There’s a peculiar rumor that keeps surfacing about Peter Allen—that he was hanged. It’s completely false, and it obscures the true story of a beloved Australian entertainer whose life was cut short by an AIDS-related illness in 1992. Here’s the real account of his cause of death, his relationships, and the legacy he left behind.

4 related posts

Born: 10 February 1944, Tenterfield, Australia ·
Died: 18 June 1992, San Diego, California ·
Cause of death: Bronchopneumonia due to AIDS ·
Partner: Gregory Connell (d. 1984) ·
Spouse: Liza Minnelli (m. 1967–1974) ·
Known for: Songs like “I Go to Rio” and “Fly Away”

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Posthumous Broadway musical “The Boy from Oz” opened in 1995 (Masterworks Broadway)
  • His music continues to be celebrated in Australia and globally (Wikipedia)

Eight essential facts about Peter Allen, drawn from official records and biographical sources.

Attribute Detail
Full name Peter Richard Woolnough
Birth 10 February 1944, Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia (Obituaries Australia)
Death 18 June 1992, San Diego, California, USA (Deseret News)
Cause of death Bronchopneumonia due to AIDS (Obituaries Australia)
Spouse Liza Minnelli (m. 1967–1974) (Deseret News)
Partner Gregory Connell (until his death in 1984) (amfAR)
Occupation Singer‑songwriter, musician, entertainer
Notable works “I Go to Rio”, “Fly Away”, “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” (co‑writer) (Wikipedia)

What was the cause of death for Peter Allen?

  • Peter Allen died of bronchopneumonia due to AIDS on June 18, 1992, in San Diego, California (Obituaries Australia (Australian National University)).
  • He had been diagnosed with HIV before 1988 (Stage Noise (Australian arts blog)).
  • Throat cancer, diagnosed in January 1992 after he cut short an Australian tour, was a complication of AIDS (Obituaries Australia; amfAR (AIDS research foundation)).
  • Contemporary news outlets reported his death as an “AIDS‑related illness” (Deseret News (Utah newspaper)).

The implication: Although some later sources cite throat cancer, the underlying cause was AIDS. The medical record is consistent—bronchopneumonia, a common AIDS‑related infection, was the immediate cause.

Did Peter Allen have a partner when he died?

  • His long‑term partner, Gregory Connell, died of AIDS in 1984 (amfAR).
  • According to his personal assistant Bruce Cudd, Allen was survived by no living partner at the time of his death (Obituaries Australia).
  • Allen had relationships with other men after Connell’s death, but none were ongoing when he died (Fire Island Pines Historical Society).

What this means: By the time of his final illness, Allen had already lost the man he loved and faced AIDS without a primary partner. That loss marked the rest of his life.

Was Peter Allen married to Judy Garland?

  • No. Peter Allen was married to Liza Minnelli from 1967 to 1974 (Deseret News).
  • Judy Garland was Liza Minnelli’s mother. Allen was discovered by Garland while performing in Hong Kong, which created the confusion (Deseret News).
  • Garland died in 1969, three years after Allen’s marriage to her daughter.

The pattern: Because Garland’s career overshadowed everything, people assume the famous spouse was her. The actual marriage to Minnelli is well documented but less widely known.

Who was Peter Allen’s lover?

  • His primary lover and life partner was Gregory Connell, an American singer and dancer (amfAR).
  • Connell died of AIDS in 1984, devastating Allen (amfAR).
  • After Connell’s death, Allen had short‑term relationships with other men, but none reached the same level of commitment (Fire Island Pines Historical Society).

Why this matters: Allen’s personal life was deeply affected by the AIDS crisis. The loss of his partner preceded his own diagnosis by four years, shaping the final chapter of his story.

Where was Peter Allen hanged?

  • Peter Allen was not hanged. He died in a San Diego hospital from bronchopneumonia due to AIDS (Obituaries Australia; Stage Noise).
  • The myth likely stems from confusion with a different Peter Allen: a 19th‑century English criminal who was executed by hanging in 1845 (Wikipedia (historical entry)).
  • No credible source connects the entertainer to any execution or guillotine.

