Actress and comedian Suzanne Whang, who was the original host of "House Hunters" on HGTV, has died of breast cancer. She was 56.
Whang's longtime partner, Jeff Vezain, shared the news of Whang's death Friday in a statement on her official website.
"On Tuesday evening (September 17th) around 7:20pm, Suzanne breathed her last breath here at home, as I knelt beside her and caressed her. For thirteen years she confronted cancer with courage, humor, determination and optimism," Vezain wrote.
Whang hosted HGTV's "House Hunters" from the show's inception in 1999 until 2008, as well as its spinoff series "House Hunters International" from 2006 to 2008. HGTV officials wrote in a Facebook post: "Suzanne was warm, funny and kind with a distinctive voice that made everyone feel at home. Our HGTV family mourns her loss and wishes to express deepest condolences to her friends, fans and family who knew and loved her."
Whang had acting roles in several television shows, including "Dexter," "NYPD Blue," "Two and a Half Men," "General Hospital" and "Arrested Development." Her work in standup comedy earned her the Andy Kaufman Award at the 2004 New York Comedy Festival, The New York Times reported.
“She was a brilliant talent and a wicked comedian,” Whang's agent of 25 years, Eddie Culbertson, told the Times. “People didn’t know that about her.”
On mourning Whang, Vezain wrote: "I know she would prefer that her life be celebrated, as opposed to her passing mourned, but I also know how vehemently she disagreed with anyone being told, 'Don't cry.' So...cry if you will."
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