Watch CBS News

Ric Ocasek's Wife Says He Died While Recuperating From Surgery

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York City medical examiner says Ric Ocasek , the 75-year-old frontman for The Cars, died of heart disease, worsened by emphysema.

Ocasek's wife, model and actress Paulina Porizkova, posted a statement on Instagram , saying he was "recuperating very well after surgery" and that their two sons were making sure he was comfortable. Porizkova did not say what type of surgery Ocasek was recovering from.

She says she went to bring him his Sunday morning coffee and "realized that during the night he had peacefully passed on."

Rick Ocasek The Cars
The Cars co-founder Rick Ocasek. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

The Cars chart-topping hits in the late 1970s and 1980s included "Just What I Needed," ''Shake It Up" and "Drive." The band was inducted last year into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Porizkova announced the couple's separation last year.

(© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.