The global entertainment community mourns the loss of Christopher Gerard Ciccone, who passed away peacefully on October 4, 2024, where he surrounded by his husband and loved ones.
He was born in Pontiac, Michigan on November 22, 1960 —the fifth child and third son to Madonna Louise (Fortin) and Silvio Patrick Ciccone. Like his siblings, Christopher came of age in Rochester, Michigan, where both his personal and creative identities bloomed to reveal an expansively artistic soul.
His love of music took root and found focused momentum in the discipline and study of dance; and following his college years (Western Michigan and Oakland Universities), Christopher moved to New York City where he applied his craft of dancer and choreographer in support of his sister Madonna’s emerging singing career. His role expanded and his creative life surged within that collaborative and familial framework —Chris becoming dresser and creative consultant to his elder sibling during her meteoric rise; and he further flourished in the role of interior designer within the homes his elder sibling owned and occupied in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles.
In the years following this symbiotic collaboration, Christopher continued to work: as an interior specialist; a designer of footwear; a memoirist —all the while dedicating himself to painting as his primary mode of personal expression.
In latter years, Chris relocated to the upper reaches of Michigan’s lower peninsula for work and to be closer to family —many of whom are involved in his father’s winemaking enterprise, Ciccone Vineyards, in Sutton’s Bay near Traverse City.
In 2016, Christopher married Ray Thacker —a British-born actor living in Los Angeles. Despite being frequently kept separate by circumstance —Thacker confined to England during the pandemic years, and on behalf of his parents’ ongoing healthcare needs— Christopher’s loving spouse was faithfully by his side during the final stages of the cancer that would ultimately end his life —leaving behind his father, his siblings Martin, Madonna, Paula, and Melanie (Chris was pre-deceased by his eldest brother Anthony and his stepmother Joan Gustafson Ciccone); siblings Jennifer and Mario; and countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends worldwide.
The Queen of Pop” Madonna posted a moving tribute in memory of her younger brother. “My brother Christopher is gone. He was the closest human to me for so long. Its hard to explain our bond But it grew out of an understanding that we were different and society was going to give us a hard time for not following the status quo. We took each other‘s hands and we danced through the madness of our childhood
In fact dance was a kind of superglue that held us together,” she said in an elaborate post on social media.
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. We closed our eyes and we danced. Together. I’m glad he’s not suffering anymore. There will never be anyone like him. I know he’s dancing somewhere,” Madonna expressed.
