Christopher Ciccone, Madonna's brother and collaborator, dies at 63

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Christopher Ciccone, Madonna's younger brother, who served as a creative consultant and backup dancer for the pop star before becoming an artist, has died. He was 63.

Ciccone died peacefully on Oct. 4 after a battle with cancer, his representative confirmed to Entertainment Weekly. He was surrounded by loved ones, including his husband, Ray Thacker.

News of Ciccone’s death comes weeks after his stepmother, Joan Clare Ciccone, died on Sept. 24 "after a brief encounter with a very aggressive cancer," per an online obituary.

Born Christopher Gerard Ciccone in Pontiac, Mich., on Nov. 22, 1960, Ciccone was the fifth child and third son to Madonna Louise and Silvio Patrick Ciccone. Like his sister, Ciccone held a deep love of music.

As a college student, he took dance classes at Oakland University in Michigan, before beginning his professional career as a dancer in 1980 with the Le Group de La Palace Royale in Ottawa in Canada. Two years later, he would relocate to New York to support his older sister's burgeoning music career. He appeared in the music video for her 1984 hit single "Lucky Star" as one of her backup dancers, and also joined her on stage and in televised performances.

As her fame grew, Ciccone served as a dresser and later an art director for the singer, providing artwork for her smash single "Like a Prayer" and 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour. He also became an interior designer, working for his sister.

Aside from Madonna, Ciccone collaborated with artists including Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett, directing music videos for their respective singles "Peace Train" and "God Bless the Child."

In 2008, Ciccone released his autobiography, Life With My Sister Madonna, which debuted at No. 2 on The New York Times Best Seller list. Critics panned the tell-all memoir for its harsh nature, and it reportedly caused tension in Ciccone's relationship with his sister, who did not approve of the book's release.

Ciccone claimed in the best-seller that Madonna outed him in a 1991 interview with The Advocate, in which she identified him as "gay," and accused her ex-husband Guy Ritchie of being homophobic. He said the "turning point" in their relationship was her 1991 documentary, Truth or Dare, when she brought a camera crew to their mother's grave.

Following the memoir's release, Madonna's longtime representative Liz Rosenberg told the Associated Press (per Billboard) that the singer didn't read it but found it "very upsetting" that Christopher "decided to sell a book based on his sister."

"I would have to assume she has come to terms with the fact that they do not have a close and loving relationship," Rosenberg said. "And with the book coming out, I assume that will remove the chances of that ever happening."

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While addressing his relationship with Madonna in 2012, Ciccone indicated that they were in a better place. "As far as I'm concerned, we're good," he told The Evening Standard. "We are in contact with each other, although I haven't seen her for a long time. We're back to being a brother and sister. I don't work for her, and it's better this way."

He added, "I couldn't be more proud of her. She is a force to be reckoned with."

Aside from his husband, with whom he tied the knot in 2016, Ciccone is survived by his father and siblings Madonna, Martin, Paula, Melanie, Jennifer, and Mario, along with countless nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by eldest his brother, Anthony; his mother, Madonna; and his stepmother, Joan.