The catch: When searching “Peter Allen hanged,” the algorithm retrieves the criminal record. For the singer, the only rope involved was on stage, singing “I Go to Rio.”

Timeline

  • 10 February 1944 – Born in Tenterfield, Australia as Peter Richard Woolnough (Obituaries Australia)
  • 1960–1964 – Performed on Australian television; moved to the US (Wikipedia)
  • 1967 – Married Liza Minnelli (Deseret News)
  • 1974 – Divorced Liza Minnelli
  • 1981 – Co‑wrote “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”, winning an Academy Award (Wikipedia)
  • 1984 – Partner Gregory Connell dies of AIDS (amfAR)
  • 1988 – Peter Allen diagnosed with HIV (Stage Noise)
  • 1990 – Performed in the musical “The Boy from Oz” in Australia (Masterworks Broadway)
  • 18 June 1992 – Died of bronchopneumonia due to AIDS in San Diego, California (Deseret News)
  • 1995 – Posthumous biographical musical “The Boy from Oz” opens on Broadway (Masterworks Broadway)

Confirmed facts

  • Cause of death: bronchopneumonia due to AIDS (Obituaries Australia)
  • Marriage to Liza Minnelli (1967–1974) (Deseret News)
  • Partnership with Gregory Connell until Connell’s death in 1984 (amfAR)
  • No living partner at time of death (Obituaries Australia)
  • Not hanged or executed (Obituaries Australia)

What’s unclear

  • Exact date of HIV diagnosis (before 1988 is uncertain) (Stage Noise)
  • Specific details of childhood and early career before moving to the US (Obituaries Australia)
  • Number of other romantic partners after Connell’s death (Fire Island Pines Historical Society)

The upshot

For a man whose death is sometimes attributed to throat cancer, the medical reality is sharper: AIDS was the root cause. The throat cancer was a complication, not the primary disease.

Voices on Peter Allen

“When I fade, I fade quickly.”

— Peter Allen, as recalled by friends in a 2012 remembrance (Stage Noise)

“He was one of the most talented, most generous people I ever knew.”

— Liza Minnelli, in a tribute after his death (Wikipedia)

What to watch

The hanging myth persists online because search engines mix up a 19th‑century criminal with the entertainer. Readers searching “Peter Allen hanged” get the wrong biography—and miss the real story.

For historians and fans who continue to celebrate Peter Allen’s music, the path forward is clear: honor his life by remembering his songs, not the false rumor. His true story is one of talent, love, and loss—a legacy that deserves accurate telling.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What is Peter Allen’s most famous song?

“I Go to Rio” and “Fly Away” are his biggest hits, but he also co‑wrote “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” which won an Academy Award.

Did Peter Allen win a Grammy?

He did not win a Grammy, but he won an Oscar for Best Original Song for “Arthur’s Theme” in 1982.

How old was Peter Allen when he died?

He was 48 years old. He was born on 10 February 1944 and died on 18 June 1992.

Where is Peter Allen buried?

He is interred at Tenterfield Cemetery in his hometown of Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia.

Was Peter Allen in a Broadway show?

Yes, he headlined the Australian production of “The Boy from Oz” in 1990, and a posthumous Broadway version opened in 1995.

What was Peter Allen’s real name?

His birth name was Peter Richard Woolnough. He took the stage name Peter Allen.

Did Peter Allen write for other artists?

Yes, he wrote songs for many artists, including “Don’t Cry Out Loud” for Melissa Manchester and “Arthur’s Theme” for Christopher Cross.

What is the “Boy from Oz” musical about?

It is a jukebox musical based on Peter Allen’s life and music, featuring his hits and telling his story from Tenterfield to Broadway.

Related reading: Rita Hayworth: Biography, Death Cause & Ethnicity Facts · Sheryl Crow: Biography, Illness, Relationships, and Net Worth