Gianni Versace was an internationally acclaimed fashion designer who was murdered by spree killer Andrew Cunanan.

Full or original name at birth: Giovanni Versace

Date and place of birth: December 2, 1946, Reggio di Calabria, Italy *

Date, time, place and cause of death: July 15, 1997, at 8:46 a.m., at 1116 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida (Murdered - Gunshots) **

Parents
Father: Antonio Versace (an appliance salesman)
Mother: Francesca Versace (a dressmaker)

Burial: Gianni Versace was cremated in Miami, then his family returned his ashes to picturesque Moltrasio near Lake Como, north of Milan, Italy, for burial.

* Nearly all sources agree Versace was born between 6 and 6:45 a.m. Sources who report his time of birth as 6:00 a.m., claim that particular time has a AA rating on The Rodden System of Data Classification. Unfortunately, those who report 6:45 a.m. as his time of birth, also claim a AA rating for that time as well. Of course it can't be both, and we all know how people are inclined to round off figures to make things "easier" for us. In reality, all they do is frustrate efforts to bring precise, accurate information to the public. Visit Accuracy of Times of Birth and Times of Death, for general information on this topic.

** Versace was "officially" pronounced dead at Jackson Memorial Hospital, but he was actually dead at the scene of his murder.

Gianni Versace was one of the world's most celebrated fashion designers, and head of a multimillion-dollar fashion empire. His sales topped $1 billion the year before his murder. His fashions were worn by the likes of Princess Diana, Sylvester Stallone, Naomi Campbell, Demi Moore, Will Smith, Madonna, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, George Michael, and Elton John.

Gianni Versace was born in the south of Italy to Antonio Versace, an appliance salesman, and Francesca Versace, a dressmaker. He first learned tailoring skills from his mother, and would later work for her for several years at her dress shop. In his mid-20s, he moved to Milan and began his spectacular rise in the fashion world as a young designer. He worked for several different labels before striking out on his own in 1978. That year, he launched his own label and presented his first collection to the world. He caused a sensation with his use of bold colors, psychedelic color combinations, art deco images, and overt sexuality, presented at daring fashion shows. His fashion shows became media events, attracting royalty, and luminaries from the world of entertainment. His fashions portrayed a wildly glamorous lifestyle, and helped launch the supermodel phenomenon. Over the years, his color palette became a bit more subdued, and he joined the ranks of the world's most celebrated fashion designers. The openly gay fashion tycoon saw his celebrity clientele grow, and hundreds of Versace boutiques popped up around the world.

The designer was renowned for his endless stamina at work. A couple of years before his murder, he battled a rare form of cancer. The chemo slowed him down a bit, but he kept working. His cancer was reported to be in remission before his death.

Among his other accomplishments, Gianni Versace was credited with revitalizing the South Beach area of Miami Beach. When he first arrived in South Beach, the area was typified by rundown hotels, bargain-hunting tourists and immigrants seeking inexpensive accommodations. His ornate 16-bedroom mansion began life as a dilapidated 1930s hotel and an apartment building that he turned into a massive Mediterranean-style villa back in 1992. He had fallen in love with the vitality of South Beach, but no one could have imagined what his effect on the area would be. At the time of his death, the South Beach area of Miami Beach had become a posh, world-renowned hot spot of expensive boutiques, clubs and upscale restaurants, attracting a galaxy of celebrities, socialites and stargazing tourists. Sylvester Stallone and Madonna were area residents. Versace's palatial estate sat at the heart of the South Beach action. The palm tree-lined strip became host to millionaire executives, visiting movie stars, supermodels, and high-fashion photography shoots.

His brazen daylight murder would make headlines around the world. Versace was killed by Andrew Cunanan, July 15th, 1997, on the front steps of his mansion, "Casa Casuarina" at 1116 Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. Cunanan was on the final leg of a cross-country killing odyssey that led to a massive nationwide manhunt. Versace was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he was "officially" pronounced dead, though he was actually dead at the scene of his execution-style murder. He was shot in the back of the head at point-blank range, then shot again once he hit the ground. Cunanan later committed suicide when he was discovered hiding out on a houseboat in Miami Beach.