Nick Kamen has died.

The model and singer rose to fame in 1985 after starring in a Levi’s 501 commercial, where he took off his blue jeans and white T-shirt in a launderette, and later scored chart success with his debut single, the Madonna penned Each Time You Break My Heart, in 1986.

Back in 2018, the star’s team confirmed he was battling cancer and despite extensive care, including stem cell treatment, he succumbed to the disease after being in remission.

His sister Denise Kent tells MailOnline: “He was a real fighter. He gave it everything and was in and out of hospital.

“He never gave up and put up such a good fight It has been four years. A long time.”

Denise says during the four-year battle to beat the cancer, family members, who would take it in turn to visit Nick at his London home and give his partner Lucinda some respite from caring for him, were convinced he would pass away.

However, she insists: “He would always fight back and would not give up. He came back do often we would call him Lazarus after biblical character. He really did fight so hard.”

News of his passing, aged just 59, was confirmed on Wednesday, May 5, with Boy George leading tributes to the musician.

Alongside a throwback shot of Nick, the Culture Club legend penned: “R.I.P to the most beautiful and sweetest man Nick Kamen!”

Also honouring the late star was Duran Duran’s John Taylor, who wrote on the group’s social media channels: “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.”

Each Time You Break My Heart, which Madonna also provided backing vocals on, went onto become a No. 5 hit in the UK, with the singer admitting she’d been inspired by Nick’s  “charisma” and “beautiful voice”.

In her own post following the tragic news, Madonna admitted she was heartbroken by the death of her friend and collaborator.

Alongside a selection of photos, she penned: “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.”

The star went on to release follow up single Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever, a cover of the Four Tops’ 1966 hit, on his debut, self-titled album, along with three subsequent albums: ‘Us’, ‘Move Until We Fly’ and ‘Whatever, Whenever’.

His second LP saw Nick collaborate with Madonna again, who appeared as a backing vocalist on the song Tell Me, this time without contributing to the songwriting or production. The song became a massive hit in Italy in the summer of 1988

In 1989, Nick performed the song Turn It Up on the soundtrack to Disney movie ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’. That same year, he released I Promised Myself, which became a European hit and was later covered by groups including Dead or Alive and A*Teens.