Former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most influential figures in American politics for over four decades, has passed away at the age of 81. His family shared that the former vice president “died last night, November 3, 2025,” surrounded by his wife Lynne, their daughters Liz and Mary, and other loved ones. The cause, according to the family, was “complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.”

“Richard B. Cheney, the 46th Vice President of the United States, died last night,” his family said in a statement obtained by Fox News. “His beloved wife of 61 years, Lynne, his daughters, Liz and Mary, and other family members were with him as he passed.” The statement went on to describe him as a “great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing.”

Cheney’s family added, “We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country. And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.”

Born January 30, 1941, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Cheney grew up in Casper, Wyoming—a place that shaped his quiet toughness and deep sense of duty. He captained his high school football team and later earned degrees from the University of Wyoming. It was there that he met Lynne Vincent, the cheerleader who would become his wife and lifelong partner.

His long public career began in Washington in the late 1960s, when he joined the Nixon administration. He went on to serve as chief of staff under President Gerald Ford, a Wyoming congressman for six terms, Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush, and Vice President under President George W. Bush. In each role, Cheney was known for his discipline, intellect, and loyalty to the people he served alongside.

As vice president from 2001 to 2009, Cheney was a central figure in the response to the September 11 attacks and America’s ensuing “war on terror.” Though his decisions often sparked controversy, Cheney stood firm in his convictions. “I feel very good about what we did,” he told Fox News in 2008. “If I was faced with those circumstances again, I’d do exactly the same thing.”

Despite his political toughness, Cheney’s life was also marked by resilience and faith in the face of health challenges. He suffered five heart attacks and received a heart transplant in 2012 after years of cardiac problems. Throughout it all, he consistently demonstrated a deep devotion to his family and to public service.

In his later years, Cheney devoted time to writing and mentoring, publishing his memoir In My Time in 2011. Above all, his family remembers him not just for his achievements, but for his character—the man who loved deeply, lived with conviction, and held fast to the values that shaped his life.

He is survived by his wife Lynne, their daughters Liz and Mary, and seven grandchildren.