A California man who became an unexpected internet sensation after dancing to the Bee Gees’ hit “Stayin’ Alive” at his birthday party has been identified after a shocking twist left millions of viewers stunned.
Vito Justin Martinaitis, 96, was celebrating his upcoming 97th birthday with dozens of friends at his Santa Monica home on October 29 when the joyous occasion took a heartbreaking turn. Just minutes after dancing and enjoying his favorite disco music, Martinaitis suffered a medical emergency and died.
The beloved retiree, affectionately known as “Vito,” had been the life of the party, laughing, dancing and celebrating with friends young enough to be his grandchildren.
His final celebration was captured on video and quickly went viral, attracting millions of views and turning the energetic senior into an internet sensation after his death.
never deleting this app bc wdym your 97yo neighbor made a “dramatic exit” at his birthday party https://t.co/zq6OERXIOH
— Danielle (@DLVermeer) November 4, 2026
But behind the shocking footage was the story of a man whose remarkable zest for life had made him a local legend in Southern California.
According to the New York Post, Martinaitis was a retired architect originally from Chicago who had settled in the Los Angeles area. Following his wife’s death several years earlier, he lived alone but maintained an active social life with a close circle of much younger friends.
One of those friends, 34-year-old Caleb Hunter, described Martinaitis as anything but an ordinary 96-year-old.
“He was not a normal 96-year-old,” Hunter said, revealing that his elderly friend regularly went out several nights a week and had even jumped over a fence just weeks before his death.
Despite their significant age difference, the two developed a close friendship. Hunter said the group frequently gathered for dinners, visited Martinaitis at his home and attended Sunday Mass together.
The older man reportedly told his younger companions that spending time with them made him “feel so alive.”
On October 29, Hunter and 24-year-old Los Angeles baker Eden Malinoff organized an early birthday celebration for Martinaitis, combining his love of parties with a Halloween theme.
Dozens of guests attended, and Martinaitis arrived ready to celebrate. He enjoyed Spanish brandy, mingled with friends and danced along to disco classics from the 1970s.
Malinoff even prepared a special red wine chocolate cake decorated with the words “Like Fine Wine,” a fitting tribute to the birthday boy’s personality and longevity.
When Malinoff previously asked Martinaitis about his secret to living such a long life, he reportedly offered one memorable piece of advice: never drink cheap liquor.
As the celebration continued, guests sang “Happy Birthday,” and Martinaitis enthusiastically danced to the Bee Gees’ 1977 classic “Stayin’ Alive.”
The moment was caught on camera, showing the smiling senior moving to the music, seemingly enjoying every second of the celebration.
However, the party soon took a devastating turn.
Martinaitis was reportedly dancing along to the disco hit “Rasputin” when his friends realized something was wrong and rushed to help him.
Hunter immediately called 911, but Martinaitis died that evening, surrounded by some of his closest friends.
Although an official cause of death has not been publicly confirmed, Hunter revealed that Martinaitis had experienced heart problems in the months leading up to the celebration. He reportedly needed a medical procedure but had been considered a poor candidate for it.
Hunter emphasized that his friend had otherwise appeared remarkably active and healthy for his age.
The heartbreaking story gained international attention after Malinoff posted footage from the party on TikTok, where viewers were stunned to learn that the energetic man dancing in the video had died shortly afterward.
While many celebrated Martinaitis’ extraordinary spirit, others criticized Malinoff for sharing the footage. She reportedly received hateful messages and even death threats before removing the video.
Despite the controversy, his friends insisted the celebration reflected exactly how Martinaitis had lived his life: surrounded by music, laughter and people who adored him.
Hunter said his friend’s sudden internet fame would have been fitting for a man who never let his age keep him from enjoying life.
“He went out with a bang,” Hunter recalled.
For those who knew him, the viral footage was more than an unusual final moment. It was a lasting reminder of a beloved friend who continued dancing, celebrating and embracing life until his final evening.