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 victim Charlie Dodson Hays. The producers of 2ge+her had already agreed to shoot the movie in Vancouver when they discovered Cuccione and cast him in the part of Jason "QT" McKnight. The series was an immediate hit, as was the subsequent soundtrack from the show. The spoof boy band became so popular with fans and artists that they went on tour and opened for Britney Spears. Both soundtracks hit the Billboard Top 100. The 2ge+her movie was released on February 21, 2000, and the series soon followed on August 15 of that same year, on MTV's 10 Spot.
Illness and advocacy
In 1994, when Cuccione was 9, he was diagnosed with stage 2A Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of cancer affecting the lymph nodes. It was treated with five months of chemotherapy, but returned the following year. His second bout with the disease metastasized to his lungs. He required massive doses of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and twelve radiation treatments around his heart and lungs. He was then cancer free, but the treatment left him with permanent lung and respiratory problems. Cuccione became a well-known campaigner for cancer research and awareness. 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. Cuccione made many in-person appearances on television, radio, at schools and hospitals, and other fundraising events.
Death
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. His problems increased, and soon he had to miss several tapings of the show and public group appearances. In December 2000, Cuccione was unable to fight off the effects of a minor car accident and entered the hospital on December 4, 2000, with pneumonia. He spent the rest of his stay on a respirator and celebrated his last Christmas, New Year's, and birthday in the hospital before succumbing to respiratory failure on January 13, 2001, eight days after his 16th birthday.
Funeral
Thousands packed the church in Vancouver, British Columbia on the Wednesday evening of January 17, 2001, and again on the next morning to mourn. All four of Cuccione's 2ge+her band/cast members were in attendance for both services. Also in attendance was David Hasselhoff, who gave the eulogy and dedicated a song at the Wednesday services. Both services included a 75-member choir from Cuccione's high school, Notre Dame Regional Secondary School. Among the items displayed were pictures of Cuccione being blessed by the Pope, a giant poster of Cuccione with a teddy bear, and a massive set of wreaths and flowers. During the Thursday services, a huge procession of limousines, cars, and firetrucks accompanied Cuccione's casket through the streets of Greater Vancouver. He was buried at Ocean View Burial Park in BurnabyGreater Vancouver Regional DistrictBritish Columbia, Canada.
