Madonna’s Brother Christopher Ciccone Dies at 63
Christopher Ciccone, multihyphenate artist, dancer, designer, and younger brother of pop icon Madonna, has passed away at the age of 63, The Associated Press reports.
Ciccone died on Friday in Michigan after a battle with cancer, his representative Brad Taylor confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday.
Madonna paid tribute to her brother on Instagram with a carousel of photos spanning their lives.
Ciccone’s passion for dance began in his youth and deeply intertwined with his sister’s rise to fame in the 1980s. He appeared in iconic music videos like “Lucky Star,” art directed Madonna’s Blond Ambition World Tour, and served as tour director for The Girlie Show tour. He also directed music videos for other stars like Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett.
In 2008, Ciccone released a bestselling autobiography, “Life with My Sister Madonna,” detailing their complicated relationship, her romantic entanglements, and his experiences touring with her. For two decades, he was by her side, choreographing, directing, dressing, and assisting his sister. He even designed the interiors of her homes in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, calling it a “marriage at times.”
In recent years, Ciccone relocated to Michigan’s Lower Peninsula to be closer to family. He married British actor Ray Thacker in 2016, who was by his side at his passing.
Madonna wrote that despite their struggles, they reconnected when Ciccone fell ill. This comes after the recent loss of her stepmother Joan Clare Ciccone to cancer a few weeks ago and her older brother Anthony Ciccone earlier this year.
