Model and singer Nick Kamen has died at the age of 59, according to multiple reports. There’s no information as to the cause of death available at this time.
The Essex-born star rose to fame at age 18, after he appeared in a Levi’s 501 commercial, filmed in a launderette in 1985, where he strips off down to his underwear to do laundry, while onlookers ogle. He soon became a sex symbol.
Kamen — whose real name was Ivor Neville Kamen — then caught the attention of queen of pop Madonna who had him record “Each Time You Break My Heart,” a track she’d originally penned for her album True Blue, but hadn’t ended up using. The song reached the top five on the U.K. charts. Madonna provided backing vocals on the track. Between 1987 and 1992, Kamen released four albums and enjoyed success with the song “I Promised Myself” in 1989.
Following the news of his death on Wednesday, his friend and fellow singer Boy George posted a tribute to Kamen on Instagram, writing, “R.I.P. to the most beautiful and sweetest man.” Kamen, vocalist and famous ’80s Levi’s business model, passes on at 59
