Television Co-Founding Guitarist Richard Lloyd Dies Aged 75

Richard Lloyd, the co-founding guitarist of the New York rock band Television, died on the morning of 7 November 2026 at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was 75 years old. Billboard, Pitchfork, Spin, and Rolling Stone all reported that his death was caused by cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer. Pitchfork noted that The New York Times first reported his death, while Billboard and Pitchfork cited a family statement provided to Rolling Stone, which stated that his wife Sheila and his dog Willie Mays were with him at the end. [1][3][4][6]

Outlets differed on when the guitarist was first diagnosed. Billboard, Spin, and Rolling Stone reported that the diagnosis occurred in March 2026. Ultimate Classic Rock and Pitchfork noted that public announcements of his illness and associated fundraising efforts began in August 2026. According to Spin, a GoFundMe campaign organized by Sean Seymour, a bandmate in the Richard Lloyd Group, stated that Lloyd was battling tumors in his liver, spent time in the intensive care unit seven times, and suffered complications including sepsis. [1][2][3][4][6]

Lloyd was born in Pittsburgh in 1951 and moved to New York City at age 6, Billboard reported. Television formed in 1973 after Tom Verlaine, Richard Hell, and Billy Ficca ended their previous group, the Neon Boys, and recruited Lloyd as a second guitarist, according to Pitchfork. Lloyd's guitar work alongside Verlaine became a defining feature of the group. Ultimate Classic Rock highlighted their twin-guitar arrangements on Television's 1977 album Marquee Moon. [1][2][3]

The guitarist also recorded and performed as a solo artist. Consequence reported that Lloyd established a critically acclaimed solo career alongside his work with Television. [5]