Melanie Panayiotou: How Did George Michael's Sister Die?

Posted by Arica Deslauriers on Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Melanie Panayiotou is the sister of George Michael. Melanie’s brother George Michael was a British singer-songwriter, record producer, and musician. He rose to fame as a member of the music duo Wham! He also embarked on a solo career. He was listed among Billboard’s “Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time” and Rolling Stone’s “200 Greatest Singers of All Time”. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame.

Melanie Panayiotou: Bio Summary

Who Is George Michael’s Sister, Melanie?

Melanie Panayiotou was born on 22 October 1960, in Wood Green, London Borough of Haringey, Greater London, England to Kyriacos “Jack” Panayiotou and Lesley Angold Panayiotou. Her father was a Greek Cypriot restaurateur who emigrated from Patriki, Cyprus, to England in the 1950s.

Melanie’s mother was an English dancer. She has two siblings: Yioda Panayiotou and George Michael born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. She had a close relationship with her siblings. Melanie’s parents were strict when it came to Melanie and her sister. They were more strict with their daughters than they were with their son.

Melanie Panayiotou’s brother George Michael had to accompany her to the ice skating rink. Not much information has been revealed regarding Melanie’s life as a child. Nothing is known about her education. The high schools or colleges she attended are unknown. She was a professional hairdresser.

Melanie Panayiotou traveled with her brother several times in the early stage of his career, when he was in Wham! Melanie lived a private life. She did not get married and had no children as well. She has not disclosed any information about her boyfriend. It is difficult to tell if she was involved in a relationship or not.

Melanie Panayiotou was very close to her brother George Michael. She once spoke in an interview about her brother. She mentioned that when her brother was growing up, he wasn’t interested in the “things the rest of the fellas were” interested in and he was aware of what he wanted to do at an early age. Melanie said of her brother:

“I don’t think you could say that he was your regular sort of boy. I mean, from what I remember, he was never interested in the kind of things the rest of the fellas were, like football and cars and things like that. He wasn’t an introvert and I wouldn’t say he was shy like some people have made out. He definitely knew what he wanted to do at an early age!”

ALSO READ: Lesley Angold Panayiotou: What Happened To George Michael’s Mother?

Melanie Panayiotou made it known that she and her brother George Michael are alike “probably in quite a few ways. We can be quite honest with each other and we also share the same sense of humor.”

How Did George Michael’s Sister Die?

George Michael’s beloved sister Melanie Panayiotou died after she had fallen into a diabetic coma from diabetic ketoacidosis. There were previous claims that she died of a broken heart. A source told The Sun: “She had been living as a recluse and only really went out to the hairdressers and post office and occasionally with her older sister Yioda.

“She stayed indoors, had shopping delivered and rarely left the house.” A post-mortem was carried out and the cause of her death was certified by Assistant Coroner for Inner London North, Jonathan Stevens. According to the Mirror, the report states: “The hairdresser died from diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication caused by lack of insulin and sky-high blood sugar. Diabetes was given as an underlying cause of death.”

Melanie died at age 59. She died on Christmas Day just like her brother George. She died on 25 December 2019, in London, United Kingdom. She was found dead in her London home. “Police were called by London Ambulance Service at approximately 19:35hrs on Wednesday, 25 December to reports of the sudden death of a woman, aged in her 50s,” the Police told People.

The police said that “the death is not being treated as suspicious by police”. They noted that a “report will be compiled for the Coroner into the circumstances.” In a statement through their lawyer, Melanie’s family said: “We can confirm that very tragically, Melanie has passed away suddenly. We would simply ask that the family’s privacy be respected at this very sad time.”

Melanie was buried at Highgate Cemetery West, in Highgate, London Borough of Camden, Greater London, England. Her mother Lesley Angold Panayiotou was diagnosed with Melanoma in 1996 and she died on 26 February 1997, at age 59, in Fulham, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Greater London, England.

ALSO READ: Jack Panos: Facts About George Michael’s Father

Lesley Angold was also buried at Highgate Cemetery, London, United Kingdom. Melanie Panayiotou’s brother George died at age 53, on 25 December 2016, in Goring-on-Thames, England. A senior coroner in Oxfordshire attributed his death to dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and a fatty liver. “Enquiries into the death of George Michael have been concluded and the final post mortem report received,” the statement said.

“As there is a confirmed natural cause of death, being Dilated Cardiomyopathy with Myocarditis and Fatty Liver, the investigation is being discontinued and there is no need for an inquest or any further enquiries.” George was buried at Highgate Cemetery on one side of his mother’s grave and his sister Melanie was buried on the other side.

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