Christopher Ciccone, the former entertainer and dancer who was also Madonna’s younger brother, has died, his representative Brad Taylor confirmed to CBS News. He was 63 years old.
Taylor said in a statement that he died of cancer on October 4, surrounded by his husband, Ray Thacker.
Born on November 22, 1960 in Pontiac, Michigan, Ciccone was an artist, interior decorator and designer, who began his career as a dancer. He joined Le Group de La Palace Royale in Ottawa in 1980 before moving to New York two years later to support his older sister’s music career as a backup dancer.
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As Madonna’s career grew, Ciccone became more involved – serving as artistic director on her sister’s Blonde Ambition world tour in 1990 and as tour manager for her The Girlie Show in 1993. He also directed music videos for mega stars Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett in the 1990s.
His role expanded outside of music when Ciccone took on the role of interior designer within homes owned and operated by his sister in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles.
In 2012, Ciccone launched his own shoe line, The Ciccone Collection, at London Fashion Week.
He said CBS News at the time His goal is to make the brand “accessible” and not too expensive.
“The great thing about shoemaking is that everyone can have a pair of shoes. When you practice art, there is only one art,” Ciccone said.
Ciccone, who was openly gay, claimed his sister outed him during her 1991 interview with The Advocate.
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Ciccone released a tell-all autobiography called “Life With My Sister Madonna,” which led to reports that the two had broken up, but Ciccone told CBS News in 2012 that he was glad he wrote the book.
“I don’t regret any of it,” he added. “I think that’s why I did this,” Ciccone said in 2012. “It gave people a chance to think of me as a creative person, as an artist and not just as Madonna’s brother, which is the label that I will wear forever.” At some point Christopher Ciccone will be first. He Great…I’m completely happy being who I am.
The two eventually reconciled.
“Our relationship is good to me,” he told CBS News.
Ciccone and Thacker – a British-born actor – married in 2016.
Ciccone’s death comes less than two weeks after his stepmother and Madonna’s stepmother, Joan Clare Ciccone, died of cancer. His older brother Anthony died in 2023.