Brandt hanged himself: cops
CELEBRITY dermatologist Dr. Fredric Brandt committed suicide by hanging himself at his Miami home, police have confirmed.
The famed cosmetic surgeon, 65, was found dead at his home in Coconut Grove on Sunday morning by a member of his staff.
Brandt, a pioneer in the use of fillers who was dubbed the “Baron of Botox,” treated stars including Madonna, Stephanie Seymour and Warhol muse Jane Holzer, aswell as wealthy clients at his clinics in Manhattan and Miami.
Officer Frederica Burden from the Miami Police Department said, “We can confirm the death was a suicide by hanging. The death is not suspicious.”
Brandt was “deeply hurt” by Martin Short apparently making fun of his appearance in his portrayal of a nutty plastic surgeon on Tina Fey’s hit Netflix show “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” Brandt’s longtime publicist Jacquie Tractenberg told us: “The show deeply hurt him, hewas being made fun of because of theway he looks. It was mean, and itwas bullying. But the show was not the reason . . . he would take his own life. He was suffering from depression, and it is so sad, because hewas beloved by so many people.”
While reps for Fey and Netflix did not return calls, friends expressed shock over Brandt’s death. Marie Claire’s Nina Garcia tweeted, “You were truly one of a kind. We will miss you.”
Brandt’s close friend, top colorist Kyle White, said,“He was one of the most kind, generous, giving and wonderful human beings I have ever met. Everyone who came in contact with Fred had their lives made better. He had that magical quality. The world was a better place when hewas in it.” He added, “I think that portrayal of that character on Tina Fey’s show was unnecessarily mean and cruel. I think in an age of bullying, that really was insensitive.”
Born in Newark, Brandt worked in leukemia research before becoming a pioneer in cosmetic dermatology. He had a successful skincare line and was host of Sirius XM’s “Ask Dr. Brandt” for four years, where hewas joined by guests including Gwyneth Paltrow and Kelly Ripa.