Christopher Ciccone, the brother of pop music icon Madonna, has passed away at the age of 63. His representative confirmed that he succumbed to cancer in Michigan on Friday. Madonna, 66, expressed her grief over the loss of her brother in a heartfelt statement, reflecting on their close bond and shared love for dance.
Madonna reminisced about their childhood, stating that despite societal pressures, they found solace in each other and in dance. She said that dance was a lifeline for both of them in their small Midwestern town. Despite a period of estrangement in recent years, the siblings reconnected when Christopher fell ill. Madonna shared that she did her best to support him during his illness, and they found comfort in their shared love for dance until the end.
Christopher’s husband, British hairdresser Ray Thacker, was by his side when he passed away. This loss comes on the heels of the death of Madonna and Christopher’s stepmother, Joan Clare Ciccone, who also died of cancer. The siblings had previously lost another brother, Anthony Ciccone, to respiratory failure and throat cancer in February 2023.
Christopher was a multifaceted artist, working as an interior decorator, designer, and art director. He collaborated with Madonna on her Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990 and directed her The Girlie Show in 1993. He also directed music videos for renowned artists like Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett in the 1990s.
The siblings had a public falling out, which Christopher detailed in his 2008 memoir, “Life With My Sister Madonna,” a New York Times bestseller. He claimed that Madonna revealed his sexual orientation in a 1991 interview without his consent. He also accused Madonna’s ex-husband, Guy Ritchie, of homophobia. Christopher expressed that their relationship took a turn for the worse when Madonna filmed at their mother’s grave for her 1991 documentary “Truth or Dare.”
Despite their differences, Christopher spoke positively about his sister in a 2012 interview with The Evening Standard. He expressed pride in her accomplishments and stated that they had reestablished their sibling bond. Christopher married Ray Thacker in 2016.
Madonna recently mourned the loss of her stepmother, Joan Clare Ciccone, who passed away from cancer. Joan was married to Madonna and Christopher’s father, Silvio, for 58 years. Their mother, also named Madonna, died in 1963 when she was just 30 years old.