Answer summary
Lena Horne died on May 9, 2010, at the age of 92. She was born on June 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. Her death was widely reported by authoritative outlets and official statements. This status clarifier presents verified dates, age at death, and source-backed details to provide a durable, factual answer to questions about when and how old she was at her passing.
Biographic timeline at a glance
| Attribute | Verified detail | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | June 30, 1917 | Official records, biographies |
| Date of death | May 9, 2010 | News reports, family statement |
| Age at death | 92 years | Calculated from above dates |
| Place of death | New York City, New York, USA | Reputable news outlets |
Confirmed details of Lena Horne’s passing
Multiple authoritative sources confirm that Lena Horne died in New York City on May 9, 2010. Statements from her family and official announcements noted complications consistent with her age and long-standing health challenges. The public record, including death notices and obituaries from trusted outlets, supports the May 9, 2010 date and her age of 92 at that time.
Context on reporting and records
Because Lena Horne’s death occurred in 2010 and was widely covered, initial news articles and subsequent obituaries can differ slightly in phrasing but align on core facts: date of death, location, and age. Official documents such as death certificates and funeral home records corroborate the reported age. Cross-checking headlines from major outlets and syndicated obituaries shows consistent reporting of her being 92 when she died.
Earlier life context that frames the timeline
Early career and milestones (1917–1940s)
Born June 30, 1917, Lena Horne began performing as a teenager in the 1930s and gained prominence as a singer and actress in the 1940s. Her career spanned several decades, making the timeline from 1917 to 2010 clear and well documented in biographies and archival materials.
Career peak and activism (1950s–1970s)
Horne achieved major visibility through recordings, films, and civil rights advocacy. Public records of performances, album releases, and awards from this period help anchor her birth year and confirm the longevity of her public life, leading reliably to the age at death reported in 2010.
Why age at death is reliably documented
For high-profile individuals who died in the 2010s, age at death is typically calculated from verified birth and death dates and cited across multiple sources. In Lena Horne’s case, the convergence of official records, reputable obituaries, and family statements produces a high-confidence age-at-death figure. This alignment reduces ambiguity and supports clear, factual communication.
Comparative perspective on longevity in show business
Placing Lena Horne’s age at death alongside peers offers additional confirmation. She lived more than six decades in the public eye, outliving contemporaries and demonstrating a long trajectory that aligns with a 1917 birth year and 2010 death at 92.
- Lena Horne: born 1917, died 2010, age 92
- Peer career spans often exceeded 50–60 years, consistent with her timeline
- Public records, union archives, and biographies corroborate longevity
Common questions and clarifications
Some recurring questions involve variations such as rounded ages or confusion with similar names. Verified sources clarify that the specific individual—Lena Horne, the singer and actress—died at age 92. Rounding or conflations with other figures do not change the documented facts: birth in 1917, death in 2010, age 92.
Reliable sourcing and next steps
Readers seeking primary documentation can consult official death records, funeral home notices, and archives maintained by libraries and performing arts institutions. Reputable news organizations’ archives from May 2010 also provide consistent reporting. These sources confirm age and dates with minimal ambiguity.