David Johansen, the legendary frontman of The New York Dolls, has spent decades influencing the music industry, from pioneering punk rock to reinventing himself as Buster Poindexter. However, behind the stage persona and raspy vocals lies a deeply personal struggle—his ongoing battle with Stage 4 cancer, which has now progressed to a brain tumor. His family recently revealed that he has been fighting this illness for years, enduring chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery with remarkable resilience.
While Johansen’s music and acting career have made him a cultural icon, his love life has also been an important part of his journey. Over the years, he has shared his life with three women, each playing a unique role in different phases of his personal and professional life. From his whirlwind first marriage to his longest-lasting relationship and his current marriage to Mara Hennessey, his love story is as layered as his career.
His Current Wife, Mara Hennessey
In 2013, Johansen married Mara Hennessey, an artist who has remained largely out of the public eye. Their relationship has been marked by deep companionship, especially in recent years as Johansen has faced serious health challenges.
While there is little public information about their marriage, it is evident that Mara has been his strongest pillar of support, caring for him during his illness and ensuring he receives the best possible treatment.
Unlike his previous marriages, Johansen’s relationship with Mara has been far more private, with no major media coverage or publicized events. However, as his health battle has intensified, it has become clear that she plays a crucial role in his life, standing by his side as he navigates this difficult chapter.
Marriage to Cyrinda Foxe
Johansen’s first marriage was to Cyrinda Foxe, a well-known actress, model, and Warhol muse, in 1977. Foxe, born Kathleen Victoria Hetzekian, was deeply embedded in the glam rock scene, frequently seen at Max’s Kansas City, a famous New York nightclub. She was known for her role in Andy Warhol’s Bad (1977) and her associations with rock icons like David Bowie and Steven Tyler.
Johansen and Foxe’s marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce in 1978. Though they separated quickly, Foxe remained a prominent figure in the rock world, later marrying Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and giving birth to their daughter, Mia Tyler.
Later in life, Foxe suffered financial hardships and health issues, including a stroke in 2001 and an eventual diagnosis of an inoperable brain tumor. She passed away in 2002 at the age of 50, with Steven Tyler helping to cover her medical expenses.
Marriage to Kate Simon
Johansen’s longest marriage was to Kate Simon, a celebrated photographer, in 1983. Unlike his brief first marriage, this relationship lasted nearly three decades, until their divorce in 2011.
Simon, known for her portraits of music legends such as Bob Marley, The Clash, Patti Smith, and Andy Warhol, had an artistic career that paralleled Johansen’s own. She was deeply involved in documenting the cultural revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, capturing iconic images of rock’s biggest names.
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Throughout their marriage, Simon continued her photographic work, with her images appearing in books, magazines, and museums such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery. In 2004, she published Rebel Music: Bob Marley and Roots Reggae, further cementing her legacy as a significant cultural historian.
Though their marriage ultimately ended in divorce, Johansen and Simon’s nearly 30-year relationship was one of the most enduring of his life.
