Beloved and iconic dancer, choreographer, and judge of the Irish version of Dancing With The Stars, Julian Benson, died at the age of 54. He died surrounded by friends after battling with cystic fibrosis for his entire life.
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The news of his passing was shared by his family in a statement. In it, they expressed their sadness at Julian Benson's death. However, they also share their admiration for how he lived his life despite his illness.
"It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Julian Benson," the family statement reads, as per the Daily Mail. "Julian passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and closest friends, after a courageous battle with cystic fibrosis."
The family mentioned his talent with dancing and choreographing. They remembered him becoming a judge on RTÉ's Dancing With The Stars in 2017, the Irish version of the competition. This made him a household name thanks to his charisma and kindness.
"Affectionately known as Captain Sparkle for his trademark sparkly, custom-made jackets, he quickly became a show favourite," the family continued. "He will be remembered not only for his quick witty one-liners but also for his unwavering kindness and encouragement towards the contestants."
The family mentioned how he approached life despite his cystic fibrosis, diagnosed only two years after being born in Adelaide, Australia, in 1971. This illness, which is passed down in families, causes damage to the lungs and other parts of the body. The illness affects the cells responsible for making secretions. In turn, they are produced sticky and thick instead of thin and slippery, as per Mayo Clinic.
Despite this, he began dancing at the age of 4. Moreover, he started a professional career in dancing at 14, as per the family statement.
Reactions
Many of his colleagues and his fans expressed their heartbreak on social media following the insurmountable loss of such a beloved man as Julian Benson.
"Despite facing the challenges of cystic fibrosis from a young age, he lived with a heart full of love and an unyielding zest for life," Loraine Berry, Dancing With The Stars judge, wrote on Instagram. "His enthusiasm was truly contagious, inspiring everyone around him to embrace life with love and gratitude."
Karen Byrne, also a DWTS judge, called Julian a "true gentleman," remembering him fondly.
"So sad to hear the news of Julian's passing," Byrne wrote on Instagram. "He was a true gentleman and always there to give his advice in this crazy industry that we work in."
Model Rosanna Davison also shared a picture with Benson, saying she was heartbroken after learning of his passing.
"He was such a brave, kind, encouraging, fun and colourful person and had a huge impact on those of us lucky enough to work with him and call him a friend," Davison said about Julian Benson. "Julian will be sadly missed by so many of us. Sending all my love to his family and friends. Rest in peace, Julian."
