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Marianne Faithfull, the British singer and actor, has died. She was 78. Discovered during London, England’s ‘60s party scene, the “As Tears Go By” songstress’ life ended in the city where her career began. 

Marianne Faithfull died ‘peacefully’ in London

Faithfull’s spokesperson announced her passing in a statement on Jan. 30, 2025. “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull,” they said (via BBC). “Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.” 

Faithfull’s cause of death wasn’t immediately disclosed. However, health issues had plagued her in recent years. She contracted COVID-19 in 2020, which resulted in a 22-day hospital stay and left her with long-term side effects. The singer previously battled breast cancer, bulimia, drug addiction, and emphysema. She is survived by her son, Nicholas Dunbar.  

Faithfull released music, inspired Rolling Stones songs, and acted

Marianne Faithfull, who has died at 78, in 1967
Marianne Faithfull in 1967 | Getty Images

Faithfull’s entrance into music and acting began in 1964. The Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham discovered her at a party in London. She joined Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on “As Tears Go By,” the first song Jagger and Richards ever wrote together. 

Faithfull dated Jagger in the ‘60s and served as the inspiration behind Rolling Stones’ hits “Wild Horses” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” She went on to release her debut album in 1966, which became one of nearly 20 she recorded during her lifetime, and was soon “part of the ‘British Invasion’ of the US pop charts,” per BBC. 

In between releasing music, Faithfull also pursued an acting career in theater, film, and TV. She starred in I’ll Never Forget What’s’isname (1967), The Girl on the Motorcycle (1968), and as well as a film version of “Hamlet.” More recently, she had a role in 2006’s Marie Antoinette and lent her voice to Dune: Part One, per IMDb.

Faithfull is one of multiple celebrities to have died since the start of the year. Others have included filmmaker David Lynch, actresses Leslie Charleson and Joan Plowright, and singer Sam Moore.

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