Dick Cheney dead at 84: cause of death, career highlights, and the questions readers are asking

Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney died at the age of 84 on Monday, November 3, 2025. His family said he passed from complications of pneumonia along with cardiac and vascular disease. A formidable figure across five decades of Washington power politics, Cheney leaves behind a complex legacy that continues to shape debates over national security, presidential power, and America’s role in the world.

Dick Cheney cause of death

Family members said Cheney died from complications of pneumonia, compounded by longstanding cardiac and vascular disease. He had a well-documented history of heart trouble dating back to the late 1970s and underwent a heart transplant in 2012. The combination of acute infection and chronic cardiovascular issues can be especially dangerous for older patients, a risk profile consistent with the circumstances described by his family.

Who is Dick Cheney?

Richard “Dick” Cheney served as the 46th vice president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was White House chief of staff under President Gerald Ford, a six-term member of the House of Representatives from Wyoming (rising to minority whip), and secretary of defense under President George H. W. Bush during the Gulf War. In the private sector he led Halliburton in the 1990s. He was a Republican throughout his career.

Who was Dick Cheney vice president for?

Cheney served as vice president to President George W. Bush from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. During those years he wielded unusual influence over national security and foreign policy, particularly in the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks and in the run-up to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The 2006 Dick Cheney hunting accident: who did he shoot?

On February 11, 2006, while quail hunting in South Texas, Cheney accidentally shot fellow hunter Harry Whittington, then 78, with birdshot. Whittington was hospitalized and later recovered, though he experienced complications including a minor heart attack attributed to a lodged pellet. The incident became a defining pop-culture reference point for Cheney and resurfaced often in coverage of his life and career. Whittington died years later, in 2023, of unrelated causes after a fall.

Did Dick Cheney have a heart transplant?

Yes. Cheney received a heart transplant in 2012 after multiple heart attacks and surgical interventions over several decades. The transplant extended his public life, allowing him to remain an outspoken participant in national debates well into his 70s and 80s.

Liz Cheney, Mary Cheney, and the family

Cheney is survived by his wife, Lynne, whom he married in 1964, and their daughters, Liz and Mary. Liz Cheney served as Wyoming’s at-large congresswoman and became a prominent figure in intraparty debates over the future of the Republican Party. Mary Cheney has long been a visible voice on conservative politics and LGBTQ issues. The family has not yet announced public memorial details at the time of publication.

Age check: how old was Dick Cheney?

Cheney was born on January 30, 1941, making him 84 years old at the time of his death on November 3, 2025.

How old is George W. Bush?

Given the frequent pairing of their names, readers often ask about Cheney’s former running mate. George W. Bush was born on July 6, 1946; he is 79 in 2025.

What did Dick Cheney die of?

To reiterate, the family attributed his death to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. Those details align with his lengthy cardiac history and underscore the heightened risks respiratory infections pose to older adults with underlying heart conditions.

Cheney’s imprint on the vice presidency

Cheney reshaped the modern vice presidency, asserting expansive authority over intelligence, defense, and energy policy. Supporters credited him with a clear-eyed approach to threats and a focus on executive decision-making in crisis. Critics faulted him for advancing aggressive interrogation policies, defending broad surveillance authorities, and championing the Iraq invasion on grounds that later drew intense scrutiny. Whether admired or opposed, his imprint on the office remains singular.

Pop culture and “Vice” the movie

Cheney’s life inspired the 2018 film “Vice,” which dramatized his rise from Wyoming politics to the peak of executive power. The movie cemented his image in popular culture as a master of the behind-the-scenes levers of government.

FAQs at a glance

• Did Dick Cheney die? Yes; Monday, November 3, 2025.

• Cause of death? Complications of pneumonia with cardiac and vascular disease.

• Who did he shoot? Attorney Harry Whittington in a 2006 hunting accident.

• Party affiliation? Republican.

• Who was he vice president for? George W. Bush (2001–2009).

• Did he have a heart transplant? Yes, in 2012.

• Net worth? Estimates vary widely; no official figure is released by the family.

What’s next

Public tributes are expected from former colleagues, political allies and critics, and from multiple administrations he served or influenced. Funeral and memorial plans had not been finalized at press time. This is a developing story; details may evolve as official arrangements are announced.