American actress Erica Ash, who starred in “Survivor’s Remorse” and the BET series “Real Husbands of Hollywood” is dead at age 46.
Ash died on Sunday after a “long and courageous battle with cancer,” according to a statement from her mother.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved daughter, sister, and friend Erica Chantal Ash,” the actress’ mother Diann Ash said in the statement. “Erica was an amazing woman and talented entertainer who touched countless lives with her sharp wit, humor, and genuine zest for life. Her memory will live eternally in our hearts.”
Ash had a decades-long career in comedy movies and television. She was best known for MadTV, the sitcom Survivor’s Remorse, Rosie O’Donnell’s The Big Gay Sketch Show and her role as Bridgette Hart on the BET spoof series “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” on which she appeared for four seasons.
In a statement posted to BET’s Instagram page on Monday, the network remembered Ash for “being equal parts witty and funny.”
“We send our deepest condolences and love to her parents, siblings, friends, and family. Fly high Queen,” the statement read.
Ash’s career began with roles on sketch-comedy series, including “The Big Gay Sketch Show” in 2006 on Logo and “MADtv” in 2008.
Her film career took off in 2013 after she landed the role Kendra Brooks in the fifth installment of horror movie satire franchise “Scary Movie V.” She went on to star in several films throughout her career, like 2016’s “Jean of the Joneses,” 2018’s sports comedy “Uncle Drew” and the 2021 indie drama “Violet,” in which she starred alongside Olivia Munn and Justin Theroux.
Ash appeared in a handful of episodes of the Jennifer Lopez police drama “Shades of Blue” and four seasons of the Starz dramedy series “Survivor’s Remorse” between 2014 and 2017.
Among the many performers who paid tribute to Ash, Siedah Garrett writes, “Moved to tears at the passing of beautiful, talented & funny actor from Survivor’s Remorse… Erica generously worked with me on an original jailhouse skit I submitted to Netflix.”
“Erica Ash was a light. Beautiful, funny, beyond talented,” writes Christopher Landon, who directed Ash in the movie We Have A Ghost, “I was blessed to work with her and call her my friend. My heart goes out to her family and friends right now.”
May her soul rest in peace.
