French DJ and “electropop musician” Kavinsky was found dead inside his Paris home at the age of 50.
His cause of death may have been a stroke, although that information has not been formally verified by authorities, The Guardian reported.
His real name was Vincent Belorgey; French prosecutors confirmed his death, according to Reuters. He performed at the closing ceremony for the Olympics and was best known for the hit, Nightcall, which appeared in Ryan Gosling’s movie, Drive. French President Emmanuel Macron posted a tribute to Kavinsky on Facebook, writing, “Kavinsky, French pride forever.”
Who was Kavinsky? He was a “French DJ and producer who favors retro-electro, 16-bit video game music, and songs named after expensive sports cars,” according to All Music.
French Prosecutors Confirmed That They Are Investigating Kavinsky’s Cause of Death
According to Reuters, a prosecutor said: “An inquiry into the cause of death has been opened to determine the circumstances of the death, as first responders found no suspicious elements at the scene.”
Kavinsky performs during the Kavinsky Party at the VIP Room JW Marriott – The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France. (Photo by Foc Kan/WireImage)
The Paris prosecutor’s office told The New York Times on July 29 that Kavinsky “was unresponsive when the authorities went to his home on Tuesday evening.” The Times also reported that “the cause of death was under investigation,” and added that first responders “found no suspicious evidence at the scene.”
French culture minister Catherine Pégard wrote on X: “With the sudden disappearance of Kavinsky, France loses one of its most singular voices. From the film *Drive* to the Paris Olympics, the entire world had pulsed to ‘Nightcall.’ Both danceable and nostalgic, his music will continue to resonate across generations and borders.”
Kavinsky Was Suffering From Headaches Before His Death, Reports Say
A police officer speaking to French newspaper Le Figaro “indicated that the suspected cause of death was a stroke,” The Guardian reported.
“Kavinsky, real name Vincent Belorgey, had reportedly been complaining of headaches in recent days, and he was discovered at home after a concerned neighbour alerted emergency services,” The Guardian wrote. A translation of Le Figaro reads, “A police source indicates that the musician had reportedly been complaining of headaches for several days. His neighbor became concerned after not seeing the artist and alerted emergency services. The DJ was found at his home in Paris’s 18th arrondissement around 10:30 p.m. According to the police source, a stroke is being considered as a possible cause.”
There is no confirmation of whether Kavinsky ever had a wife as he was private about his life. Added The Guardian: “Along with the vintage Ferrari references and sunglasses-and-bomber-jacket fashion sense, his sound also harked back to 1980s and that decade’s cinematic synths.” Added All Music: “The alter ego of French DJ Vincent Belorgey, Kavinsky’s blend of influences such as French house, 16-bit video games, and especially ’80s synth soundtracks helped give rise to the synthwave movement.” He was “born in 1975 in Seine-Saint-Denis, France, Belorgey initially worked as an actor before launching his music career.”
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Jul 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.