Ralph Cirella dies at 58, friend Howard Stern pays tribute

Howard Stern on Wednesday, December 6, paid an emotional tribute to his friend Ralph Cirella on SiriusXM's The Howard Stern Show. He revealed that Cirella passed away on Tuesday, December 5, in the early hours of the day.

Stern revealed that Cirella was receiving treatment for a "rare lymphoma" that was "curable and treatable" adding, "His heart gave out."

The seasoned radio host added that just before his untimely death, he was in the process of setting up multiple medical consultations for Cirella.


Born on April 20, 1965, Cirella spent decades serving as Stern's personal stylist before moving up to the position of wardrobe consultant and finally set designer.

He was a regular contributor to the broadcaster's radio show and made two appearances in the television series Howard Stern on Demand.

Stern expressed his "angry" feelings about Cirella's prolonged concealment of his diagnosis. He said, "I just have been so angry and so sad."

"He neglected his own needs."

The well-known radio host talked about his 40+ years of friendship with Cirella, calling him "trustworthy" and "a dear friend who made me laugh every time I was with him."

Additionally, he claimed that Cirella frequently went with him when he made TV appearances on programs like The Late Show with David Letterman and America's Got Talent.

Stern acknowledged that Cirella introduced him to Beth Stern, his wife. Stern recalled how Cirella persuaded him to attend a party where he would eventually meet the woman who would become his wife. "He's the reason I met Beth," Stern said.

Cirella's passing was first made public by Stern's close friend John Stamos early on Wednesday in an emotional Instagram post.

"My dear friend Ralph Cirella was abruptly taken from us at the agonizingly young age of 58, leaving us all in a state of profound shock”.

"Ralph wasn't just a friend; he was family," the post continued.

According to John, Ralph was adored by his mother. John said he will always treasure the memory of his mother lovingly mistaking Ralph’s birthmark, or "berry," for a piece of red jelly on his upper lip and playfully trying to remove it.

FAQs:

Q1: When was Ralph Cirella born?
A1: Ralph Cirella was born on 20 April 1965.

Q2: What is Ralph Cirella best known for?
A2: Ralph Cirella is best known for Private Parts.