'They Inspire Everything': Gord Downie Shielded His Children From The Spotlight

Tragically Hip frontman and Canadian icon Gord Downie lived his life in the spotlight — as a musician, as an advocate for Indigenous issues, and as a champion for brain cancer research — all while steadfastly shielding his four children from the public eye.

Downie, 53, died Tuesday night of glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. His children were by his side, according to a statement released by The Tragically Hip.

Other than the fact that he had four of them, fans knew little about Downie's children — a rarity for such a well-known public figure. Only very occasionally would Downie share a personal anecdote about his family life.