Victor Willis, the original lead singer and co-founder of the Village People, died on June 30, 2026, at the age of 74. His death was attributed to a brief but aggressive illness.

A statement announcing Willis's passing was posted on the official Village People Facebook page on July 1, 2026. The statement requested privacy for his family. Karen Huff Willis, his wife, issued a separate statement on Facebook regarding his death.

Willis, who was born in Texas, co-wrote several of the band's songs, including "Y.M.C.A.," "Macho Man," "In the Navy," and "Go West." He sang in his father's church as a child and grew up in San Francisco, later receiving training in acting and dance. Willis relocated to New York to join the Negro Ensemble Company and appeared in the original Broadway production of 'The Wiz' in 1976.

French disco producer Jacques Morali approached Willis to front his new album, leading to the release of the debut Village People album in July 1977. After an appearance on 'American Bandstand' generated demand for live performances, Willis and Morali assembled a full group. Willis left the Village People in 1979 to pursue a solo career, and again in 1980, followed by another departure in 1983 after a brief return to the group. He rejoined the group in 2017.

The song "Y.M.C.A." was released in 1978. In 2020, the Library of Congress added "Y.M.C.A." to the National Recording Registry, describing it as "an American phenomenon." The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021. In 2018, the Village People released 'A Village People Christmas'.

In 2024, Willis addressed the use of "Y.M.C.A." by Donald Trump at his campaign rallies in 2020. Willis said he had asked Trump to stop using the song because its use had become a nuisance. He also stated that he permitted its continued use because Trump "seemed to genuinely like it and have fun with it." Willis noted the financial benefits of the song's use had been great. He maintained that the assumption of "Y.M.C.A." being a gay anthem was false, explaining that he wrote the lyrics based on his experiences with the Y in urban areas of San Francisco, including activities like swimming, basketball, and track, as well as amenities like cheap food and rooms. Willis performed "Y.M.C.A." at Trump's pre-inauguration rally in January 2025.

Willis entered the Betty Ford Clinic in 2007. In May 2012, he won a ruling in a case concerning the Copyright Act of 1976, which was the first case heard regarding that act. He reached an out-of-court settlement with Henri Belolo, Jacques Morali's business partner, in 2017. Willis contributed lyrics to two songs for the musical film 'Can't Stop the Music'.