Lucian Piane, known for his role on 'RuPaul’s Drag Race,' has died at the age of 46 after being struck by a car in Glendale, California, on Monday morning, according to a report from TMZ. First responders attempted to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reported that the cause of death was blunt trauma and classified it as an accident.
Prior to his death, Piane was taken into custody for being under the influence of a controlled substance on Saturday in Glendale. He received a citation but was arrested again the following day for allegedly assaulting emergency personnel. He had another citation and was scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
World of Wonder, the production company behind 'RuPaul’s Drag Race,' expressed their condolences in an Instagram statement, stating, "We are devastated to learn of the passing of Lucian Piane. Lucian left behind a legacy of truly beautiful music. May his struggles never dim the memories of a sweet man, a dear friend, and a master musician. Rest in peace, Lucian."
In the days leading up to his death, Piane shared videos on Instagram that raised concern among fans. He had celebrated a year of sobriety in August.
Piane was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 4, 1980, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in musical composition from New York University in 2003. He began his career as a composer and served as a music assistant at the 76th Annual Academy Awards in 2004. He also worked as the music and tech assistant for the 2007 musical 'Hairspray,' which earned him a Grammy nomination, and was the orchestrator for the 2008 production of 'Pretty Ugly People.'
Piane joined 'RuPaul’s Drag Race' for its first season in 2009 and contributed to the series until Season 8, being responsible for several of RuPaul’s notable songs, including 'Sissy That Walk,' 'Cover Girl,' 'Glamazon,' and 'Peanut Butter.'
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).