After a hard-fought battle with cancer, beloved “Queer Eye” star Tom Jackson has passed away at the age of 63.
On Thursday, Jackson’s family sadly reported that the cherished father and grandfather succumbed to metastatic adenocarcinoma on Tuesday, March 2.
Netflix’s exhilarating show soon made a confirmation to Instagram, writing, “It’s with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to a member of our Queer Eye family. Rest in peace, Tom Jackson.”
“Such incredibly sad news,” said fashion guru Tan France.
“Queer Eye” star Jonathan Van Ness wrote, “RIP Tom ❤️.”
By way of the online obituary, Jackson’s loved ones expressed their gratitude to medical personnel for providing him with support “treatment and comfort during his final days.”
“We will never forget our beloved Tom,” they said. “He brought joy, humor, persistence, and love to our family. He is special to us, and we look forward to seeing him again one day.”
In honor of Jackson, his loved ones have asked fans to watch his “Queer Eye” episode.
Jackson quickly captured the hearts of audiences everywhere when he made his debut on the February 2018 episode of the reboot, entitled “You Can’t Fix Ugly.”
Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, Tan France and Bobby Berk – collectively known as The Fab Five – gave Jackson a major makeover in terms of style and lifestyle. Thanks to their skillful expertise, the transformation was not only visible on his exterior but also impacted him internally for the better.
During the heartwarming episode, Jackson famously proclaimed, “You can’t change ugly.”
Moreover, the episode witnessed him reconcile with his ex-wife, Abby Parr.
Ultimately, the pair had a second wedding ceremony after the show but eventually split again in 2019, as he announced on Twitter.
Prior to his career-defining role in “Queer Eye,” Jackson was driving a dump truck back home in Georgia.
He always considered it a privilege to be “a Papaw to his two grandsons who were his pride and joy,” according to the obituary.
“A highlight of Tom’s life was being cast on the Netflix show, ‘Queer Eye’. He enjoyed the notoriety and shared his experience with whoever would listen,” Jackson’s family said.
Jackson leaves his daughter, who starred on the hit show, along with two granddaughters and two sisters to carry on his legacy.
A memorial service to commemorate his life is scheduled for March 12th in Kennesaw, Georgia.
