The cause of death has been confirmed for Ethan Browne, the son of legendary singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, who died last fall at the age of 52.
Found him unresponsive
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Ethan died on Nov. 25 from the combined effects of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and lidocaine. His death was ruled accidental, and officials said he was found unresponsive in his home.
Jackson Browne, 77, confirmed his eldest son’s death the following day in a heartfelt statement shared to Facebook, asking for privacy as the family grieved.
“It is with deep sorrow that we share that on the morning of November 25, 2025, Ethan Browne, the son of Jackson Browne and Phyllis Major, was found unresponsive in his home and has passed away,” the statement read.
“We ask for privacy and respect for the family during this difficult time. No further details are available at this moment.”
His mom died by suicide
Ethan’s life was marked by both early tragedy and creative promise. He was just a toddler when his mother, Phyllis Major, who married Jackson Browne in 1975, died by suicide — a loss that deeply shaped the singer’s life and his devotion to fatherhood.
In a 1974 interview with Rolling Stone, a then-25-year-old Browne spoke tenderly about being a new dad, moments after stepping off stage.
“I love it when he laughs,” he said of baby Ethan. “His little voice. His little throat.”
Browne also reflected on what drew him to becoming a parent.
“I wanted a baby ’cause I wanted to be a baby. I play with him all the time; there’s something pure about it. Look at all those expressions he’s got. He’s a real kick in the ass.”
Carved out his own path
That same year, Ethan appeared alongside his father on the cover of Rolling Stone — an image that would later feel almost symbolic of a life lived on the edge of fame.
As an adult, Ethan carved out his own path in Hollywood. He became a successful model, appearing in major fashion campaigns including work for Isaac Mizrahi, and later transitioned into acting. He appeared in films such as Hackers and Raising Helen, where he starred opposite Kate Hudson, as well as the TV series Birds of Prey.
Music producer Mark Ronson later described Ethan in his memoir Night People as someone seemingly destined for stardom.
He called him “the real deal — with an angular face and soulful gaze that seemed to reveal his deepest truths, even from a glossy page.”
Ronson added that Ethan had the “sharp cheekbones” of his late mother and the “soulful eyes” of his father.
Beyond modeling and acting, Ethan founded Spinside Records, an imprint under his father’s independent label, Inside Recordings. Friends and family often described him as fiercely private despite his famous last name.
In recent years, Jackson Browne spoke proudly about the man his son had become — especially as a father himself.
“Ethan is a great father. He’s a great son, a great man,” Browne said in a 2022 interview with Tru Rock Revival.
“I love seeing him with his kids. When I see him in his movies, modeling, with his daughter, and being such a great dad, it makes me very proud. It makes me feel I’ve done something really right in my life.”
Jackson Browne is also father to another son, Ryan, 43, whom he shares with ex-wife Lynne Sweeney.
The Browne family initially chose not to disclose details surrounding Ethan’s passing, focusing instead on honoring his life. No additional statement has been released following the medical examiner’s findings.
For fans, the news is a sobering reminder of both the quiet struggles behind fame — and the deep, enduring bond between a father and his son.
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