GIANNI VERSACE, Italian fashion designer born (d. 1997); An Italian designer of both clothing and theater costumes, Versace was influenced by Andy Warhol, Ancient Roman and Greek art as well as modern abstract art; he is considered one of the most colorful and talented designers of the late 20th century.
Gianni Versace met Antonio D’Amico, a model, in 1982. The couple embarked on a long-term relationship that lasted 11 years, until Versace’s untimely death.
During that time Antonio worked as designer for the Versace sports line. Versace’s will left his male partner D’Amico with a pension of 50 million lire (about $26,000) a month (for life), and the right to live in any of Versace’s homes in Italy and the United States. D’Amico now runs his own fashion design company.
One July morning in the summer of 1997, returning from his customary walk on Ocean Drive, Versace was gunned down outside his ocean-front mansion in Miami Beach, Florida. He was murdered by gay spree killer Andrew Cunanan, who committed suicide shortly after the murder. Versace was buried in Lake Como, Italy