It feels weird writing this in 2026. For decades, it seemed like Ozzy Osbourne was basically immortal. He survived a plane crash that killed his guitarist, a quad bike accident that nearly snapped his neck, and enough "rock star lifestyle" chemicals to fuel a small village. People used to joke that when the world ended, only cockroaches and Ozzy would be left.
But on July 22, 2025, the music stopped.
The Prince of Darkness passed away at 76. Honestly, even though he’d been struggling with health issues for years, it still felt like a gut punch to fans. He’d just performed a final "Back to the Beginning" show in Birmingham a few weeks earlier. He went out on his own terms, but the details that came out later through his death certificate paint a picture of a man whose body simply couldn't keep up with his spirit anymore.
The Official Ozzy Osbourne Cause of Death
If you’re looking for the clinical answer, it’s not just one thing. Life is rarely that simple. According to the death certificate filed in London by his daughter, Aimée, the Ozzy Osbourne cause of death was an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Basically, his heart just gave out.
The document lists "acute myocardial infarction" (that’s a heart attack) as the immediate cause. But there were underlying factors that had been brewing for a long time. The certificate specifically mentions coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease with autonomic dysfunction as joint causes.
💡 You might also like: Dale Mercer Net Worth: Why the RHONY Star is Richer Than You Think
It wasn't a sudden shock if you’d been following his journey. By 2025, he’d already told fans he could barely walk. Parkinson’s is a thief; it doesn’t just cause shakes, it messes with the nerves that control everything, including how your heart and lungs talk to each other.
A Breakdown of the Medical Factors
- Cardiac Arrest: The actual moment his heart stopped beating.
- Acute Myocardial Infarction: A blockage that caused damage to the heart muscle.
- Coronary Artery Disease: The long-term buildup of plaque in the arteries.
- Parkinson’s (PRKN-2): A rare, genetic form of the disease he’d been battling since 2003 (though he didn't tell us until 2020).
Why the Birmingham Show Matters
There’s something poetic about where he ended it. On July 5, 2025, Ozzy took the stage in Birmingham, England. That’s where Black Sabbath started. He was 76, he couldn't stand up, and he performed the entire set sitting on a custom-made "rock throne."
He looked frail. You could see it in his eyes. But that voice? It was still there.
Sharon later mentioned in interviews that he was "very happy but very emotional" about that final gig. Looking back, it almost feels like he was holding on just to finish that one last chapter. He died 17 days later. If you believe in that sort of thing, it’s like he finally gave himself permission to let go once the job was done.
The "Parkin-2" Struggle
Most people think of Parkinson’s as just "the shakes." For Ozzy, it was way more complicated. He had a specific genetic variant called Parkin-2.
📖 Related: Jaden Newman Leaked OnlyFans: What Most People Get Wrong
This version usually hits people earlier in life and progresses slowly, but it eventually wreaks havoc on mobility. In the last year of his life, his legs were basically gone. He told SiriusXM at the beginning of 2025, "I can't walk, but... for all my complaining, I'm still alive."
The "autonomic dysfunction" mentioned on the death certificate is a big deal. It means the parts of the nervous system that run on autopilot—your blood pressure, your heart rate, your digestion—stop working right. When you combine that with coronary artery disease, your heart is basically trying to run a marathon on a broken engine.
The Impact of Past Trauma
We can't ignore the physical toll of his life.
- The 2003 quad bike accident.
- The 2019 fall that dislodged metal rods in his back.
- Seven surgeries in five years.
Every time he went under the knife, it took a little more out of him. By 2024, he’d officially sworn off more surgeries, saying he "can't do it anymore." He knew his limits.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a common misconception that his past drug use was the primary "killer." While his decades of substance abuse certainly didn't help his heart health, the medical reality was much more about neurodegeneration and structural damage.
👉 See also: The Fifth Wheel Kim Kardashian: What Really Happened with the Netflix Comedy
He had become a bit of a medical marvel. Researchers actually sequenced his genome years ago because they couldn't understand how he was still alive. It turns out he had specific genetic mutations that helped him survive things that would have killed most people. But even "Iron Man" has a breaking point.
Living with the Legacy
Since his passing in July 2025, the tributes haven't stopped. His son Jack has mentioned in recent 2026 interviews that he still sees his dad in dreams, laughing and "telling him to stop crying."
Sharon has been open about their final moments, too. She said his last words to her were "kiss me" and "hug me tight." It’s a surprisingly tender end for a man who once bit the head off a bat and was dubbed the most dangerous man in rock.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Families
If there’s anything we can learn from Ozzy’s final years, it’s about the reality of aging with chronic illness:
- Listen to the "Autonomic" Signs: If you or a loved one has Parkinson's, pay attention to more than just movement. Heart health and blood pressure are linked.
- Palliative Care Quality: Ozzy was able to spend his final hours at home in Buckinghamshire, surrounded by family. Having those "final wishes" conversations early is vital.
- The Power of Purpose: Having that final Birmingham show gave him a reason to keep pushing. Never underestimate the power of a "final goal" for someone in declining health.
Ozzy Osbourne lived ten lives in the span of one. He was a father, a reality TV pioneer, a heavy metal god, and ultimately, a man who just wanted to play one more show. He finally found his "Goodbye to Romance," and the world of music is a whole lot quieter without him.
If you're looking to honor his memory, the family has frequently pointed people toward Parkinson’s research and children’s charities in Birmingham—the city that gave us the Prince of Darkness in the first place.