“What Will We Do Without Him?” Stephanie Seymour on Fredric Brandt’s Warmth, Fun, Humor (Guest Column)

This story first appeared in the April 24 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

Famed dermatologist Fredric Brandt, nicknamed the “Baron of Botox” (he was parodied by Martin Short on the Netflix comedy ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’), committed suicide April 5 at age 65, shocking loyal clients: among them, Madonna, Christie Brinkley, Kelly Ripa and supermodel Stephanie Seymour, who reveals here how they became close friends.

I used to have problems with my skin, so I was introduced to Dr. Brandt in 1993 or ’94 — and we became instant friends. We got even closer after I interviewed him for Interview magazine eight or nine years ago. That’s when I found out he was an unbelievable singer. He sang all the show tunes from the ’40s on up — and danced — all day long in his office. Everyone loved it, but I’m sure the stuffy uptown ladies were thinking, “What is this guy doing?” Then he spontaneously made up a rap about me — in the middle of the interview!

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Last year, my friend Casey Paul and I had the rapper Chappy compose a rap about him. I finally sent it to him, and he played it at a launch for his products — and the crowd went wild. I’m so happy it exists — it gives a glimpse of an experience of being in his office. He always dressed to the nines: Dior, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga; he never worked with a lab coat on. Dr. Brandt was an art collector, too — Damien Hirst, Warhol, all the current hot artists. And he was a total animal lover. I once ran into him at the Bal Harbour mall, and he was with three dogs, by himself. He was a very kind, gentle person. His clothes may have been flamboyant, but he was, deep down, kind of shy, a really pure person. I loved him — it’s very sad. I’m devastated. What will we do without him?

See more Remembering Fredric Brandt (Photos)