Oct
Christopher Ciccone, Madonna’s Brother and Collaborator, Passes Away at 63
Christopher Ciccone, the younger brother of pop icon Madonna, has passed away at the age of 63. He was a creative consultant, backup dancer, and artist, known for his work alongside the superstar before establishing his own career.
Ciccone died peacefully on October 4 after a courageous battle with cancer, as confirmed by his representative to Entertainment Weekly. He was surrounded by family, including his husband, Ray Thacker.
In the wake of his passing, Madonna shared a poignant tribute to her brother on Instagram. “My brother Christopher is gone,” she began, expressing their deep bond that formed through shared experiences of being different in a challenging world. “We took each other’s hands and danced through the madness of our childhood.”
She reflected on their connection through dance, stating, “Dance was a kind of superglue that held us together. Discovering dance in our small Midwestern town saved me, and then my brother came along, and it saved him too.”
Madonna highlighted Ciccone’s influence on her tours, noting, “When it came to good taste, my brother was the Pope, and you had to kiss the ring to get his blessing.” She praised him as a “painter, poet, and visionary,” acknowledging their shared triumphs and struggles. “Somehow, we always found each other again and held hands while we kept dancing.”
Addressing their years of estrangement, she noted that their relationship mended during his illness. “The last few years have not been easy,” she wrote. “We did not speak for some time, but when my brother got sick, we found our way back to each other. I did my best to keep him alive as long as possible. He was in so much pain towards the end. Once again, we held hands, closed our eyes, and danced. Together.”
She concluded her tribute with a heartfelt sentiment: “I’m glad he’s not suffering anymore. There will never be anyone like him. I know he’s dancing somewhere.”
Ciccone’s death follows closely after the passing of his stepmother, Joan Clare Ciccone, who died on September 24 from aggressive cancer.
Born Christopher Gerard Ciccone on November 22, 1960, in Pontiac, Michigan, he was the fifth child and third son of Madonna Louise and Silvio Patrick Ciccone. Like his sister, he had a profound passion for music.
Ciccone pursued dance during his college years at Oakland University before launching his professional career as a dancer in 1980 with Le Group de La Palace Royale in Ottawa. In 1982, he moved to New York to support Madonna’s rising music career, appearing as a backup dancer in her iconic music video for “Lucky Star” in 1984.
As Madonna’s fame soared, he took on roles as her dresser and art director, contributing artwork for her hit single “Like a Prayer” and the 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour. He also worked as an interior designer for his sister.
In addition to collaborating with Madonna, Ciccone directed music videos for artists like Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett, notably for “Peace Train” and “God Bless the Child.”
His 2008 autobiography, Life With My Sister Madonna, debuted at No. 2 on The New York Times Best Seller list, although it received criticism for its candid nature and reportedly strained his relationship with Madonna. In the memoir, he discussed feeling outed by her during a 1991 interview and highlighted tensions stemming from her documentary, Truth or Dare.
Christopher Ciccone – Madonna’s Brother and Collaborator – Passes Away at 63
After the book’s release, Madonna’s longtime representative, Liz Rosenberg, remarked that the singer found the book “very upsetting,” indicating that it complicated their relationship further. “I would have to assume she has come to terms with the fact that they do not have a close and loving relationship,” Rosenberg noted.
However, by 2012, Ciccone expressed a more positive outlook on their relationship, saying, “As far as I’m concerned, we’re good. We are in contact with each other… We’re back to being brother and sister.” He also expressed pride in her accomplishments, calling her “a force to be reckoned with.”
In addition to his husband, Ray Thacker, whom he married in 2016, Ciccone is survived by his father and siblings: Madonna, Martin, Paula, Melanie, Jennifer, and Mario, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his eldest brother, Anthony; his mother, Madonna; and his stepmother, Joan.
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