Ace Frehley Cause of Death Revealed

A New Jersey medical examiner has released the cause of death of Ace Frehley, a founding member of KISS, who died in Morristown, New Jersey, on October 16th at the age of 74.

PEOPLE magazine obtained the report from the Morris County Medical Examiner (Warren, NJ), stating Frehley died from blunt trauma injuries to his head following a fall at his home on September 25th. The death was ruled accidental.

Frehley's Instagram account posted about the fall later that day, describing the fall as "minor", but cancelling the following night's concert "on doctor's orders."

On October 6th, Frehley's remaining 2025 tour dates were cancelled due to "ongoing medical issues.”

Reports indicate that Frehley was on life support at this time, and had been since his fall in his home studio in September.

"According to the report, a CT scan of Frehley’s head revealed multiple contusions, bone fractures to the back of his skull, hemorrhages, and a subdural hematoma (the type of bleeding that occurs in a person’s brain after a head injury)," Rolling Stone magazine reported. "Additional bruises were found on the musician’s hip, thigh, and abdomen. The report also noted that Frehley had suffered a stroke."

"According to TMZ, Frehley was put on life support after his fall, and he died after his family made the decision to turn off his ventilator. The medical examiner’s report noted that doctors attempted a hemicraniectomy on Frehley, a procedure aimed at potentially alleviating the hematoma."

Frehley was laid to rest in his hometown of the Bronx, New York on October 22nd. His original KISS bandmates, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss attended the funeral service the day prior, at Sinatra Memorial Home in Yonkers.

Ace Frehley (Photo credit: Lynn Goldsmith)