Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has passed away at the age of 78. A spokesperson announced with great sadness, “We confirm the death of singer, songwriter, and actress Marianne Faithfull.” She died peacefully in London today, surrounded by her loving family. “She will be dearly missed.”
Faithfull gained fame in the 1960s with her hit “As Tears Go By,” written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. She also appeared in films such as “The Girl on a Motorcycle” and “Irina Palm,” the latter earning her a nomination for a European Film Award for Best Actress. In recent years, she lent her voice to the 2021 remake of “Dune” and the 2023 film “Wild Summon.”
Born in 1946, Faithfull began her music career in 1964 after being discovered by The Rolling Stones’ manager, Andrew Loog Oldham. Her self-titled debut album was released the following year, with “As Tears Go By” reaching number nine on the UK singles chart. She enjoyed a series of successful singles, including “Come and Stay with Me,” “This Little Bird,” and “Summer Nights,” and had a high-profile relationship with Mick Jagger from 1966 to 1970.
Throughout the 1960s, Faithfull was prolific, releasing six albums and contributing backing vocals to The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine,” while also inspiring The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil.” She starred in several films during this time, including “I’ll Never Forget What’s’isname,” where she became one of the first to use profanity in a mainstream film, and Tony Richardson’s 1969 adaptation of “Hamlet.”
Her relationship with Jagger was notorious, leading to their arrest in 1968 for cannabis possession. In 1967, police infamously found her at Richard’s home, wrapped only in a bearskin rug during a drug raid. After her breakup with Jagger, Faithfull faced a challenging period, spending two years homeless in Soho while battling anorexia and heroin addiction.