Michael Cuccione

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Michael Cuccione
Michael Cuccione
Born
Michael James Cuccione

(1985-01-05)January 5, 1985
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
DiedJanuary 13, 2001(2001-01-13) (aged 16)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Cause of deathRespiratory failure
Occupations
  • Child actor
  • singer
  • dancer
  • author
Years active1997–2001

Michael James Cuccione (January 5, 1985 – January 13, 2001) was a Canadian child actor, singer, dancer, author, and cancer research activist. He was best known for his role as "Q.T." in the fictional boy band 2gether.

Biography

Personal life

Cuccione was born in Burnaby, British Columbia, and raised in neighbouring Coquitlam.[1]

Entertainment career

In July 1997, a request Cuccione made to meet Baywatch star David Hasselhoff led to a role in an episode on the show as real-life cancer patient Charlie Everett Hays.

The producers of

Billboard Top 100. The 2ge+her movie was released on February 21, 2000, and the series soon followed on August 15 of that same year, on MTV
's 10 Spot.

Illness and advocacy

In 1994, when Cuccione was 9, he was diagnosed with stage 2A

bone marrow transplant, and twelve radiation treatments around his heart
and lungs. He was then cancer free, but the treatment left him with permanent lung and respiratory problems.

Cuccione became a well-known campaigner for cancer research and awareness. The singer/actor established The Michael Cuccione Foundation for Cancer Research and turned his love for music into a fundraising effort by recording a five-song CD, Make a Difference. He also co-authored a book with his grandmother titled, There are Survivors: The Michael Cuccione Story about his experiences battling cancer; his effort eventually raised

British Columbia's Children's Hospital
. Cuccione made many in-person appearances on television, radio, at schools and hospitals, and other fundraising events.

Death

As the second season of 2ge+her started taping, Cuccione soon began suffering breathing problems from complications from his earlier cancer treatments and required an oxygen tank on-set. His problems increased, and soon he had to miss several tapings of the show and the public group appearances. In December 2000, Cuccione was unable to fight off the effects of a minor car accident and entered the hospital on December 4, 2000, with pneumonia. He spent the rest of his stay on a ventilator and celebrated his last Christmas, New Year's, and birthday in the hospital before succumbing to respiratory failure, which caused him to die on January 13, 2001, eight days after his 16th birthday.

Funeral

Thousands packed the church in Vancouver, British Columbia on the Wednesday evening of January 17, 2001, and again on the next morning to mourn. All four of Cuccione's

2ge+her band/cast members were in attendance for both services. Also in attendance was David Hasselhoff, who gave the eulogy and dedicated a song at the Wednesday services. Both services included a 75-member choir from Cuccione's high school, Notre Dame Regional Secondary School. Among the items displayed were pictures of Cuccione being blessed by Pope John Paul II, a giant poster of Cuccione with a teddy bear
, and a massive set of wreaths and flowers. During the Thursday services, a huge procession of limousines, cars, and firetrucks accompanied Cuccione's casket through the streets of Greater Vancouver. He was buried at Ocean View Burial Park in Burnaby, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada.

Acting credits

  • Baywatch (1997) as Charlie Everett Hays
  • "You, Me and the Kids" (1998-2001)
  • 2ge+her
     the movie (February 2000) as Jason "QT" McKnight
  • 2ge+her
     the series (August 2000) as Jason "QT" McKnight
  • Making the Video (August 2000) as Jason "QT" McKnight

Recording credits

  • Make a Difference
  • 2ge+her
    movie soundtrack
  • 2ge+her: Again
     series soundtrack
  • Messages from Above[2]

References

  1. ^ CCR: Michael Cuccione Foundation Retrieved on 9 January 2017
  2. ^ CCR: "Michael Cuccione Foundation :: Childhood Cancer Research". Archived from the original on 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2012-02-05. Retrieved on February 5, 2011

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Cuccione&oldid=1219570230"