Inside Brian Wilson’s ‘Comfortable’ Final Years After His Death at 82

He lived a thousand lives in the span of his eight decades — but Beach Boy Brian Wilson’s final years were full of music and family as he dealt with a debilitating illness.

Wilson — whose death at age 82 was announced on Wednesday, June 11 — rose to fame as the co-founder and chief songwriter of the Beach Boys, where his innovative recording techniques earned him critical acclaim and commercial success. 

Though a lifelong struggle with mental illness sidelined him for years, Wilson found love with his late wife Melinda, who is largely credited with helping to free the musician from the grips of Dr. Eugene Landy, his longtime therapist and legal guardian accused of exerting “undue influence” over Wilson’s life.

When Melinda died in January 2024 at age 77, Wilson said in a statement that he felt “lost” without her (The couple married in 1995, and were parents to kids Dakota, Daria, Delanie, Dylan and Dash; Wilson was also dad to daughters Carnie and Wendy with first wife Marilyn).

“Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career,” he wrote in a statement at the time. “She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor. She was everything for us. Please say a prayer for her. Love and Mercy Brian.”

Shortly after Melinda’s death, Wilson’s family filed for a conservatorship, noting that the legendary rocker was suffering from a “major neurocognitive disorder (such as dementia).” Longtime Wilson family representatives LeeAnn Hard and Jean Sievers were appointed as his conservators in May 2024.

“This decision was made to ensure that there will be no extreme changes to the household and Brian and the children living at home will be taken care of and remain in the home where they are cared for by Gloria Ramos and the wonderful team at the house who have been in place for many years helping take care of the family,” the family said in a statement at the time.

In the conservatorship filing, the family said that Wilson was still able to “enjoy all of his family and friends and continue to work on current projects as well as participate in any activities he chooses.” Still, the filing noted that the “God Only Knows” singer was “unable to properly provide for his or her personal needs for physical health, food, clothing or shelter.”

Wilson’s doctor said at the time that he was taking medication that slows the “progression of illness,” but that he was “easily distracted, often even when aware of his surroundings.”

At the time, Carnie told PEOPLE that her dad was “well taken care of.”

“He’s living in so much gratitude right now that he got to tour all these years. We are a very big part of his life, helping monitor his health, helping them make sure that every day, he’s cared for,” she said.

Carnie added that Wilson remained “safe” and “comfortable,” and that he still enjoyed his favorite activities, like watching the Los Angeles Lakers and eating at Musso & Frank’s in Hollywood.

In May 2024, Wilson made his final public appearance at the premiere of the Disney+ documentary The Beach Boys at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. He was in good spirits as he posed for photos with his former bandmates David Marks, Al Jardine, Blondie Chaplin, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston.

The star — who was in a wheelchair as a result of two “really s—-y” back surgeries, according to his daughter Carnie — also shared a sweet moment with his first wife Marilyn at the premiere.

“He still loves her so much, and she loves him so much,” Carnie said in May 2025 on The Magnificent Others podcast. “At the premiere, my mom said, ‘Please take me to him, I want to say hi.’ And I mean, it was so cute. She walked up to him and she couldn’t say anything else. She just said, ‘I love you, Brian.’ ‘Mary, I love you. I love you.’ They just said ‘I love you.’ That was really great for me to see.”

Elsewhere in the podcast interview, Carnie said that she saw her dad three times a month, and that they continued to bond over music.

“I’ll just play him a random song, like, ‘Baby Come Back,’ and he’s listening. He’s like, ‘I like that one!’ And then we’ll listen to Chicago,” she said. “I was singing ‘Your Song,’ which is my favorite Elton John song, and he really likes that song. But the good news is, I can say that today, it doesn’t matter what has happened in the past… I have been able to connect and tap into love with him over these years and it’s been the most healing, best thing ever.”

She also said that Wilson was “aware” of just how much of an impact his music has made on his many fans.