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Dermatologist Fredric Brandt was found dead in his Miami home Sunday morning after apparently hanging himself, a spokesperson for the Miami Police Department confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
According to police, the 65-year-old, who had many celebrity patients including Madonna and Stephanie Seymour, was pronounced dead on the scene just after 9 a.m.
Brandt’s publicist Jacquie Tractenberg told the New York Post, “He was suffering from an illness. Everyone who knows him is devastated.
“I worked with him for over 20 years and he was an amazing man. Not only was he a brilliant doctor, but he was the kindest human being,” said Trachtenberg.
mentioning the fact that it’s so crazy that there are so many people that are so full of it? And why are we consuming them en masse?””]
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Brandt received his medical degree from Drexel University Medical School and opened his first private dermatology practice in Miami in 1982. Brandt’s expertise with Botox and other cosmetic dermatology practices garnered him an impressive roster of clients, and in 1998, Brandt opened his second private practice, in New York City.
Brandt is the author of two skin care books — 10 Minutes 10 Years: Your Definitive Guide to a Beautiful and Youthful Appearance and Age-Less: The Definitive Guide to Botox, Lasers, Peels and Other Solutions for Flawless Skin — and served as the host of “Ask Dr. Brandt,” a SiriusXM radio show which featured beauty discussions with guests such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Kelly Ripa and Linda Wells. Aside from his career in dermatology, Brandt was also an avid art collector. His collections boasted the works of artists like Damien Hirst and Richard Prince.
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Prior to his passing, Miami Herald journalist Lesley Abravanel reported Brandt was “devastated” by comparisons to the Martin Short character on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Tina Fey‘s new Netflix series. “The show definitely deeply hurt him, he was being made fun of because of the way he looks,” Trachtenberg confirmed to the Post.
“It is mean, and it was bullying. But the show was not the reason for his depression, and it was not the reason he would take his own life,” said Trachtenberg, adding that his death was “sudden” but not going into detail on the circumstances.
Sources: Dr Fredric Brandt was “devastated” over comparisons to the protagonist on Tina Fey’s new Netflix show, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
— Lesley Abravanel (@lesleyabravanel) April 5, 2015
Dr. Brandt’s publicist says he was suffering from an “illness”. Sources close say that illness was depression.
— Lesley Abravanel (@lesleyabravanel) April 5, 2015
A statement from Brandt’s agency read, “In all ways, Dr. Brandt was a tremendous presence in the beauty industry, a man who was incomparably skilled as a doctor but equally caring and generous as a human being. He loved singing show tunes and creating raps while he worked, keeping his patients happy and laughing while they were being injected with needles. It was impossible to walk out of his office without a smile on your face, feeling rejuvenated inside and out.”
10:47 a.m. Monday, April 6: Updated to include reports that Brandt committed suicide.
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