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“RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum Lucian Piane has died. He was 46.
The reality star, who served as a composer, music producer and judge on the competition series, passed away after being hit by a car in Glendale, California, on Monday morning, TMZ reported.
First responders attempted to resuscitate him, but their efforts were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Piane’s cause of death was listed as blunt trauma, per a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner report obtained by the outlet.
Additionally, the TV personality’s death was determined to be an accident, the outlet reported Tuesday.
Ahead of his passing, Piane was taken into custody for being under the influence of a controlled substance on Saturday while in Glendale.
He ultimately received a citation but was back in custody the following day for alleged assault on an emergency personnel or officer. Piane received another citation and was scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
The production company behind “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” World of Wonder, mourned Piane via an Instagram statement Tuesday, writing, “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,” the statement continued.
In the days leading up to his death, Piane had taken to Instagram to share several videos of himself out on the streets, sparking worry amongst fans. Additionally, he celebrated a year of sobriety in August.
Piane was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on Oct. 4, 1980, and later graduated with a bachelor of music in musical composition from New York University in 2003.
He built his career as a composer and served as a music assistant at the 76th Annual Academy Awards in 2004, per IMDB.
Piane also worked as the music and tech assistant for the 2007 musical “Hairspray,” which ultimately earned him a Grammy nomination. He was also the orchestrator for the 2008 production of “Pretty Ugly People.”
The composer signed on with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” for Season 1 in 2009 and worked on the series until Season 8.
Piane was responsible for several of RuPaul’s biggest hits, such as “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).