Police say they are treating Michael’s death as “unexplained but not suspicious”, as his manager says it was due to heart failure.
Pop superstar George Michael has died of suspected heart failure at the age of 53.
Michael, who shot to fame as the front man of Wham! in the 1980s, died peacefully at his home in Oxfordshire, his publicist said.
George Michael rose to fame with the band Wham! and sold more than 100 million albums in his career. Here he performs at Wembley in 2007
With backing singers Pepsi & Shirlie (Helen DeMacque and Shirlie Holliman) in 1984. Wham! enjoyed huge success with tracks including , including Last Christmas, Club Tropicana and Young Guns (Go For It).
His manager Michael Lippman said the cause of his death was heart failure. Thames Valley Police said officers were called to a property in Goring-on-Thames shortly before 2pm on Christmas Day.
The force said: “Sadly, a 53-year-old man was confirmed deceased at the scene. “At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. A post-mortem will be undertaken in due course.”
Michael’s publicist said: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period. “The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time.”
Michael – whose real name was Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou – had hits including Club Tropicana and Last Christmas as a part of Wham!
