Basquiat ku nitori ilokulo heroini ni August 12, 1988, nigba to je omo odun 27.Itokasi awon ojoibi ni 1960Awon ojoalaisi ni 1988awon ara Amerika.. 
O se akobere ipele alamọdaju re ni ọdun 1963 off-Broadway revival of Best foot Forward, o si gba aami eye Tony fun oṣere ti o dara julọ ni orin kan fun kikopa ni Flora The Red Menace ni ọdun 1965, eyiti o se ami si ibẹrẹ ifowosowopo igbesi aye pẹlu John kander ati Fred Eb.. 