Michael Reagan, the Eldest Son of Ronald Reagan, Passes Away at 80
In a somber announcement on the social media platform X, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute revealed that Michael Reagan, the eldest son of former US President Ronald Reagan, has died at the age of 80. Described as "a steadfast guardian of his father's legacy", Reagan had been the subject of an obituary that celebrated his life dedicated to conviction, purpose, and devotion to his parents' ideals.
Born in 1945 to Jane Wyman and adopted just hours after birth by Ronald Reagan, Michael grew up following in his parents' footsteps. He attended Arizona State University and Los Angeles Valley College before embarking on a career in acting, with notable roles on television shows such as Falcon Crest. However, it was his work as a conservative radio talkshow host that dominated his life for nearly two decades.
Throughout his writing, Reagan shared intimate details of his childhood, including coming to terms with his adoption and his journey towards faith. Notable books include "On the Outside Looking In", "Twice Adopted", "Lessons My Father Taught Me" published in 2016, which detailed lessons learned growing up as Ronald Reagan's son.
Beyond his writing, Michael Reagan was a dedicated philanthropist who used powerboat racing to raise funds for various charities. He worked on the advisory board of the Mixed Roots Foundation, focusing on foster care and adoption in the US and globally. His dedication to Alzheimer's research led him to serve on the John Douglas French Alzheimer's Foundation board for three years.
As chair of the Reagan Legacy Foundation, Michael championed his father's legacy, which had a strong focus on scaling back government and winning the Cold War during his presidency. He is survived by his second wife Colleen, with whom he had two children.
In a somber announcement on the social media platform X, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute revealed that Michael Reagan, the eldest son of former US President Ronald Reagan, has died at the age of 80. Described as "a steadfast guardian of his father's legacy", Reagan had been the subject of an obituary that celebrated his life dedicated to conviction, purpose, and devotion to his parents' ideals.
Born in 1945 to Jane Wyman and adopted just hours after birth by Ronald Reagan, Michael grew up following in his parents' footsteps. He attended Arizona State University and Los Angeles Valley College before embarking on a career in acting, with notable roles on television shows such as Falcon Crest. However, it was his work as a conservative radio talkshow host that dominated his life for nearly two decades.
Throughout his writing, Reagan shared intimate details of his childhood, including coming to terms with his adoption and his journey towards faith. Notable books include "On the Outside Looking In", "Twice Adopted", "Lessons My Father Taught Me" published in 2016, which detailed lessons learned growing up as Ronald Reagan's son.
Beyond his writing, Michael Reagan was a dedicated philanthropist who used powerboat racing to raise funds for various charities. He worked on the advisory board of the Mixed Roots Foundation, focusing on foster care and adoption in the US and globally. His dedication to Alzheimer's research led him to serve on the John Douglas French Alzheimer's Foundation board for three years.
As chair of the Reagan Legacy Foundation, Michael championed his father's legacy, which had a strong focus on scaling back government and winning the Cold War during his presidency. He is survived by his second wife Colleen, with whom he had two children.
80 years old is still kinda young, feels like just yesterday I was reading about him being adopted from Jane Wyman's life, can't believe Michael Reagan is gone... always remembered as that conservative radio talkshow host and his books about growing up in the Reagan household... those lessons he learned are still relevant today 
. And who would've thought powerboat racing would be his thing too? Colleen will miss him I guess 
80 yrs old & still kickin 
what's wrong w/ people these days? cant even get thru a single news article without everyone bein all sentimental about it 
like Michael Reagan was somethin more than just the son of some famous dude 
dont get me wrong, I'm sure he had his moments, but not everythin's gotta be so sappy 
& btw, Falcon Crest? that's some old TV show stuff 
it's crazy to think about all the stuff he was involved in, from acting to radio hosting to his own books and philanthropy... seems like an incredible life 
what really gets me though is that we're losin a piece of history here, someone who lived through some pretty wild times and had such a big impact on politics and the conservative movement 
just heard about michael reagan passing away at 80 
it's so sad. i think what really resonated with me was how dedicated he was to sharing his story and honoring his parents' legacy 
he truly lived by the conviction & purpose he wrote so much about 
. I loved reading about his books, especially "Twice Adopted" - so inspiring to see him share his adoption story and what he learned from it 
. It's great that he used his platform to raise awareness for Alzheimer's research too 
. He'll always be remembered as a steadfast guardian of his dad's legacy 
. Rest in peace, Michael 
I mean, can you imagine growing up as Ronald Reagan's son and being expected to carry on the family legacy? That's a huge burden to shoulder, but it seems like he rose above it. His work on Alzheimer's research is especially admirable – he was truly making a difference in people's lives 
I wonder what his kids are going to do with the Reagan Legacy Foundation now... time will tell
. I mean, who else would use powerboat racing to raise funds for charity? That's dedication right there! 
And it's amazing how he stayed involved in Alzheimer's research and foster care until the end.
, it's awesome that he used his platform to make a positive impact. R.I.P. Michael, you'll be missed 
he lived 2 long & did alot of good work 
he was his own person w/ his own passions & interests 
.
. Growing up, I never thought about it much but reading some of his books and stuff online made me realize how much my grandpa would've loved him 
. And those philanthropic efforts? Unreal! 
. Colleen must be killing it right now 
.
80? that's crazy! my dad used to say, "if you want to make a difference, get involved" michael reagan was all about it... i mean, he did everything from acting to radio hosting to philanthropy. and those books? wow, his writing was so personal and honest. it's amazing how much legacy he left behind for the reagan foundation. i'm sure his dad would be proud of him too 
. colleen seems like a great person too... rest in peace michael, you'll be missed 
just can't believe its over for michael reagan 
, powerboat racer 
he really did live up to the legend of ronald reagan 