A Dancing with the Stars judge has sadly passed away age 54 after a lifelong health battle.
On Saturday (April 19), his family released a gut-wrenching statement which confirmed the news. They wrote: “Julian passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and closest friends, after a courageous battle with Cystic Fibrosis. His strength, warmth, and sparkle remained with him until the very end.”
Famed for his cheeky charm and sparkling outfits, landing him the nickname Captain Sparkle, Julian shot to fame about a decade back as a judge on RTE’s Dancing with The Stars, topping off a glittering career in dance that spanned a lifetime.
In spite of being hit with a Cystic Fibrosis diagnosis in his early days, Julian kept quiet about his struggle till a tear-jerking confession on The Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy in 2018. He tugged at Ireland’s heartstrings when he professed: “I have Cystic Fibrosis, but Cystic Fibrosis doesn’t have me.”
(Image: PA)
Kicking off his pirouettes at just four years young, Julian didn’t let his condition crush his ambition, spending over 40 enchanting years in dance, earning legend status.
His legacy is cemented through feats like Tranquility House, a haven crafted to comfort families dealing with Cystic Fibrosis. Flaunted on Dermot Bannon’s “Room to Improve”, this heartfelt venture was made reality thanks to generous donations from more than a hundred firms and kind-hearted souls, reports the Mirror.
(Image: Kyran O’Brien)
Julian’s family was profoundly grateful to the medical teams at St Vincent’s University Hospital’s Cystic Fibrosis and ICU units, Beaumont Hospital’s transplant team, all carers who supported Julian, his foundation donors, and everyone who stood by them throughout his remarkable life.
Leaving behind his brother Adrian, sister-in-law Rachel, and beloved nieces and nephew, Julian’s legacy is unmistakable.
In tribute, Larry Bass and ShinAwil shared their deep sorrow: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our wonderful friend Julian Benson. Our very own Captain Sparkle who brought so much joy, brilliance and talent to the world.”
(Image: Kyran O’Brien)
They continued, highlighting his positive impact: “His attitude and outlook on life was ever inspiring and will continue to be thanks to his constant effort to better the lives of people around him, especially with the creation of the Julian Benson CF Foundation – his legacy will live on forever. Julian was one of a kind, and will be forever missed. The world lost a bit of sparkle today.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
