Madonna’s brother, Christopher Ciccone, has died at 63

Christopher Ciccone, a multihyphenate artist, dancer, designer and younger brother of Madonna, has died. He was 63.

Ciccone died Friday in Michigan, his representative Brad Taylor told The Associated Press Sunday. He had cancer.

Madonna posted a tribute to him on Instagram Sunday with a carousel of photos from over the years.

"He was the closest human to me for so long,” she wrote. “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.”

Madonna wrote that discovering dance in their small Midwestern town saved them both, and that their ballet teacher created a safe space for her brother to be gay.

A dancer since his youth, Ciccone was deeply intertwined with his sister’s rise in pop stardom in the 1980s, appearing in music videos like “Lucky Star,” art directing her Blond Ambition World Tour and serving as tour director for The Girlie Show tour. He also directed music videos for Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett.

“When it came to good taste, my brother was the Pope, and you had to kiss the ring to get his blessing,” Madonna wrote. “He was a painter a poet and a visionary. I admired him. He had impeccable taste. And a sharp tongue, Which he sometimes used against me but I always forgave him.”

In 2008, Ciccone released a bestselling autobiography called “Life with My Sister Madonna” in which he wrote about their strained relationship, her romantic entanglements as well as recollections from his time on tour with her. For two decades, he was by her side, choreographing, directing, dressing and helping his sister. He also interior designed her homes in New York, Miami and Los Angeles. He said that it was a bit like a marriage at times.

“It was a double-edged sword,” he told Good Morning America in 2008. “Nobody was chaining me down to make — to stay.”

The book, and his no-filter descriptions of the exploits of his sister’s famous circle, took its toll on some of his Hollywood friendships too. Several years later, in 2012, around the launch of a shoe collection he designed, he told The Standard that he and his sister were “on a perfectly personable level” and in contact.

“I don’t work for her, and it’s better this way,” he said.

In recent years Ciccone relocated to Michigan’s Lower Peninsula to be closer to family. In 2016, Ciccone married Ray Thacker, a British actor, who was by his side when he died.

Madonna wrote that when he got sick, they found their way back to one another.

“I’m glad he’s not suffering anymore,” she wrote. “There will never be anyone like him. I know he’s dancing somewhere.”

Madonna also lost her stepmother, Joan Clare Ciccone, to cancer just a few weeks ago, and her older brother Anthony Ciccone in early 2023.

FILE - American pop star Madonna performs "Fever" in her 1993 Girlie Show World Tour concert before 30,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome, Japan, Dec. 13, 1993. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)

FILE - Madonna poses with her brother, Christopher Ciccone, left, and director Alek Keskishian following the premiere showing of Madonna's newest film, "Truth or Dare," May 7, 1991, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Julie Markes, File)

FILE - Honoree Madonna accepts the advocate for change award at the 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards May 4, 2019, at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Christopher Ciccone poses with his memoir "Life With My Sister Madonna," Wednesday, July 30, 2008, in West Hollywood, Calif. (AP Photo/Rene Macura, File)

FILE - Christopher Ciccone, brother of Madonna and author of "Life With My Sister Madonna," poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, Friday, August 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Alec Ingold scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard run with four minutes left, and Jason Sanders kicked three field goals to make up for three botched kicks by the Dolphins special teams on Sunday as Miami beat the New England Patriots 15-10.

In a game between two of the NFL’s worst teams that was pocked with penalties, missed kicks and clock management mistakes, each team managed just one touchdown, with Miami (2-3) taking the lead when Ingold plunged into the end zone on his only carry of the game.

The Patriots (1-4) still had two more chances to take the lead after the 2-point attempt failed, but the first ended after a replay review overturned a catch that was ruled a touchdown on the field, and the second fizzled at the Miami 11 when Jacoby Brissett hit Hunter Henry for 25 yards with 4 seconds left — but in the middle of the field, with no opportunity to stop the clock.

Making his second start as the latest quarterback to replace Tua Tagovailoa, Tyler Huntley completed 18 of 31 passes for 194 yards and one interception. Tyreek Hill caught six passes for 69 yards, Jaylen Wright ran for 86 and Raheem Mostert added 80 on the ground for the Dolphins, who had lost three in a row while shuffling through three backup quarterbacks since Tagovailoa sustained his third diagnosed concussion in Week 3.

Fumble-prone Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson was benched for the opening series but ran 12 times for 89 yards and a first-quarter touchdown that was set up by Christian Gonzalez's interception inside Miami territory. Brissett was 18 of 34 for 160 yards.

The Patriots celebrated a go-ahead touchdown pass with 63 seconds left, but replays showed Ja’Lynn Polk’s second heel came down on the end line. After two no-chance incompletions — and yet another penalty — the Patriots turned the ball over on downs.

New England got the ball back on its own 43 with 29 seconds left, and Brissett connected on a 21-yard pass to Kayshon Boutte at the Dolphins 36; the Patriots hustled to spike the ball with 12 seconds left. Brissett hit Henry near the yardage markers — too far inbounds for him to have a chance to stop the clock.

Sanders’ 54-yard field goal on Miami’s first drive gave the Dolphins, whose only other win came on a Week 1 kick with no time left, its first lead of the season.

But when Sanders went back out at the end of the first quarter for a 41-yard attempt, he doinked it off the left upright. The Dolphins also botched another field goal attempt when long-snapper Blake Ferguson rolled the ball to the holder and Sanders didn’t even get a chance to swing his leg.

Miami also had a blocked punt, setting up the Patriots at the Dolphins’ 23. But after a drive that included two offensive holding penalties and just five plays, Joey Slye pulled a 33-yard field goal attempt wide right.

The Dolphins then marched to the New England 25 to move into position for a field goal that could have made it a one-point game.

But a mistimed snap by Aaron Brewer went over Huntley’s head, for a loss of 20 yards; there was also a penalty on the Dolphins, which was declined. Jake Bailey’s punt left the Patriots on their own 5, and they ran off just 55 seconds before punting.

Miami took over at the Patriots’ 44 and moved to the 28 for Sanders’ field goal attempt that split the uprights – only to be waved off for a false start.

The Patriots couldn’t get anywhere on their possession and burned only 12 seconds before punting the ball back to Miami – a fifth possession inside the 2-minute warning.

Dolphins: Running back De’Von Achane left with a concussion in the first half and did not return. Safety Jevon Holland left the game with a hand injury and did not return. WR Odell Beckham Jr. was active for the first time this season and was targeted twice, but did not have a catch.

Patriots: None.

Dolphins: Week off before playing at Indianapolis on Oct. 20.

Patriots: Host Houston next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) hands off to running back Rhamondre Stevenson during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Miami Dolphins place kicker Jason Sanders (7) watches his field goal, his third of the game, during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (31) is upended by New England Patriots safety Dell Pettus (24) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Miami Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold, center, celebrates after his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

New England Patriots safety Marte Mapu (15) tackles Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17), who drops a pass, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) hangs onto the ball after colliding with Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou (4) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas hangs onto the ball as Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks (20) tries to block during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Miami Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold (30) celebrates after his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)