Singer Bonnie Tyler, whose powerful vocals defined hits like "Total Eclipse of the Heart," has died at the age of 75. Her death was announced Thursday, following weeks of hospitalization after cardiac arrest and emergency intestinal surgery.
Tyler, born Gaynor Hopkins, rose to international fame in 1983 with the release of "Total Eclipse of the Heart." The song became a global phenomenon, selling millions of copies and cementing her status as a major recording artist. Throughout her career, spanning over five decades, she sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide, earning three Grammy nominations and an MBE for services to music.
Her career was supported by her husband of 53 years, Robert Sullivan. The couple met in 1970 when Tyler, then singing locally, encountered Sullivan, who managed a club in Swansea. They married three years later. Tyler attributed the longevity of their relationship to meeting before her fame.
A Life Beyond Music
Beyond her music career, Tyler and Sullivan built a diverse property portfolio. Sullivan, a former Olympic judoka who competed for Great Britain in the 1972 Munich Games, transitioned to a successful career in real estate and property development. The couple invested in properties globally, including a cashmere goat and dairy farm in New Zealand and stables in Lambourn, Berkshire, which they rented to the Jockey Club. They also owned numerous houses in Berkshire and rental properties in Portugal, where Tyler had purchased a villa in the Algarve in the 1970s.
Sullivan is also related to Oscar-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. He is the cousin of Zeta-Jones's father, making him her first-cousin once-removed. Zeta-Jones has publicly acknowledged the family connection, once sharing a video of her family dancing to "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
Health and Final Weeks
Tyler had been experiencing knee pain prior to her hospitalization. In March, she spoke of undergoing "washouts" for knee issues, which she found successful, and was maintaining a routine of short Pilates sessions. However, in May, she was admitted to a hospital in Faro, Portugal, for emergency intestinal surgery due to a burst appendix and perforated intestine. This led to her being placed in an induced coma by doctors to aid recovery.
She was initially in a stable condition but later transferred to intensive care after her health worsened. On June 15, her team announced she had woken from the medically induced coma but remained seriously ill. Her death was confirmed by her family and team on Friday, stating she passed away unexpectedly in hospital in Portugal due to the illness she was being treated for.
Tyler's last public performance was in March. She was scheduled to embark on a European tour later in the year. She had also been booked for a performance at Cardiff's Utilita Arena in December.