Christopher Ciccone

{{Infobox person

| name = Christopher Ciccone

| birth_name = Christopher Gerard Ciccone

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1960|11|22}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|10|04|1960|11|22}}

| birth_place = Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.

| death_place = Petoskey, Michigan, U.S.

| education = Western Michigan University
Oakland University

| occupation = {{hlist|Artist|designer|interior decorator}}

| other_names = Chris Ciccone

| spouse = {{marriage|Ray Thacker|2016}}

| relatives = Madonna (sister)
Lourdes Leon (niece)

}}

Christopher Gerard Ciccone ({{IPAc-en|tʃ|ᵻ|ˈ|k|oʊ|n|i}} {{respell|chih|KOH|nee}}; November 22, 1960 – October 4, 2024) was an American visual artist, interior decorator, and designer in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. He was the younger brother of American singer Madonna.

Ciccone began his professional career as a dancer with Le Groupe de La Place Royale. He was a dancer for his sister Madonna early in her career. He eventually became the art director for Madonna's Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990 and he was the tour director for her tour, The Girlie Show, in 1993. Ciccone also directed music videos for Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett among others. In 2008, he released The New York Times Best Seller book, Life with My Sister Madonna. In 2012, he launched a footwear line, Ciccone Collection.

Early life

Ciccone was born on November 22, 1960, in Pontiac, Michigan,{{Cite web|last=Zee|first=Michaela|date=October 6, 2024|title=Christopher Ciccone, Artist and Brother of Madonna, Dies at 63|url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/christopher-ciccone-dead-madonna-brother-1236169494/|access-date=October 7, 2024|website=Variety}} to Catholic parents Madonna Louise Ciccone (née Fortin) and Silvio "Tony" Ciccone. His father's parents were Italian emigrants from Pacentro while his mother was of French-Canadian descent.{{Cite book |last=Taraborrelli |first=J. Randy |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/893687277 |title=Madonna : an intimate biography |date=2001 |isbn=978-0-7432-2880-0 |location=New York, New York |pages=10 |oclc=893687277}} His siblings were Anthony (1956–2023),(February 26, 2023) [https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64779134 Madonna's Older Brother Anthony Ciccone Dies Aged 66], BBC. Retrieved March 26, 2023. Martin (born 1957), Madonna (born 1958), Paula (born 1959), and Melanie (born 1962). In 1963, Ciccone's mother died from breast cancer at age thirty.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|p=29|2008}} Their father remarried in 1966 to the family's housekeeper, Joan Gustafson (1943–2024), and had two more children: Jennifer (born 1968) and Mario (born 1969).{{Cite web |title=Christopher Ciccone |url=https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-724781/christopher-ciccone-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people |access-date=March 25, 2022|publisher=MyHeritage}}

After graduating from high school, Ciccone attended Western Michigan University and then transferred to Oakland University where he took dance classes.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|2008|pp=53–54}} In 1980, he began his career as a dancer with Le Groupe de La Place Royale in Ottawa.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|p=65|2008}}

