Madonna's brother Christopher Ciccone has died at the age of 63.
His representative confirmed the news to Fox News Digital, saying he passed away “peacefully” from cancer on October 4. He was “surrounded by love” by his husband Ray Tucker and loved ones.
Ciccone was born in Pontiac, Michigan, the fifth child and third son of his and Madonna's parents, Madonna Louise (Fortin) and Silvio Patrick Ciccone, and later grew up in Rochester.
He studied at Western Michigan University and Oakland University before moving to New York City, “where he used his skills as a dancer and choreographer to support his sister Madonna's emerging singing career,” according to a statement from his family. .
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Madonna's brother Christopher Ciccone has died at the age of 63, his representative confirmed to Fox News Digital. (Getty Images)
Ciccone's role expanded to become Madonna's dresser and creative consultant during her rise to fame, and also helped design the interiors of her homes in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles.
After his work with Madonna, he went on to work as an interior designer, shoe designer, memoirist, and painter. His artwork was frequently featured on his Instagram.
He then moved to the northern tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula “to be closer to work and family.” Much of his family is involved in his father's winemaking business, Ciccone Vineyards, in Sutton's Bay near Traverse City.
In 2016, Ciccone married British-born actor Ray Tucker.
Ciccone supported Madonna's early career as a dancer and later worked as a creative consultant. (ARNAL/Gamma-Rafo, via Getty Images)
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He is survived by his father, brothers Martin, Madonna, Paula and Melanie (Chris was predeceased by his eldest brother Anthony and stepmother Joanne Gustafson Ciccone), his brothers Jennifer and Mario, and countless nieces and nephews. , cousins and friends around the world.”
A representative for Madonna did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The brothers were briefly at loggerheads after Ciccone published a revealing book, “My Life with My Sister Madonna,'' in 2008.
In the book, he claims that Madonna revealed her sexuality in a 1991 interview with The Advocate and that her ex-husband, Guy Ritchie, was homophobic. He also said that a turning point in their relationship was when she took a camera to her mother's grave for the documentary Truth or Dare.
After the publication of Ciccone and Madonna's tell-all book, Life with My Sister Madonna, their relationship was controversial at one point, but Ciccone insisted years later that “as far as I'm concerned, we're on good terms.” (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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At the time, Madonna's representative said: Associated Press She said she had not read the memoir but was “very upset” that he “decided to sell a book about my sister.”
In 2012, Ciccone spoke about their relationship in an interview. evening standard, “As far as I'm concerned, we're doing great. I haven't seen her in a long time, but we keep in touch with each other. We're brother and sister again. I am,” he told the outlet. spoke. It's not going to work out for her and it's better this way. ”
Ciccone's death marks the “Material Girl” singer's second family loss in recent months.
In September, An online obituary reported Madonna's stepmother, Joan Clare Ciccone, has died at the age of 81 after “a brief bout with a very aggressive form of cancer.”
Madonna and Ciccone's brother Anthony passed away last year. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Live Nation)
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Madonna and Ciccone's brother Anthony passed away in February last year.
She paid tribute to him on social media at the time, writing below a photo with him: “Thank you for surprising my young mind and introducing me to Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Buddhism and Taoism. ” he wrote.
