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Talkback radio legend James Valentine has died by Voluntary Assisted Dying at the age of 64 after a two-year battle with cancer. The star's family, including his wife, Joanne, and their two children, Ruby and Roy, confirmed the news in a statement. "James passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family, who adored him," they said. "Throughout his illness, James did it his way, which lasted all the way until the end when he made the choice to do voluntary assisted dying. Both he and his family are grateful he was given the option to go out on his own terms. He was calm, dignified as always, and somehow still making us laugh."

James began his radio career in 1999 and presented Sydney's Afternoons on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for 25 years. In 2024, he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and took time off the airwaves to receive treatment. He returned briefly in 2025 but retired in February this year. He told listeners he had struggled to find the way to tell his audience he was leaving again after twice revealing details of his cancer on air. "It's sad news, it's definitely sad news for me," he told listeners.

James' children paid separate tribute to their father in a chat with ABC Radio Sydney. "Everyone knows he was such a kind man and so generous and compassionate, but he was just such a great dad as well ... that kindness and compassion came through," Ruby said. "He was such a great guy."

"It has been the most beautiful thing listening to all of your wishes out on the balcony all together, listening to the program and just taking it all in," Roy said. "But the thing that sticks out for me is that this period has been one of pure joy with him and love."

Australia's prime minister, Anthony Albanese, also paid tribute, telling the channel: "He was such a voice and therefore a figure in Sydney. He was someone who was always worth listening to, he was interesting, and he was so full of life, but he had a very difficult recent period.

"We would often, both on air and off air, have a chat about music, indeed. Music can be very uplifting at times like this, we certainly need uplifting. I think among the sadness today, there will be joy as well about a life very well lived."

Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn reflected on his legacy, telling the radio station: "He was sharing his death with us to help us understand our mortality and how we live life better.

"He was always the funniest fellow and the smartest and the cleverest with music."

Prior to his radio career, James had a successful career as a musician. He was an in-demand saxophonist and was a prominent recording and touring artist through the 1980s with a string of Australian bands, including Models, Absent Friends, and the Wendy Matthews Band, Jo Camilleri and Stephen Cummings, to name just a few.

When Models were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Sydney in 2010, James joined them on stage.