Career

In 1982, Christopher moved to New York City to support his sister Madonna's career as her backup dancer.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|2008|p=66}} Ciccone appeared in the music video for her single "Lucky Star" in 1984 and performed on her early television performances.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|pp=80–85|2008}} Around this time, he worked at the Italian boutique, Fiorucci.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|2008|p=73}} Ciccone always had an interest in art and in 1984, he was hired as a receptionist at the Diane Brown Gallery in SoHo, Manhattan.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|p=90|2008}} As Madonna's fame grew and she embarked on arena tours, Ciccone was her "dresser".{{Cite magazine |last=Wayne |first=George |date=July 31, 2008|title=Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/07/wayne_ciccone200807 |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 25, 2022 |magazine=Vanity Fair }} He created the artwork for the 12" version of her single "Like a Prayer" in 1989.{{Cite web |date=December 19, 2011 |title=The Greatest Pop Songs In History – No. 3: Madonna, 'Like A Prayer' |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/the-greatest-pop-songs-in-history-no-3-madonna-like-a-prayer-781320 |access-date=March 25, 2022|website=NME}} Ciccone was the art director for Madonna's Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990.{{Cite web |last=Sawyer |first=Miranda |date=January 3, 2009 |title=Miranda Sawyer interviews Christopher Ciccone |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jan/04/madonna-christopher-ciccone-interview |access-date=March 25, 2022|website=The Guardian}} He also was the tour director for her The Girlie Show tour in 1993.{{Cite web |last=Graff |first=Gary |date=October 15, 1993 |title=Madonna the Toast of Her Own "Girlie Show' |url=https://tulsaworld.com/archive/madonna-the-toast-of-her-own-girlie-show/article_fd987926-a326-54e2-87e5-7ca3f3b48541.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 25, 2022|website=Tulsa World}} Ciccone stated that Madonna demeaned and underpaid him throughout their working relationship.{{Cite web |date=September 14, 2012 |title=Christopher Ciccone: No one sees Madonna's children. My parents |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/christopher-ciccone-no-one-sees-madonna-s-children-my-parents-barely-even-see-them-8139207.html |access-date=March 26, 2022|website=Evening Standard}}

Ciccone credited his sister with having encouraged him to keep painting, lending him $200,000 to buy a studio where he began to paint regularly.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|p=120|2008}}{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|pp=150–155|2008}} In November 1991, he had his first solo New York art show at the Wessel + O'Connor Fine Art gallery in SoHo.{{Cite journal |date=November 11, 1991 |title=The Family Way |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eukCAAAAMBAJ&dq=christopher+ciccone+art+gallery+1990&pg=PA33 |journal=New York |pages=33}} He exhibited seventeen paintings with prices starting at $3,500. He ventured into interior design when Madonna asked him to buy furniture for her new apartment in 1985.{{Cite web |last=Manning |first=Jillian |date=July 11, 2020 |title=Designer Christopher Ciccone |url=https://www.northernexpress.com/news/feature/designer-christopher-ciccone/ |access-date=March 25, 2022|website=Northern Express}} He also designed Madonna's Upper West Side apartment in Manhattan, which was featured on the cover of Architectural Digest in 1991.{{Cite web |last=Gimelson |first=Deborah |date=October 31, 1991 |title=Madonna's New York City Apartment |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/madonna-article-052007 |access-date=March 25, 2022|website=Architectural Digest }} In 1994, Ciccone moved to Los Angeles where he indulged in the partying lifestyle and he began using cocaine.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|pp=220–221|2008}} Ciccone directed the music video for Dolly Parton's single "Peace Train" and Tony Bennett's rendition of "God Bless the Child" in 1997.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|2008|p=248}}{{Cite magazine |date=April 19, 1997 |title=Twirlin' With Dolly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9w4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=billboard+christopher+ciccone&pg=PA28 |magazine=Billboard |page=28}}{{Cite magazine |last=Bessman |first=Jim |date=February 22, 1997 |title=Tony Bennett Gets Arty With Billie Holiday Clip |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sQ4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=tony+bennett+christopher+ciccone&pg=PA90 |magazine=Billboard |pages=90}} That year, he formed a friendship with actress Demi Moore and he was her date to the Gucci evening for AIDS Project LA.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|2008|pp=251–253}}

In 2008, Ciccone released his autobiography, Life with My Sister Madonna, which debuted at No. 2 on The New York Times Best Seller list.{{Cite news |title=Best Sellers – Books – Aug. 3, 2008 – The New York Times |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2008/08/03/ |access-date=March 25, 2022|issn=0362-4331}} The book fractured their relationship and Ciccone asserted that Madonna had him blacklisted from Hollywood.{{Cite web |last=McDowell |first=Erin |title=18 of the most epic sibling rivalries of all time |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/famous-sibling-rivalries-2014-6 |access-date=March 25, 2022|website=Business Insider}} Ciccone also filmed a pilot for an interior design show called Pardon My Decor in 2008.{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2008|title=Live To Tell-All |url=http://www.out.com/entertainment/2008/08/27/live-tell-all |access-date=March 25, 2022|website=Out}} He also made an appearance on the reality show, The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, to design a new sleeping quarter.{{Cite web |date=July 4, 2008 |title=Madonna's brother eyeing TV appearance |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2008/07/04/Madonnas-brother-eyeing-TV-appearance/45701215178848/ |access-date=March 26, 2022|publisher=United Press International}}

