The official cause of death for Ethan Browne, the model and actor who was the eldest son of music icon Jackson Browne, has been released by authorities, two months after his tragic passing.
Medical Examiner's Official Findings
On Tuesday, 13 January 2026, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office concluded its investigation. The death of 52-year-old Ethan Browne has been officially ruled an accident. The report states that he died from the combined effects of two substances: methamphetamine and the local anaesthetic lidocaine.
Ethan Browne was found unresponsive at his home on the morning of 25 November 2025. Despite emergency efforts, he could not be revived. The release of the toxicology results brings a sombre close to the initial phase of the investigation into his sudden death.
A Family's Private Grief
His father, 77-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jackson Browne, announced the devastating news in a Facebook post on 26 November 2025. The statement expressed the family's profound sorrow and requested privacy during their time of loss.
"It is with deep sorrow that we share that on the morning of November 25, 2025, Ethan Browne, the son of Jackson Browne and Phyllis Major, was found unresponsive in his home and has passed away," the statement read. It further asked for "privacy and respect for the family" and noted that no further details were available at that moment.
Ethan Browne's Personal History
Ethan was the son of Jackson Browne and his first wife, actor and model Phyllis Major. Their marriage in 1975 was tragically short-lived; Major died by suicide in 1976, when Ethan was just a toddler. He followed a path into the public eye, building a career as a model and actor.
The conclusion of the medical examiner's report provides a factual answer to the circumstances surrounding his death, though it undoubtedly offers little solace to the grieving family and friends. The Browne family has maintained a dignified silence since their initial statement, focusing on mourning their loss away from the public spotlight.
