[1] In July 1997, a request Cuccione made to meet Baywatch star David Hasselhoff led to a role in an episode on the show as real-life cancer patient Charlie Everett Hays.

The singer/actor established The Michael Cuccione Foundation for Cancer Research and turned his love for music into a fundraising effort by recording a five-song CD, Make a Difference.

He also co-authored a book with his grandmother titled, There are Survivors: The Michael Cuccione Story about his experiences battling cancer; his effort eventually raised C$500,000, which was donated to the British Columbia's Children's Hospital.

As the second season of 2ge+her started taping, Cuccione soon began suffering breathing problems from complications from his earlier cancer treatments and required an oxygen tank on-set.

Thousands packed Saint Helen's Catholic church in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby, British Columbia on the Wednesday evening of January 17, 2001, and again on the next morning to mourn.

During the Thursday services, a huge procession of limousines, cars, and firetrucks accompanied Cuccione's casket through the streets of Greater Vancouver.