In September 2012, Ciccone debuted a footwear line, Ciccone Collection, during London Fashion Week.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Ella |date=July 20, 2012|title=In The Family |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/christopher-ciccone-launches-footwear-label-at-london-fashion-week |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=British Vogue}}{{Cite news |last=Wilkinson |first=Isabel |date=September 13, 2012|title=Christopher Ciccone, Madonna's Brother, Debuts a Shoe Line|work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/13/christopher-ciccone-madonna-s-brother-debuts-a-shoe-line |access-date=March 25, 2022}} While doing press for his shoe collection, Ciccone revealed that he and Madonna are on "personable" terms. "We're back to being a brother and sister. I don't work for her, and it's better this way", he said.

Personal life

Ciccone was openly gay. He stated that Madonna outed him in her interview with The Advocate in 1991.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|2008|p=192}} Their relationship became strained when she married English film director Guy Ritchie in 2000.{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2008 |title='GMA' Exclusive: Madonna's Brother on His Strained Relationship with the Star |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/SummerConcert/story?id=5366168&page=1 |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=ABC News}} According to Ciccone, he did not get along with Ritchie, who he claimed is homophobic. "It was...very apparent at the wedding in Scotland, just in the way that his friends made their toast with his gay references. I mean had it been any other word, you know Jew or a black person...anyone would find if {{sic}} offensive and I have a thick skin", said Ciccone.{{Cite web|date=August 26, 2008|title=Guy on Madge's bro |url=http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/celebs/celebrity-gossip/guy-on-madges-bro-84288 |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=Cosmopolitan}} However, Ciccone's biggest rift with Madonna was over finances. In addition, Madonna appointed a different director and choreographer—Jamie King—for her Drowned World Tour 2001 and did not tell Ciccone.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|2008|p=292}} During an interview with CBS News in 2012, Ciccone indicated they had patched things up, saying "Our relationship is fine as far as I'm concerned". He also told The Evening Standard, "We are in contact with each other".

Ciccone befriended actress Farrah Fawcett and they bonded over their love of art. They attended Vanity Fair's Oscar party together in 2002.{{Sfn|Ciccone|Leigh|2008|p=302}} Ciccone married British actor Ray Thacker in 2016.{{cite news |date=October 6, 2024 |title=Christopher Ciccone, artist and Madonna's brother, dies at age 63 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/oct/06/christopher-ciccone-dead-madonnas-brother |access-date=October 7, 2024 |work=The Guardian}}{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/madonnas-brother-artist-christopher-ciccone-dies-63/story?id=114544129|title=Madonna's brother, artist Christopher Ciccone, dies at 63|work=ABC News|access-date=October 6, 2024|date=October 6, 2024|first=Mason|last=Leib}}

=Death=

Ciccone died on October 4, 2024, in Petoskey, Michigan at age 63 from pancreatic cancer, according to a statement from his family.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/christopher-ciccone-dead-madonna-brother-designer-1236025396/|title=Christopher Ciccone, Artist and Madonna's Brother, Dies at 63|work=Hollywood Reporter|access-date=October 6, 2024|date=October 6, 2024|first=Hilary|last=Lewis}} On October 6, Madonna dedicated a lengthy Instagram post to him saying, "I admired him [...] 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 [...] There will never be anyone like him".

References

Bibliography

{{Cite book |last1=Ciccone |first1=Christopher |title=Life with My Sister Madonna |last2=Leigh |first2=Wendy |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-847-3-74387 |location=London}}