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Tyler Perry among the stars mourning death of Atlanta hairstylist Charles Gregory

The celebrity hairstylist has a hair salon in the city and died of complications from COVID-19 this week
By Kiersten Willis
April 10, 2020

An Atlanta hairstylist to the stars has lost his battle with the coronavirus this week, leading many celebrities to share their condolences online. Tyler Perry was among them.

Charles Gregory confirmed he was diagnosed with the coronavirus on Instagram last month. He was an Emmy-award winning hairstylist who worked with many high-profile stars on hit shows including several of Perry's series.

» RELATED: Tyler Perry pays senior-hour groceries at 44 Krogers in Atlanta, 29 Winn-Dixies in New Orleans

“Today it’s with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of one of our crew members,” Perry wrote in part on Instagram Wednesday. “Mr. Charles Gregory was a hairstylist that had worked with us for many years. The man was warm, loving and hilarious. We all loved to see him coming and hear his laughter. Charles lost his battle with COVID-19 today. It saddens me to think of him dying this way. My sincerest prayers are with his family.”

View this post on Instagram

Dear Black People, Today it’s with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of one of our crew members. Mr. Charles Gregory was a hairstylist that had worked with us for many years. The man was warm, loving and hilarious. We all loved to see him coming and hear his laughter. Charles lost his battle with COVID-19 today. It saddens me to think of him dying this way. My sincerest prayers are with his family. While everyone can contract this virus it is black people who are dying from it in much larger numbers. This thing is real, black people. I heard a black person say, “Black people don’t get it.” That is a lie! You can get it, and you will get it if we don’t do what we're being told to do. A 26 year old black woman died the other day, a 44 year old black man died the other day, not to mention the hundreds of people that are dying every few minutes. Your age does not matter!! Your health does not matter. You could be totally healthy, and you could die! Now listen to me. You have been right by my side since I started in this business, so please hear me with your heart. I LOVE US. I love our humor. I love our culture. I love our hair. I love our skin. I love everything about who we are. All of us. And I love us all too much to watch us die on the vine because we are the last to know and we are not taking this pandemic seriously. Black people, we are at a disproportionately higher risk of dying from this virus. Please, please, please, I beg you to take this seriously. You have to socially distance yourself. That means stop hanging out, stop congregating, stop doing anything that will put not only your life in danger but also the lives of so many others. STAY HOME!! Socially distance yourself and stay alive! If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for someone you love, and for those who love you. My Mother always told me to not wait for help! Be your own help!

A post shared by Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) on

Perry was not alone in remembering Gregory, who launched his own salon team at Charles Gregory Blow Dry and Beauty Bar in Atlanta.

» RELATED: Tyler Perry pays senior-hour groceries at 44 Krogers in Atlanta, 29 Winn-Dixies in New Orleans

In addition to working on numerous titles for Perry, including stage plays, films and the series “House of Pain” and “Meet the Browns,” Gregory previously worked on several films shot in Atlanta, including “Remember the Titans” and “Drumline,” as well as OutKast’s “Idlewild.”

In recent years, Gregory was part of the Oscar-winning team on 2018's film "Vice," in which Perry portrayed former Secretary of State Colin Powell. He also worked on the pilot for HBO Max's "DMZ," which Ava DuVernay directed, Deadline reported.

» RELATED: Tyler Perry vows to keep washing hands: 'I don't care how ashy I get'

DuVernay also shared her condolences for Gregory online.

“God bless you and keep you in His Kingdom forever,” Deadline reported the director said of the late hairstylist. “You lit up every room you entered and every path you crossed. Thank you for your warmth and your wisdom and your wonderful spirit. Please watch over us and keep loving us. We will keep loving you and will never forget you. Your memory will be our blessing.”

“How to Get Away with Murder” star Viola Davis took to social media to share her condolences for Gregory. He styled the actress’s hair on the films “Lila and Eve” and “Madea Goes to Jail.”

» RELATED: Social media reacts to Tyler Perry being the sole writer of his hit shows

“Rest well. May God’s peace be with your family. You were a jewel,” she said in part.

Lee Daniels, who filmed his former show, “Star,” in Georgia, also remembered Gregory on Instagram. Gregory styled hair for Daniels’ upcoming film, “The United States of America vs Billie Holiday.”

“Whenever l complained about anyone’s hair he’d say ‘lemme just slap some grease on it.. it’ll be ok’! .. and it was!!! .. the virus took him today,” Daniels said.

About the Author

Kiersten Willis is a native advertising specialist at the AJC.

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