David Horowitz, a prominent conservative commentator, author, and activist, passed away on April 29, 2025, at the age of 86, following a prolonged battle with cancer. His death was announced by the David Horowitz Freedom Center, the conservative think tank he founded.
Early Life and Education
Born on January 10, 1939, in Queens, New York, Horowitz was raised by parents who were members of the American Communist Party. This early exposure to radical politics deeply influenced his worldview. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University and a Master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Political Transformation
In the 1960s and early 1970s, Horowitz was deeply involved in the New Left movement, writing extensively and collaborating with prominent radical figures. However, after a series of personal and political disillusionments—most notably the 1974 murder of his friend Betty Van Patter, which he attributed to the Black Panther Party—Horowitz experienced a political and moral reckoning that set him on a conservative path.
Conservative Advocacy and Writing
After his ideological shift, Horowitz became a powerful and often controversial voice in American media and publishing. He authored numerous books critiquing the political left, including Radical Son, The Professors, and Unholy Alliance. Through the David Horowitz Freedom Center and its online journal, FrontPage Magazine, he advocated for free speech, limited government, and a strong national defense.
Personal Life
Horowitz was married four times. His fourth and final marriage was to April Mullvain. He had four children: sons Benjamin and Jonathan, and daughters Anne and Sarah Rose. His daughter Sarah Rose died in 2008.Legacy
Horowitz’s son, Benjamin Horowitz, co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, shared a personal tribute highlighting his father’s legacy in media and activism. The tribute included an anecdote about David’s brief but joyful phone call with former President Donald Trump, which occurred last year while David was hospitalized.
David Horowitz’s life was marked by an extraordinary ideological transformation, shifting from a radical Marxist in his youth to one of the most vocal advocates for conservative values in the United States. His contributions to political commentary and activism were widely recognized, and he is remembered for his tireless efforts to advance freedom and civil discourse.