Ethan Zane Browne, the eldest son of singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, has died. He was 52.
Ethan’s death was confirmed on Browne’s Instagram in a statement that 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 cause of death was given, and Browne’s statement declined to share further details.
Ethan was born Nov. 2, 1973, and just six months later appeared in his father’s arms on the cover of Rolling Stone. In the accompanying story, Browne discussed his then-burgeoning career and new fatherhood, saying at one point, “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.”
In 1976, when Ethan was three years old, his mother, Major — whom Browne had married the year before — died by suicide. In 1981, Browne married the model Lynne Sweeney, and the couple welcomed another son, Ryan, the following year.
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As an adult, Ethan worked as a model and took on a few acting roles, too. He appeared in the 1995 film Hackers, made a one-episode appearance on the TV series Birds of Pray, and had a small part in the 2004 rom-com Raising Helen.
Later, Ethan took to music. He launched a record label, Spinside Records, and partnered with the multi-instrumentalist Cat Colbert to form a duo called Alain Zane. The group released their debut album, Right Before Your Eyes, in 2022 via Spinside.
