Faithfull’s Health Battles and Death
Veering into her personal life, the singer Marianne Faithfull spent decades battling substance abuse and addiction, going in and out of rehab. Her disturbing habits contributed to the stillbirth of her daughter. Healthwise, the icon battled a slew of health challenges throughout her life, from Hepatitis C to Cancer. In 2020, the As Tears Goes By singer contracted COVID-19, spending 22 days in the hospital treating COVID-related pneumonia. At the time, doctors warned she would not survive the condition, but she defied the odds. The encounter inspired her 21st album, She Walks in Beauty.
Years prior, Marianne underwent a surgical procedure to treat breast cancer, beating the disease completely due to early detection. She also suffered a back and hip injury in 2013 and 2014, respectively. After beating devastating health conditions over the years, the singer finally succumbed to the hands of death at the age of 78, surrounded by her family and loved ones.
