On 13 September 2020, Starkie was renovating his mother-in-law's home in Shepparton when he fell from a ladder and was seriously injured. He was air-lifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he was treated "but was unable to be saved". He died on 14 September 2020, aged 72, and was survived by his partner, Diana, his daughters and his siblings. He was given tributes by music promoter Michael Gudinski, who had signed Skyhooks to his Mushroom Records label, as well as fellow band member Red Symons.
