Duncan Sheik, acclaimed for his Tony-winning musical Spring Awakening and cult hit American Psycho, has died aged 56. His death marks the loss of a significant figure in contemporary musical theatre and pop music.

Duncan Sheik, the composer behind Spring Awakening and American Psycho, died aged 56, his mother confirmed to the New York Times. The cause of death was organ failure.

Sheik launched his mainstream music career in 1996 with a self-titled debut album featuring the single “Barely Breathing,” which reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination in 1998 for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

Transitioning to musical theatre in the mid-2000s, Sheik collaborated with lyricist Steven Sater on Spring Awakening in 2006. The production won eight Tony Awards in 2007, with Sheik receiving Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations, as well as the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

His body of work also includes shows such as Nero (Another Golden Rome) (2006), Whisper House (2010), American Psycho—premiered at London’s Almeida Theatre in 2013 and transferred to Broadway in 2016—Alice By Heart (2019), and The Secret Life of Bees (2019).

A new production of Spring Awakening was due to run in New York this autumn, while his next musical, Nero, was scheduled to open in London this autumn.

A statement posted to Sheik’s Instagram described him as “a singular talent, and deeply influential voice in music and theater,” praising his sensitivity, wit, intelligence, and the depth of spirit he brought to those who knew him.

His musical legacy, spanning chart success and groundbreaking theatre works, leaves an indelible mark on the cultural landscape and will continue to inspire future generations.