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Natalie Desselle-Reid — a prolific actor known for roles in “Eve,” a ‘Madea’ film and ‘B*A*P*S’ — has died after a battle with cancer … one she’d kept private.
The veteran comedic actor passed away Monday morning. A family member tells TMZ she died of colon cancer after having been diagnosed earlier this year. We’re told she was in hospice care in her final days, and was surrounded by family when she went.
“She was in hospice care. It was clear that she was near the end,” Robinson said, explaining that Desselle-Reid was surrounded by family in her final moments.
An official statement reads, “It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the loss of our beautiful Natalie this morning. She was a bright light in this world.
A queen. An extraordinary mother and wife.” Actress Holly Robinson Peete also shared the news, writing …
“Just absolutely decimated by this news… Actress Natalie Desselle, a bright shining star passed away this morning. I got to know her when my mom was managing her. She will be so missed…sending out prayers to her children and husband.” She added, Rest In Peace, Sweet Girl.”
“The world has truly lost one of its most angelic souls,” Johnson said on a GoFundMe page set up to benefit her family.
“She was such a beautiful person,” actress Holly Robinson-Peete, the daughter of Dolores Robinson, tweeted.
The actress, who also appeared in “Madea’s Big Happy Family” and guest starred in “Family Matters,” is survived by her husband Leonard Reid and three children, including a daughter who’s attending New York University, Robinson said.
Her brother, who works as a reporter in New Orleans, also paid tribute on social media saying, “My loving sister. You’re in my future now.”
Desselle – Reid’s “B.A.P.S.” co-star, Academy-award winning actress Berry, tweeted about the news of her death. “I’m in total shock… completely heartbroken. gonna need a minute,” Berry wrote.
“I’ll miss her laugh,” Robinson told The News. “Natalie’s laugh and her just great happy spirit. Nothing could take her down. She was just such an up person.”
Actress Kym Whitley wrote I’m just absolutely devastated by this news. This morning we lost @nataliedessellereid -a beautiful queen, actress, comedienne, mother and wife. Another blow this year. I had to pleasure to know Natalie early in her career with my mother managed her. My mom and Natalie spoke recently and reminisced laughed and caught up. I’m sending out prayers for her family. Rest in peace, sweet Natalie. You were so loved and will continue to be forever.
Born in Alexandria, Louisiana, Desselle-Reid was working on a stage adaptation of “B.A.P.S.” with Je’Caryous Johnson, the CEO of Je’Caryous Entertainment, when she passed away, he said Monday.
Natalie was perhaps best known for her sidekick role opposite Halle Berry in the 1997 comedy film “B*A*P*S” in which she played the hilarious role of Mickey. She also starred on the sitcom “Eve” for three years, playing Janie Egins — as well as having starred in Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Big Happy Family” as Tammy.
Her acting credits go well beyond that though — NDR also played a prominent character on the TV shows “For Your Love,” and “Built to Last.”
Her other big-screen credits include “How to Be a Player,” “Set It Off,” “Divas,” “Gas” and quite notably … the made-for-TV movie “Cinderella,” featuring Brandy … in which Natalie played the evil step-sister, Minerva.