Wayne Osmond Dies at 73: Donny and Marie Osmond’s Brother Dead After ‘Massive Stroke’

Wayne Osmond, known as the brother of Donny and Marie Osmond, died at age 73 following a “massive stroke,” his family confirmed via Facebook on Thursday, January 2.

“When I learned that my dear brother Wayne had a massive stroke my immediate response was to fall to my knees and pray for him to receive the assurance that his mission had been accomplished,” his brother Merrill Osmond wrote in a lengthy social media message. “He was successful in this endeavor in many ways. I immediately drove to the hospital in SLC to see him and I was able to say my goodbyes.”

Merrill, 71, called his brother “a saint,” adding, “He will leave as an even greater saint than he came in.”

“I’ve never known a man that had more humility. A man with absolute no guile. An individual that was quick to forgive and had the ability to show unconditional love to everyone he ever met,” he wrote. “His departure from this earth will be a sad moment for some, but for those who are waiting for him on the other side, there will be a massive celebration beyond anything we can imagine, My brother Wayne endured much. He gave it his all.”

He continued, “His legacy will go down as someone who was not only a genius in his ability to write music, but was able to capture the hearts of millions of people and bring them closer to God. I will miss him tremendously. I am so grateful to have grown up with one of heavenly father’s greatest sons. Until I see him again, know that he was loved.”

Wayne, along with his brothers Alan and Jay, was a member of the musical group The Osmonds, which gained national recognition after appearing on The Andy Williams Show in the early 1960s. (The Osmond family also includes Virl, Tom, Marie and Jimmy.)

Younger siblings Donny, 67, and Marie, 65, eventually joined the group before becoming a spinoff act as a duo. The group reached the height of its fame in the 1970s before Wayne later relocated to Missouri in the ’90s.

The “One Bad Apple” musician suffered several health issues over the years, beginning with a brain tumor diagnosis in 1997, which significantly affected his hearing. Years later, he suffered a stroke in 2012. His last public appearance with the rest of the Osmond family was in 2018.

“The greatest part of all this is that I’ve become even closer with my sweetheart, Kathy,” Wayne said about how his health issues have brought him closer to his wife in a 2004 interview. “She’s an absolute angel. I’m a very, very blessed man. That’s what I am. … I’ve been enlightened. And now I look back at it and I think to myself, I’m glad that I got cancer. Isn’t that something? It really opened up my eyes. It made me realize that life really is important. And I’m only 52 years old – I hope I can go another 52!”

The Osmond family released a statement on Thursday, January 2, confirming that Wayne died on Wednesday, January 1, and was surrounded by his wife, Kathlyn White, and their five children.

“His legacy of faith, music, love, and laughter have influenced the lives of many people around the world,” the statement read. “He would want everyone to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that families are forever, and that banana splits are the best dessert. We love him and will miss him dearly.”