Frank Gehry, legendary architect behind the Guggenheim Bilbao and Disney Concert Hall, dies at 96

Frank Gehry, one of the most celebrated and influential architects of the modern era, who reshaped skylines for some of the major cities around the world, has died at the age of 96. Multiple news outlets reported his death, citing a spokesperson for Gehry Partners. Gehry is survived by his wife, Berta, and three children. Another daughter, Leslie Gehry Brenner, died in 2008.

Gehry, widely regarded as a visionary who reshaped contemporary architecture in the late 20th century, earned every major honor in his field and became one of the few architects to achieve global name recognition.

How Frank Gehry died

Frank Gehry cause of death: Frank Gehry died Friday at his home in Santa Monica after a brief respiratory illness, as per Meaghan Lloyd, chief of staff at Gehry Partners LLP.

Who was Frank Gehry

Frank Gehry was one of the most influential architects of the modern era, known for redefining global architecture with bold, sculptural forms inspired by modern pop art. His groundbreaking designs include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Berlin’s DZ Bank Building. He also designed Facebook’s expanded headquarters at the request of CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Gehry received every major architectural honor, including the Pritzker Prize, the Royal Institute of British Architects Gold Medal, the Americans for the Arts lifetime achievement award and the Companion of the Order of Canada.

Born Ephraim Owen Goldberg in Toronto in 1929, he moved to Los Angeles in 1947 and later changed his name amid concerns about antisemitism. He studied architecture at USC and urban planning at Harvard, later teaching at USC, Yale and Columbia.

Despite frequent criticism, some called his structures “oppressive” or overly focused on tourism, Gehry remained unfazed, even parodying himself in a 2005 episode of The Simpsons. He continued designing landmark buildings well into his 80s, including New York’s IAC Building and the 76-story New York by Gehry tower.

Frank Gehry buildings

Gehry’s fascination with modern art and deconstructivist forms led to some of the most imaginative and recognizable buildings in the world. Among his most iconic works are the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles; and the DZ Bank Building in Berlin.

His work was celebrated for its fluid, expressive forms and its ability to turn buildings into cultural landmarks.