> At a Glance
> – Michael Reagan, 80, died Sunday in Los Angeles
> – Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation announced death Tuesday
> – He was one of President Reagan’s five children
> – Why it matters: A key keeper of the Reagan legacy has passed, leaving a gap in conservative commentary and presidential history
Michael Reagan, the elder son of President Ronald Reagan and a prominent conservative commentator, has died at age 80, according to an announcement Tuesday from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.
The Announcement
The foundation shared the news via X on Tuesday, Jan. 6, stating that Reagan passed away on Sunday, Jan. 4, in Los Angeles. No cause of death was provided.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute stated:
> “Michael lived a life shaped by conviction, purpose, and an abiding devotion to President Reagan’s ideals.”
A Life Shaped by Adoption and Legacy
Born in March 1945 to Irene Flaugher and John Bourgholtzer, Michael was adopted days later by Ronald Reagan and his then-wife, actress Jane Wyman. The couple also welcomed daughters Maureen (1941-2001) and Christine (1947), who died as an infant.
After the Reagans’ 1948 divorce, Ronald married Nancy Reagan in 1952. They had two more children: Patti (1952) and Ron (1958).
Michael once told KTLA in 2008:
> “Greatest gift Irene Flaugher gave me was life… Greatest gift Jane Wyman and Ronald Reagan gave me, is really nurturing that life.”
Career and Contributions
Michael attended Arizona State University and Los Angeles Valley College before entering entertainment. He appeared in TV shows and films, including Falcon Crest alongside his mother.
After acting, he launched The Michael Reagan Show, a syndicated radio program, and authored multiple books:
- On the Outside Looking In
- Twice Adopted
- Lessons My Father Taught Me
President Reagan praised his son’s writing, saying in An American Life:
> “When I read his book, I had even more of a fatherly pride in Mike than I had had before.”
Family and Philanthropy
Michael married Colleen Sterns after a brief first marriage to Pamela Gail Putnam (1971-1972). He and Colleen had two children: Cameron, 48, and Ashley, 43.
His family stated:
> “Michael was and will always remain a beloved husband, father, and grandpa… Our hearts are deeply broken.”
He chaired the Reagan Legacy Foundation, promoting his father’s ideals, and served on the John Douglas Alzheimer’s Foundation board. His father died of Alzheimer’s complications in June 2004.
Key Takeaways
- Michael Reagan was one of five children of President Ronald Reagan
- He built a career in entertainment, radio, and conservative commentary
- He authored several books and championed his father’s legacy
- His death marks the loss of a key figure in Reagan-era history
Michael Reagan’s passing leaves a void in conservative media and the living memory of America’s 40th president.
