James Valentine, the Australian broadcaster and musician who became a defining voice of Sydney radio, has died two years after receiving a cancer diagnosis. He was 64.

“James passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family, who adored him,” his family said in a statement released via the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

“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,” the statement read.

Valentine, who hosted the Afternoons programme on ABC Radio Sydney for more than two decades, revealed in March 2024 that he had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and would take time off for treatment.

He told listeners at the time: “The prognosis is that it’ll be fixed, but it’s a pretty dramatic fix.” He later returned to the programme in August 2024, saying he was “in perfect health now,” while continuing monitoring and treatment, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Further tumours were discovered in 2025, including in his omentum, which led him to step away again before announcing his retirement in February this year.

ABC managing director Hugh Marks said in a statement on Thursday that Valentine had been “a trusted companion for so many people, part of the rhythm of everyday life for generations of our Sydney audience”.

“James brought warmth, wit, and humanity to radio as an exemplar of radio craft. His style was never about confrontation or noise – it was always about connection,” Marks said.

Born on 12 September 1961 in Ballarat, Victoria, Valentine developed an early interest in music, studying jazz before establishing himself in Melbourne’s music scene and later moving into the media.

His career at the ABC spanned more than 30 years and began in the mid-1980s on television, including hosting The Afternoon Show for children, before moving into radio. He became synonymous with the Afternoons programme on 702 ABC Radio Sydney, which he presented for more than 20 years, building a devoted audience through improvised, conversational talkback segments and an emphasis on everyday life.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Valentine, writing on X: “With the passing of James Valentine, we have lost one of our national treasures. Australia first got to know James through the sound of his saxophone, most notably in his years with the Models. But it was as a mainstay on the ABC that we really got to know his voice.

“As a presenter and as an author, James was an incisive, witty and often mischievous presence. When he was on, you always felt like you were in the very best of company. Our thoughts now are with his loved ones. May James Valentine rest in peace.”

The governor general, Sam Mostyn wrote on Instagram that Valentine had recently been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), with the medal presented to his children days before his death. The honour was expedited in the final weeks of his life and presented at Admiralty House to his children over the weekend, Mostyn confirmed to News.com.au.

She described him as a “pioneering broadcaster, gifted musician, and passionate advocate for the arts and creativity”.

Fellow ABC presenter Richard Glover said on 702 ABC Mornings that Valentine had “lifted the spirit of the city every day for 25 years”.

Australian radio announcer Robbie Buck wrote on Bluesky: “Vale to one of the greatest. The joyous, irrepressible, and unbelievably sharp James Valentine has left us. What a wonderful human to have worked with. Thanks for all the laughs James. Godspeed.”

Valentine was an accomplished musician, working as a saxophonist in the 1980s with bands including Models and later performing with artists like Kate Ceberano, Wendy Matthews, and Jo Camilleri.

He also authored several books, including the Jump Man trilogy for young adult readers.

His daughter Ruby told the ABC that Valentine had been open about his decision to pursue voluntary assisted dying, legal across all Australian states under strict eligibility criteria. “He wanted it to be something that people knew that he did. If ever he could lend his voice to the argument of why this is such a necessary thing for so many people,” she said.

Valentine is survived by his wife, Joanne, and their two children, Ruby, 28, and Roy, 26.