Actress Erica Ash has passed away at the age of 46.
Ash, celebrated for her work on Mad TV as well as BET’s Real Husbands of Hollywood, succumbed to a prolonged battle with cancer on Sunday in Los Angeles. She was also known as for her role in Scary Movie V.
‘Erica was a beacon of light and humor, bringing joy to everyone she met,’ her family shared in a heartfelt statement. ‘Her spirit and legacy will forever remain with us.’
Ash’s career spanned various genres and platforms. She portrayed the powerful public defender Gwen Sullivan in BET’s 2018 drama In Contempt and left a memorable mark on Logo’s The Big Gay Sketch Show, produced by Rosie O’Donnell, from 2006 to 2008.
Her film credits include Scary Movie V (2013), Uncle Drew (2018), The Big Bend (2021), and Violet (2021).
In the Starz comedy-drama Survivor’s Remorse, Ash starred as Mary Charles ‘M-Chuck’ Calloway, the spirited half-sister of a professional basketball player, a role she played from 2014 to 2017.
Ash also brought her comedic talents to Real Husbands of Hollywood, where she played Bridgette Hart from 2013 to 2016 across from Kevin Hart.
Born Erica Chantal Ash on September 19, 1977, in Florida, she pursued her education at Emory University before making her mark on Broadway in 2011 with Baby It’s You! – a musical tribute to The Shirelles and other artists of Scepter Records.
Her diverse portfolio also included guest appearances on popular TV shows such as Cold Case, Shades of Blue, A Black Lady Sketch Show, and Family Reunion, as well as roles in films like Kristy (2014), Jean of the Joneses (2016), and the upcoming The Outlaw Johnny Black (2023).
Donations in her memory can be made to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation or the National Breast Cancer Foundation.