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Famed Dermatologist Dr. Fredric Brandt Commits Suicide, Said to Be “Devastated” Over ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ Parody
Dermatologist Dr. Fredric Brandt, who’s worked with celebrity clients like Madonna, Kelly Ripa and Stephanie Seymour, has committed suicide by hanging at the age of 65, Miami police confirm.
Sources speculate his death has to do with an unflattering comparison to a TV show character. Brandt was reportedly “devastated” over hearing that Martin Short’s role of Dr. Franff in the Netflix hit Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was based off of him.
Dr. Brandt (left) and Dr. Franff. (Photo Credit: Getty Images (1)/Netflix (1))
Like Brandt, Franff sports blonde hair and shows an unparalleled enthusiasm for plastic surgery. Short also played the character with an inability to speak certain words due to his own procedures.
While Brandt’s publicist would only say that he died after “suffering from an illness,” Miami Herald columnist Lesley Abravanel tweeted that sources close to the situation say the “illness was depression.”
Brandt with celebrity client, Kelly Ripa.
Several celebrities paid tribute to the surgeon, including Ripa’s husband Mark Consuelos, who retweeted a post from choreographer Isaac Calpito.
It read, “Devastated over the loss of our dear friend @drfredricbrandt. You are missed. You are loved. The world has lost one of its kindest souls.”
