Nick Kamen, a model and singer, lost his battle with an illness he kept secret for three years, most recently stripping to his boxer shorts in a launderette in a 1980s Levi’s advertisement.
He’s best remembered as Madonna’s protégé and the heartthrob of an iconic Levi’s advert where he famously stripped down to his boxers in a launderette. But model and singer Nick Kamen tragically never reclaimed the limelight following his Eighties glory days, passing away aged 59 on 4 May, 2021.
Nick enters a launderette in the infamous 1985 Levi’s commercial to the music of Marvin Gaye’s 1968 classic, I Heard It Through the Grapevine. While several women watch, he removes his T-shirt and puts his Levi’s 501s back on, washing both with the machine. Then, as he appears on the screen, he takes a seat while wearing only his white boxer shorts, which read, “Now available in stonewashed.”
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The star, who scored a 1986 hit with Each Time You Break My Heart – penned by Madonna herself – died at his Notting Hill, London, home following a gruelling three-year fight against bone cancer. Nick, born Ivor Neville Kamen, was cared for by his devoted partner of 15 years, Lucinda Carey, during his final days, reports OK!. His brother Ronald disclosed that as Nick’s condition deteriorated, his breathing became “very shallow” and he sensed his time was running out. “He did fight it very hard,” he revealed.
In an interview following Nick’s passing, Lucinda revealed that despite his ordeal, Nick experienced a “beautiful” death. She explained: “It was beautiful and incredibly gentle.”
Lucinda, the Viscount of Falkland’s daughter, confirmed that she and her 23-year-old daughter were present during Nick’s final moments. She continued, “Nick was an incredible person, and being around him during his illness was really inspiring.”
The filmmaker continued, “He couldn’t have lived with more respect and dignity over the past three years, and there has been a lot of joy and hardship.”
Lucinda disclosed that Nick, who had known for three years that his death was approaching, “adored” the medical team who looked after him at Hammersmith Hospital, west London. “He valued everything that the NHS did for him and so do the rest of us,” she revealed.
He’s been known for three years that he was going to die, but he never felt sorry for himself, Lucinda said, and he lived his life with incredible charm and brave.
She went on to say that Nick was “accepting of his situation” and, surprisingly, he never let stress take over him throughout his struggle. Lucinda acknowledged that he “never enjoyed” the public attention that it brought with Nick’s stardom and that he felt “most miserable” during that time.
She said, “Nick stepped out of public life because he didn’t like being famous,” explaining why. He was content with his private life and disliked being in the spotlight.
Due to his numerous comebacks in opposition to all expectations, Nick had earned the nickname “Lazarus” from his family. His sister, Denise, said, “He never gave up and put up such a strong fight; he would always fight back and never give up.” He actually fought so hard that we would refer to him as Lazarus after the biblical character because he came back so frequently.
Madonna, who was a dear friend, voiced her grief saying it was “heartbreaking” to lose Nick. She recalled him as a “kind, sweet human” who “suffered too much”.
Source: Mirror
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