- Known for her role in George Michael’s ‘Freedom ’90’ Video
Supermodel Tatjana Patitz, best known for her appearance in George Michael’s video for his monster hit “Freedom ’90,” is dead. She was 56 years old.
Her agent confirmed that Patitz died on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 of breast cancer, in Santa Barbara, California, United States.
The German-born Patitz was considered one of the original supermodels. She entered her first modeling contest at age 17 in Stockholm, taking third place. But a session with fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh that followed launched the main part of her career.
Singer George Michael saw her in British Vogue in 1990, and subsequently cast her for his “Freedom ’90” music video, alongside Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista.
“I was in my own zone,” she said of filming the “Freedom ’90” video, which didn’t see her even meet Michael. “I had to kind of slide up and down the wall for part of the day. The feel of the set was so run-down, this big, loft kind of vibe.
“There was another setup with me laying on a chaise lounge with a black smoking jacket. I think I may have had a bustier on. And I was smoking, even. People still smoked in videos then and even in films.”
The German model and actress achieved international prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, representing fashion designers on runways and in magazines such as Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue.
She was one of the big five supermodels who appeared in the 1990 music video “Freedom! ’90” by George Michael, and was also associated with the editorial, advertising, and fine-art works of photographers Herb Ritts and Peter Lindbergh.
Meanwhile, reports said no information on survivors or a memorial is immediately available for now
