Natalie Desselle Reid, an actor known for her role in “B*A*P*S” and the sitcom “Eve,” passed away Monday at age 53.
Friend and fellow actor Holly Robinson Peete and her mom, who once managed Desselle Reid, both announced the sad news Monday afternoon, noting that Reid died Monday morning. The comedic actor died after a private battle with colon cancer, according to a statement from her family.
“Natalie was a bright light. She was an amazing actress and comedienne but also an awesome mother & wife. Sending prayers to her family,” Robinson wrote.
Her family confirmed the news in a post on the Louisiana-born actor’s Instagram account.
“Her diverse career touched so many and she will be loved forever. Naturally, we are grieving and processing this profound loss and we thank you in advance for respecting our privacy at this extremely difficult time. 🙏🏽💔”
Desselle Reid played in a variety of television shows, from her series run as the title character’s best friend on UPN’s “Eve” (from 2000 to 2003) to small roles on “ER.” She also appeared in some of the 1990s cult classic Black films. Her iconic role as Mickey in 1997′s “B*A*P*S” has become the subject of fanfare in recent years, with many choosing to dress like the character for Halloween.
Though her role as Mickey was her most notable, many fans were also familiar with her performances as Minerva in the ABC multicultural presentation of “Cinderella” (1997) and as Tanika in “Set It Off” (1996). Younger audiences may have come to know Desselle Reid as Tammy in Tyler Perry’s 2011 film “Madea’s Big Happy Family.”
Halle Berry, who also starred in “B*A*P*S,” expressed her grief Monday afternoon on Twitter, saying she was in “total shock” after hearing of her friend’s passing.
Fans and friends reminisced Monday over a recent post of Berry and Desselle Reid from their time filming their classic movie.
Jasmine Lawson, a Netflix executive, shared online Monday that the actor was one of the most requested performers for the streaming service’s “Strong Black Lead,” a feature that highlights Black actors who have made an impact in television and film. Desselle Reid did not respond to the request for an interview with Netflix last year, Lawson said.
The beloved performer was born in Alexandria, Louisiana. She attended Grambling State University, where she performed in a number of productions. One of her first Hollywood roles after college was as a guest star on “Family Matters.”
Survivors include her husband, Leonard, and her children, Sereno, Summer and Sasha.
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