Bonnie Tyler Dead at 75: “Total Eclipse of the Heart” Voice Gone

Bonnie Tyler, the powerhouse vocalist behind the 1980s anthems “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” has died at the age of 75.

Death notice: late-night hospital passing in Portugal

A message posted to Tyler’s official Facebook page says she died “unexpectedly” overnight in a hospital in Portugal.

The statement added: “Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for. We will issue a further statement shortly but for now ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy.”

Tyler had been taken to hospital in Faro, Portugal, in May, where she underwent emergency intestinal surgery. She was then placed in an induced coma. In June, she came out of the coma, though she was still reported to be dealing with serious health issues while staying in intensive care. At the time, reports suggested her condition was getting better, and there was even discussion of tour dates later in the year.

Born in south Wales, Tyler became closely associated with some of the biggest pop-rock moments of the 1980s. “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” released in 1983, is the rock opera that defined her era—though she later said she “barely” received a penny from the song’s success.

The track was written solely by Jim Steinman. As a result, publishing royalties were described as going to his estate. The rest of the income tied to the recording was said to be directed to the owner of the master tape—currently Sony Music—while Tyler’s share is tied to a recording deal she signed in the 1980s, decades before streaming and digital distribution became the main way people consumed music. Spotify also said it paid out $1.4 million in royalties for Tyler’s back catalogue last year.

Even beyond the business side, Tyler’s relationship with the song remained personal. In a BBC interview, she said she never grows tired of performing “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” calling it an “evergreen” hit and noting how often it shows up in advertisements and films—something she said people genuinely love.

Tyler’s music has also been a recurring presence in games and game-adjacent entertainment. “Holding Out for a Hero” was recorded for the soundtrack to the 1984 film Footloose, which starred Kevin Bacon. The song later appeared in Volition’s 2011 game Saints Row: The Third during the final mission, and it was also used in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

Meanwhile, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” turned up in the Battlefield 4 intro sequence. More broadly, Tyler’s songs have been featured across a range of rhythm and music titles, including Just Dance, Singstar, and We Sing.

Photo by Aldara Zarraoa/Redferns.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].