Madonna has paid tribute to her former friend and musical protégé Nick Kamen, the British model and singer best known for his starring role in the iconic 1985 Levi's laundrette advert and his 1986 hit Each Time You Break My Heart.
It is understood he died aged 59 on Tuesday night after a long illness.
It breaks my heart to know you are gone. You were always such a kind sweet human and you suffered too much. Hope you are happier wherever you are Nick Kamen. 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/Cfk8vkM1Je
— Madonna (@Madonna) May 5, 2021
Writing on Twitter on Wednesday, Madonna said, "It breaks my heart to know you are gone. You were always such a kind sweet human and you suffered too much. Hope you are happier wherever you are Nick Kamen."
Born Ivor Neville Kamen, the model achieved overnight fame when his Levi's advert for stonewashed 501 jeans premiered on television at the end of 1985.
The ad, which saw Kamen strip to his boxer shorts in a laundrette to the soundtrack of Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through the Grapevine, was part of a classic series for the clothing brand, credited with boosting its sales around the world.
Following the ad, Kamen became a musical protégé of Madonna. She co-wrote Each Time You Break My Heart and provided backing vocals for the single. Kamen's major-label debut album was released in 1987.
Madonna also appeared on the follow-up, 1988's Us. Kamen had a number one hit in Italy with Tell Me from the album and also topped the charts in several European countries with I Promised Myself from his 1990 album Move Until We Fly. His last album, Whatever, Whenever, was released in 1992.
Among those to pay tribute was his friend and fellow singer Boy George, who wrote on Instagram: "R.I.P to the most beautiful and sweetest man Nick Kamen!"
Here are some of the other tributes:
Sad to hear that Nick Kamen has died . We met a few times when I was starting out in music as we were signed to the same label . He was kind & sweet , none of the ego of someone who had just set the world alight with his extraordinary beauty My condolences to his family . https://t.co/T6EOM7kDpE
— Tanita Tikaram💙 (@tanita_tikaram) May 5, 2021
"So so sad to hear of the passing of Nick Kamen. One of the loveliest and gentlest men I ever met. He was a beloved friend to my daughter and her Mom. We shall all miss him. RIP Nick"- JT pic.twitter.com/VZGzS3Rq2t
— Duran Duran (@duranduran) May 5, 2021
If you didn't have a crush on Nick Kamen in the 80s, you probably weren't there. RIP
— Matt Lucas (@RealMattLucas) May 5, 2021
RIP Nick Kamen so sad to hear the news 😥 he'll be with Barry now 2 beautiful brothers gone far too soon. such sunny happy memories of time spent in the Pink house back in the day pic.twitter.com/IpkQhrHW3B
— judie tzuke ☮️ (@judietzuke) May 5, 2021
