Engelbert Humperdinck Opens His Heart About Love, Loss, and Moving Forward
Engelbert Humperdinck is a name that has echoed through the halls of global music for decades. With a career spanning over half a century, the British balladeer has sold more than 140 million records worldwide, earning 64 gold and 35 platinum albums, as well as four Grammy nominations and honors on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in his native England. Yet behind the glitz and glamour lies a deeply human story—marked by perseverance, passion, and most recently, profound personal loss.
In a deeply emotional reflection, Engelbert opened up about the passing of his beloved wife, Patricia, who died on February 4, 2021, after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Their love story began in 1956 at a nightclub in Lancaster, where 20-year-old Engelbert met 17-year-old Patricia Healey. It was love at first sight. Despite the struggles of fame and the challenges of a growing music career, the couple married in 1964 and raised four children together. Patricia was his anchor, his muse, and his most loyal supporter throughout the highs and lows of his journey.
When both contracted COVID-19 in early 2021, Patricia’s condition rapidly worsened, preventing her from receiving adequate treatment for her Alzheimer’s. Engelbert turned to every resource he could find—from stem cell therapy in Germany to holy water from Lourdes—in the hope of a miracle. In a heartbreaking Instagram video, he asked fans for prayers, revealing she had stopped eating and drinking. Patricia ultimately passed away at age 85, surrounded by family both in person and over FaceTime.
The months that followed were devastating. Engelbert described the time as “traumatic and heartbreaking,” admitting he couldn’t perform or face the world. Her loss also resurfaced painful memories of his mother’s death in 1988, just before a scheduled tour. In a moment of emotional clarity, his family reminded him: “She’d have wanted you to sing for her.”
And so he will.
Despite his grief, Engelbert is slowly returning to the stage—the place where he feels most alive. With the support of his children and fans, he has chosen to move forward, even putting his 5,600-square-foot Bel Air mansion on the market, saying goodbye to the home he once shared with Patricia. The decision is not just about real estate; it’s symbolic of healing, of making space for a new chapter.
Engelbert has always been a man of transformation. Born Arnold George Dorsey in 1936 as one of ten children, he grew up painfully shy—so shy, in fact, that he would hide behind furniture when asked to sing. But music drew him out of his shell, leading him from small club gigs under the name “Jerry Dorsey” to global stardom under the stage name Engelbert Humperdinck, a suggestion from manager Gordon Mills, who also managed Tom Jones.
His breakthrough came in 1967 with hits like “Release Me” and “The Last Waltz,” which became million-sellers in the UK and US. The following decades saw Engelbert recording, touring nonstop, starring in TV specials, and rubbing shoulders with icons like Elvis Presley, Jimmy Stewart, and Edward G. Robinson.
But through all the success, Patricia was his constant. Her presence is woven into every chapter of his life. In his own words, he will “love her beyond words—forever and always.”
Now, Engelbert Humperdinck moves forward not to forget, but to honor. Through music, through memory, and through the love that never fades.