Ethan Zane Browne, the eldest son of singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, has died at 52. He was found unresponsive in his home on November 25, 2025, according to a family statement. No cause of death was disclosed.
Announcement Details
Jackson Browne shared the news of his son's passing via a social media post on November 26, 2025. The statement read: “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. We ask for privacy and respect for the family during this difficult time. No further details are available at this moment.” Sources reported the post on both Facebook and Instagram, but the exact platform was not uniformly confirmed.
Background on Ethan Browne
Born on November 2, 1973, Ethan appeared with his father on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine just six months later, in 1974. In the accompanying interview, Jackson Browne reflected on fatherhood, saying, “I wanted a baby ’cause I wanted to be a baby. I play with [Ethan] 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.”
Ethan pursued careers in modeling, acting, and music. His acting credits include roles in the 1995 film Hackers, a one-episode appearance on the TV series Birds of Prey, and the 2004 romantic comedy Raising Helen alongside Kate Hudson. As a musician, he founded Spinside Records and formed the duo Alain Zane with Cat Colbert. Their 2022 album Right Before Your Eyes featured tracks like “CA State of Mind” and “Kite.”
Family Context
Ethan's mother, Phyllis Major, married Jackson Browne in 1975 and died the following year at age 30; reports differ on the cause, with some citing an overdose and others a suicide. Browne later married model Lynne Sweeney in 1981, and they had a son, Ryan, in 1982 before divorcing in 1983.
Jackson Browne, an eight-time Grammy nominee, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007. His hits include “Doctor My Eyes” and “Somebody’s Baby,” and albums like Running on Empty (1977) topped the Billboard 200.