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By Peter Aitken and Hannah Parry
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Frank Gehry, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, has died at age 96.
Gehry died at his home in Santa Monica, California, after a brief respiratory illness, Meaghan Lloyd, chief of staff at Gehry Partners LLP, said in a statement.
Gehry is survived by two daughters from his first marriage, his wife, Berta Isabel Aguilera, and their two sons. Another daughter, Leslie Gehry Brenner, died of cancer in 2008.
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Who Was Frank Gehry?
Gehry was renowned for his deconstructivist style. He designed many iconic structures such as L.A.'s Walt Disney Concert Hall and the titanium-covered Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, as well as an expansion on Facebook's Northern California headquarters.
The Getty Research Institute credited Gehry with contributing to "the essential concepts which put Los Angeles and its particular architectural vision at the center of the global architectural discourse." Gehry, who donated some of his papers and designs to the institute—including 1,000 sketches and more than 120,000 working drawings—said that he hoped "for people to find some inspiration in all these efforts."
Gehry has won every major architecture award possible, including the field's top prize, the Pritzker Prize, for his "refreshingly original and totally American" work.
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What To Know
Born Ephraim Owen Goldberg in Toronto in 1929, Gehry changed his name because of concerns that antisemitism would hinder his career. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was a teenager, and he eventually became a U.S. citizen.
Known for using unconventional forms and materials, he quickly distinguished himself in the field, and the renown gained from his work in Bilbao made him one of the most in-demand architects in the world.
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However, he did not even consider a career in architecture until a college ceramics teacher suggested it, noting that skilled sculptors and architects had a lot in common—although Gehry always denied he was an artist, instead stressing his work was "different from what they do."
He studied architecture at the University of Southern California and later started his own company.
During an interview with The Associated Press in 2001, Gehry said that he remains "flabbergasted that I got to where I’ve gotten. Now it seems inevitable, but at the time it seemed very problematic.”
What People Are Saying
Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, on X: "Frank Gehry was a gentleman titan of architecture and a master communicator of the future. He recognized that architecture is not just designing a building – it is creating a work of art.
"As an architect, Frank used his buildings to communicate and make novel impacts on our culture. And through his architecture, Frank enabled people to elevate the expression of their mission from purpose to art. Frank left an indelible mark on his beloved Los Angeles, in California, across America, and indeed around the world – not only through his designs, but also through his generosity.
"Paul and I send our deepest sympathy to Berta and their family. May he rest in peace."
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, on X, in part: "It is hard to believe that within 8 days two architects who were engulfed by American culture, who embraced that culture, and advanced it, have passed away. Frank Gehry has followed Bob Stern, two men operating on two different coasts in America.
"Frank was honored by everybody: clients, the public, the press as the most important architect worldwide because he was the most important architect. You can point to at least twenty+ buildings that can only be described as amazing, a legacy that one must see with their own eyes."
The Guggenheim New York, on X, in part: "The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and its constellation of museums mourn the loss of Frank Gehry, whose visionary architecture reshaped our institution and changed cities around the world.
"From Bilbao to Abu Dhabi, Frank’s genius magnified the Guggenheim’s mission and showed why museum architecture matters. His buildings paid profound homage to Frank Lloyd Wright’s foundational vision for the Guggenheim—architectural distinction in service of, art, artists, and visitor experience. Our decades-long collaboration with Frank and Gehry Partners was built on friendship, shared values, and an unwavering belief in art’s power to transform lives. Frank’s legacy will inspire generations to come. We are forever grateful."
Update 12/5/25, 5:27 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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