The oldest son of former President Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman, Michael Reagan, died on Sunday at age 80 after battling cancer. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
Michael Reagan died on Sunday at age 80 while surrounded by his family at his Los Angeles home, his family announced on Tuesday.
Reagan died after battling cancer and was the oldest son of former President Ronald Reagan and actress Jane Wyman, ABC News reported.
“Michael Reagan lived a life shaped by conviction, purpose and an abiding devotion to President Reagan’s ideals,” said Fred Ryan, chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, in a statement.
“A successful author, nationally syndicated radio talk show host and sought-after public speaker, Michael used his voice to champion freedom, personal responsibility and the principles that defined his father’s presidency,” Ryan added.
Reagan was born on March 18, 1945, and eventually was adopted by Ronald Reagan and Wyman.
His death caused former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to offer their condolences.
Bush, whose father was Ronald Reagan’s former vice president before winning a term as president, called news of Michael’s passing “sad.”
“We became friends in 1979 [while] campaigning for our dads and maintained that friendship over the years,” Bush said. “He loved his family and his country.”
Walker said he spoke to Reagan three days before Christmas and was told the former president’s son was “optimistic” about his fight with cancer.
“Unfortunately for all of us, the Good Lord decided to call him home sooner,” Walker said in a post on X.
“Michael Reagan was such a wonderful inspiration to so many of us. That was particularly true of the students who heard him at Young America’s Foundation’s programs at the Reagan Ranch,” Walker said.
“He did so much more than share stories about his father,” Walker continued. “He challenged the next generation to share the values he stood for throughout his public life. He called on them to be happy warriors in the battle to uphold the founding principles of our republic.”
Michael Reagan was a Republican political strategist, a conservative political commentator and a columnist for Newsmax.
He is survived by his wife, Colleen Sterns, daughter Ashley (Reagan) Dunster and son Cameron Michael Reagan and their children.
In addition to his father, adoptive mother and stepmother, Nancy Reagan, Michael Reagan was preceded in death by sisters Maureen and Christine and is survived by sister Patti Davis and brother Ron Reagan.
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Isiah Whitlock Jr.Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. arrives on the red carpet for the premiere of HBO’s “Vice” in New York City on April 2, 2013. Whitlock Jr., known for his roles on “The Wire” and “Veep,” died at the age of 71 on December 30. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
