Duncan Sheik, the musician and composer known for the pop hit "Barely Breathing" and the musical "Spring Awakening," died Thursday at the age of 56. His mother, Suzanne Sheik, told The New York Times that he died from cardiac arrest. A family statement released on Instagram noted that he died surrounded by love.
Sheik moved to Los Angeles in the early 1990s to pursue a music career and achieved mainstream success in 1996. His single "Barely Breathing" remained on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for more than a year. While he continued to release solo albums through the late 1990s and early 2000s, his career shifted toward theater following a 1999 meeting with playwright Steven Sater.
The duo collaborated on "Spring Awakening," a musical based on a German play. The production debuted on Broadway in 2007 and won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Sheik received Tony Awards for Best Orchestrations and Best Original Musical Score. He later composed music for the Broadway adaptation of "American Psycho" in 2016 and the off-Broadway musical "Alice by Heart" in 2018.
Sheik's work on "Spring Awakening" and "American Psycho" bridged contemporary rock music and musical theater. An off-Broadway revival of "Spring Awakening" is scheduled to return to New York City in November. "Barely Breathing" was a staple of radio airplay for 55 weeks.
In theater, he was responsible for a production that won eight Tony Awards and starred actors like Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff. His family confirmed he is survived by his wife, Nora, their daughter, Ines, his parents, and two half-siblings.
The off-Broadway run of "Spring Awakening" remains due to begin in New York City in November, though the source does not report whether Sheik's death will result in any scheduling changes or memorial tributes. The family statement focused on his personal legacy, describing him as a man remembered for his sensitivity, wit, intelligence, and depth of spirit.