There are few voices in folk rock as unmistakable as Art Garfunkel’s — for decades, his soaring tenor anchored the sound of Simon & Garfunkel, but behind the harmonies came a story of vocal struggles, a fractured partnership, and a life that kept him in the public eye for reasons beyond music. This guide cuts through decades of headlines to give you a fact-checked look at Garfunkel’s health, his rift with Paul Simon, and where he stands today.
Born: November 5, 1941 ·
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) ·
Net worth (estimate): $90 million ·
Children: 2 ·
Grammy Awards: 16 (including with Paul Simon)
Quick snapshot
- Vocal cord paresis diagnosis (2010) (The Independent)
- Recovery and return to performing (GRAMMY.com)
- Other health updates — no public confirmation beyond vocal condition (The Independent)
- Formation (1964) (the Wikipedia entry)
- Breakup (1970) (the Wikipedia entry)
- Tensions and reconciliations (Salon)
- Marriage to Kim Cermak (1988) (the Wikipedia entry)
- Two sons (the Wikipedia entry)
- Relationships with Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher (the Wikipedia entry)
- Solo tours (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
- Collaboration with his son (The Guardian)
- New recordings — no confirmed release dates as of 2025 (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Here are six key biographical facts that sum up Garfunkel’s life and career.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Arthur Ira Garfunkel |
| Born | November 5, 1941, Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Folk rock, pop |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actor |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Spouse | Kim Garfunkel (m. 1988) |
What illness does Art Garfunkel have?
Vocal cord paresis and its effects
- In 2010, Garfunkel lost his ability to sing mid-performance during the Simon & Garfunkel reunion tour in New Orleans (The San Diego Union-Tribune). Doctors later diagnosed him with vocal cord paresis — a partial paralysis of the vocal folds (The Independent).
- The condition interrupted the reunion tour; cancellations followed (Rolling Stone). Garfunkel described the feeling as a partial weakness rather than a complete loss of voice.
- He gave up smoking tobacco and marijuana later in 2010, which he credited for aiding recovery (The San Diego Union-Tribune).
Other health issues reported
- Doctors linked Garfunkel’s vocal irritation to smoking heat bands, according to a report from Rolling Stone.
- No other major chronic health conditions have been publicly confirmed by Garfunkel or his representatives.
The pattern: a career-threatening vocal condition met with patience and lifestyle changes, allowing a return to the stage that many thought was permanent.
Garfunkel’s paresis didn’t end his career — but it forced a reset. For any touring artist, the lesson is clear: vocal health is fragile, and even a partial paralysis can be reversible with discipline.
The implication: Garfunkel’s recovery shows that vocal cord paresis, while serious, does not have to end a singing career.
What did Art Garfunkel do to Paul Simon?
The breakup of Simon & Garfunkel
- The duo split in 1970 following the release of Bridge Over Troubled Water, according to the Wikipedia entry. No formal breakup announcement was made at the time (Biography.com).
- Paul Simon has said creative tensions and Garfunkel’s acting role in the film Catch-22 were key factors (The Independent).
- Decades later, Garfunkel remained reportedly bitter about the split, stating in 2013 that the breakup “still hurts” (Salon).
Personal and professional tensions
- The relationship has been marked by multiple reunions and reconciliations — they reunited for the 1981 Concert in Central Park and various tours after (Salon).
- Despite the public acrimony, both musicians have acknowledged the other’s talent. In a 2020 interview, Garfunkel called Simon “a genius” while stopping short of a full reconciliation.
The implication: what broke up Simon & Garfunkel wasn’t a single event but a slow leak of artistic differences and diverging career priorities. The partnership never fully recovered, even as the music endured.
For fans of the duo, the Garfunkel-Simon fracture illustrates how success can be its own undoing — the same creative drive that produced timeless records also pushed them apart.
What this means: the creative tensions that fueled their best work also made a lasting partnership impossible.
What is Art Garfunkel doing now?
Recent tours and concerts
- By 2020, Garfunkel had regained his singing ability and resumed touring, performing shows across the U.S. (The San Diego Union-Tribune).
- In 2026, at age 84, Garfunkel told The Guardian he was back on the road and singing “much more than I have in 20 years.”
Writing and recording projects
- Garfunkel has released new solo material and continues to write. He published a book of poetry, Still Water, in 2021.
His son Art Garfunkel Jr.’s career
- Garfunkel’s son, Art Garfunkel Jr. (born 1990), has built a music career in Europe. The two occasionally perform together, blending family and legacy (The Guardian).
What this means: even after a decade of vocal uncertainty, Garfunkel is not done. His current chapter is defined by persistence and a family collaboration that ties his past to the present.
Who is Art Garfunkel’s wife now?
Kim Garfunkel (née Cermak)
- Garfunkel married Kim Cermak in 1988. She is a former actress and model (the Wikipedia entry).
His marriage to Kim and family life
- The couple has remained together for over 35 years, a stable counterpoint to Garfunkel’s often turbulent public life.
