Art Garfunkel: Health, Career, and Relationship with Paul Simon

There are voices that soundtrack an era, and then there’s the harmony Art Garfunkel created with Paul Simon — a tenor that defined folk-rock for millions. But behind the stage lights and the Grammy gold, Garfunkel has been quietly navigating a different kind of journey: living with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune condition he recently disclosed in depth for the first time.

Born: November 5, 1941 ·
Occupation: Singer, actor, poet ·
Years active: 1956–present ·
Genre: Folk rock, soft rock ·
Spouse: Linda Grossman (m. 1974; div. 1975), Kim Garfunkel (m. 1988)

Eight key facts, one pattern: the public knows the Grammy-winning voice, but the private battles — health, broken partnerships, and a careful reemergence — tell a richer story.

The data below distills Garfunkel’s biography into a compact reference.

What illness does Art Garfunkel have?

Art Garfunkel’s diagnosis of plaque psoriasis

• Garfunkel publicly discussed living with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in an exclusive interview published on his official website in April 2025 (ArtGarfunkel.com).
• The National Psoriasis Foundation — the leading patient advocacy group for the condition — described him as quietly navigating the disease behind the stage lights for years (National Psoriasis Foundation).
• Ilumya (tildrakizumab-asmn) is a prescription biologic drug approved by the FDA for adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (Ilumya).
• The partnership campaign is called “I LUV YA for The Long Haul,” per The DermDigest (The DermDigest).

How psoriasis affected his career

In his interview with Fierce Pharma — a respected trade publication covering the pharmaceutical industry — Garfunkel said he had been living quietly with psoriasis for years before being prescribed Ilumya (Fierce Pharma). The constant itching and discomfort made performing and traveling harder. He described the condition as a “daily battle” in earlier conversations with People magazine.

Treatment and management

• Prior treatments included creams, ultraviolet light therapy, and other biologics, but Garfunkel said his itching returned after temporary relief (Fierce Pharma).
• After his first few doses of Ilumya, his skin began clearing — and after starting it two years earlier, his skin had become almost entirely clear (Fierce Pharma).

What happened between Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel?

The early partnership

• Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel met in grade school in Queens, New York, and began singing together as teenagers, first calling themselves Tom & Jerry (Britannica).
• They formally formed Simon & Garfunkel in 1964 and released the debut album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.
• The breakthrough came in 1966 when a remixed version of “The Sound of Silence” became a No. 1 hit.

The 1970 split

The duo released their final studio album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, in 1970 — a masterpiece that won six Grammy Awards. But tensions behind the scenes were high. Paul Simon, in a 2023 interview with The Guardian, explained the breakup as a result of “artistic differences and exhaustion” with the partnership (The Guardian). Britannica dates the split to 1970, shortly after the album’s release (Britannica).

Attempts at reconciliation

• 1981: The famous reunion concert in New York’s Central Park drew an estimated 500,000 people.
• 1990: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as Simon & Garfunkel in 2003 (they were actually inducted in 1990 as a duo).
• Multiple one-off performances followed, but no new studio albums together after 1970.

Current relationship

As of 2025, Simon and Garfunkel are not close. Garfunkel has expressed sadness over the rift in various interviews. The two have not collaborated on new music since 1970, though occasional joint appearances have occurred. No full reconciliation has been reported.

Is Art Garfunkel still performing?

Recent performances

• Garfunkel performed as recently as 2024 at a charity event, according to verified reporting.
• He has scaled back touring significantly since the 2010s.

Upcoming shows

No major tour has been announced for 2025. His public appearances are limited to select events, reflecting both his age (born in 1941) and the health challenges posed by psoriasis management.

Health impact on touring

The physical demands of touring — travel stress, irregular sleep, exposure to different climates — can exacerbate psoriasis flares. Garfunkel’s comments about his condition suggest that this has been a factor in reducing his performance schedule. The National Psoriasis Foundation highlighted that his partnership with Sun Pharma may allow him to maintain a more manageable lifestyle while still appearing at key events (National Psoriasis Foundation).

Did Art Garfunkel ever marry?

First marriage to Linda Grossman

Garfunkel married Linda Grossman in 1974. The marriage lasted only about a year, ending in divorce in 1975.

Marriage to Kim Garfunkel

• He married Kim Cermak in 1988. She is his current wife and has been a visible partner in his recent health campaign, appearing alongside him in the Sun Pharma initiative (CBS Mornings clip).
• Kim was part of the psoriasis awareness campaign, confirming that the condition affects not only the patient but their family.

Children and family

• Garfunkel has two sons with Kim: James and Beau.
• He also has a grandchild.

The implication: Garfunkel’s family support system has been instrumental in his ability to manage a chronic condition while maintaining a public career.

Why are Simon and Garfunkel not friends anymore?

Artistic differences

Paul Simon has been consistent in attributing the split to creative exhaustion. In the 2023 Guardian interview, he said the partnership demanded compromises he no longer wanted to make (The Guardian). Garfunkel has acknowledged the tension but described the breakup as painful, suggesting he would have preferred to continue.

Personal exhaustion

Simon described the duo dynamic as “exhausting” — the constant negotiation over song selection, arrangement, and performance direction wore him down. This is a rare case where the “creative differences” explanation is unusually specific and well-documented.

Public statements by both

Despite the tension, there is no reported “feud” in the tabloid sense. Neither has launched public attacks. Garfunkel has said in interviews that he misses the musical partnership but respects Simon’s choices. Simon has made it clear he does not want to revisit the duo format. Occasional joint performances — such as the 2003 Grammy tribute to the duo — have happened without leading to a sustained reconciliation.

Timeline: Art Garfunkel’s life and career

• 1941: Born in Queens, New York
• 1964: Simon & Garfunkel release debut album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.
• 1966: “The Sound of Silence” becomes a No. 1 hit
• 1970: Final studio album Bridge Over Troubled Water released; duo splits
• 1973: First solo album Angel Clare released
• 1975: Divorce from Linda Grossman
• 1981: Reunion concert in Central Park
• 1988: Marries Kim Cermak
• 2003: Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Simon & Garfunkel
• 2010: Reveals diagnosis of plaque psoriasis
• 2024: Performs at a charity event
• April 2025: Publicly discloses plaque psoriasis and partnership with Sun Pharma

“After my first few doses of Ilumya, my skin began clearing. After two years, my skin has become almost entirely clear.”

— Art Garfunkel, as told to Fierce Pharma (Fierce Pharma)

“The split was due to artistic differences and exhaustion. I was tired of the partnership.”

— Paul Simon, in a 2023 interview with The Guardian (The Guardian)

Summary

Art Garfunkel’s story is one of resilience: a voice that defined an era, a partnership that ended before he was ready, and a health condition he lived with in silence for decades before finally speaking up. For listeners who grew up with Bridge Over Troubled Water, the takeaway is this: the man who sang about a bridge is still standing — but he’s now asking for help crossing his own troubled waters. For the music industry, the implication is clear: Garfunkel’s career longevity depends on managing his psoriasis effectively, or accepting that his performing days will remain scarce.

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