Christopher Ciccone, artist and Madonna's younger brother, dies aged 63

Christopher Ciccone, an artist and former dancer who was also the younger brother of singer Madonna, has died, his representative Brad Taylor confirmed to CBS News. He was 63 years old.

She died of cancer on Oct. 4 with her husband, Ray Thacker, by her side, Taylor said in a statement.

Born on November 22, 1960, in Pontiac, Michigan, Ciccone was an artist, interior decorator, and designer who began her career as a dancer. She joined Le Groupe de la Palais Royale in Ottawa in 1980 before moving to New York two years later to support her older sister's music career as a backup dancer.

Ciccone became more involved as Madonna's career progressed — serving as art director for her sister's Blonde Ambition World Tour in 1990 and tour director for her The Girlie Show in 1993. He also directed music videos for megastars Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett. 1990s.

Her role expanded away from music when Ciccone took on the role of interior designer at homes owned and occupied by her sister in New York, Miami and Los Angeles.

In 2012, Cicone released her own shoe line, The Cicone Collection, at London Fashion Week.

told CBS News at that time His aim is to make the brand “accessible to everyone” and not too expensive

“The great thing about making shoes is that potentially everyone can have a pair. When you're making art, there's only one,” Ciccone said.

Ciccone, who was openly gay, claimed that his sister excluded him during a 1991 interview with The Advocate.

Ciccone published an autobiography, “Life With My Sister Madonna,” which led to reports of a rift between the two, but Ciccone told CBS News in 2012 that he was happy he wrote the book.

“I don't regret any of it,” he said. “I think that's what led me to this. It allowed people to think of me as a creative person, as an artist, and not just as Madonna's brother, which I'm going to wear forever,” Ciccone said in 2012. “But I'm hopeful that this will be the first Christopher Ciccone… I'm perfectly happy where I am.”

Finally the two met.

“Our relationship is fine as far as I'm concerned,” he told CBS News.

Ciccone and Thacker – a British-born actor – married in 2016.

Ciccone's death came less than two weeks after his and Madonna's stepmother Joan Claire Ciccone died of cancer. His elder brother Anthony died in 2023.