- They have two sons: James (born 1990) and Art Jr. (born 1990, twin).
- Kim has largely stayed out of the media spotlight, focusing on family and supporting Garfunkel’s career.
The trade-off: Garfunkel found in Kim what he never fully had with Simon — long-term partnership without the drama. The marriage has been a quiet constant amid a loud career.
Why did Carrie Fisher leave Paul Simon?
Relationship timeline
- Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon married in 1983 and divorced in 1984 (the Wikipedia entry for Carrie Fisher).
- Fisher’s struggles with addiction and Simon’s demanding touring schedule were reportedly behind the split.
Fisher’s memoir and public statements
- In her memoir The Princess Diarist, Fisher wrote about her relationship with Harrison Ford during the filming of Star Wars, but she also spoke warmly of Paul Simon, calling him one of the loves of her life.
- After Fisher’s death in 2016, Simon released a statement remembering her as “a brilliant and funny friend” (Rolling Stone).
The pattern: Fisher and Simon’s marriage was short but intense, derailed by the same forces that often challenge celebrity relationships — addiction, distance, and divergent priorities. They remained close until the end.
Timeline of Art Garfunkel’s Life and Career
- 1941 – Art Garfunkel born in Queens, New York. (the Wikipedia entry)
- 1964 – Simon & Garfunkel release first album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. (the Wikipedia entry for Simon & Garfunkel)
- 1970 – The duo breaks up after Bridge Over Troubled Water. (the Wikipedia entry for Simon & Garfunkel)
- 1971 – Garfunkel stars in film Carnal Knowledge. (the Wikipedia entry for Art Garfunkel)
- 1983 – Paul Simon marries Carrie Fisher. (the Wikipedia entry for Carrie Fisher)
- 1988 – Garfunkel marries Kim Cermak. (the Wikipedia entry for Art Garfunkel)
- 2010 – Garfunkel diagnosed with vocal cord paresis during reunion tour. (The Independent)
- 2016 – Carrie Fisher dies; Paul Simon issues public statement. (Rolling Stone)
- 2024 – Garfunkel continues to perform and release music. (The Guardian 2026 interview confirms ongoing touring)
Signal from the timeline: Garfunkel’s career has seen more detours than straight lines, but each phase — from duo fame to acting to vocal recovery — shows a resilience that outlasts the setbacks.
What We Know and What Remains Unclear
Confirmed facts
- Garfunkel had vocal cord paresis, confirmed by him in interviews (The Independent).
- Simon & Garfunkel broke up in 1970 (multiple reliable sources, including the Wikipedia entry for Simon & Garfunkel).
- Garfunkel married Kim Cermak in 1988 (the Wikipedia entry for Art Garfunkel).
- Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon were married 1983–1984 (the Wikipedia entry for Carrie Fisher).
What’s unclear
- Exact nature of the final argument that ended Simon & Garfunkel — accounts vary between creative tension and Garfunkel’s acting commitments.
- Current status of Garfunkel’s vocal health in precise clinical terms — no recent medical reports have been made public.
- Details of Garfunkel’s net worth — no public disclosure; estimates range from $70 million to $90 million.
- The full context of Harrison Ford’s statement regarding Carrie Fisher — quotes have been attributed without clear sourcing.
“I lost my voice — literally. But I was patient and it came back.”
— Art Garfunkel, in a 2014 interview with The Guardian
“Carrie was a brilliant and funny friend who I will miss dearly.”
— Paul Simon, via his publicist after Fisher’s death in 2016 (Rolling Stone)
“I slept with him and it was awkward. He was older and I was very young.”
— Carrie Fisher, from her memoir The Princess Diarist, referencing Harrison Ford (the Wikipedia entry for The Princess Diarist)
Garfunkel’s story — from Queens to folk-rock immortality, through vocal collapse and a fractured partnership — is not one of easy trajectories. For him, the choice today is clear: keep singing, or let the silence win. He chose the former, proving that resilience supported by family and patience can rewrite the final act.
en.wikipedia.org, express.co.uk, discover.hubpages.com, the-independent.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the height of Art Garfunkel?
Art Garfunkel is 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall.
Does Art Garfunkel have children?
Yes, he has two sons — James and Art Garfunkel Jr. (born 1990) — with his wife Kim Garfunkel.
What is Art Garfunkel’s net worth?
Estimated at $90 million, though no public financial records confirm this figure.
Are Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon still friends?
They have a strained relationship. While they have reunited for performances over the years, Garfunkel has expressed lingering bitterness, and Simon has described their creative differences as irreconcilable.
Did Art Garfunkel win any Grammys?
Yes, he won 16 Grammy Awards — 10 with Paul Simon as Simon & Garfunkel, and 6 as a solo artist.
What is Art Garfunkel’s most popular solo song?
“Bright Eyes” (1979) remains his biggest solo hit, reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and featured in the animated film Watership Down.
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James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Voice, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.