Halle Berry + More React to the Passing of Actress Natalie Desselle-Reid
Natalie Desselle-Reid passes away at 53 on Monday, December 7, from colon cancer, leaving many fans and fellow actors brokenhearted.
Desselle-Reid is one of the most prolific comedic actors in the industry, and fans best knew her from her roles in B.A.P.S. and Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family and TV-film Cinderella.
Many know her from BAPS, but my first time experiencing her bright spirit was in Cinderella with Brandy. What a loss. RIP Natalie Desselle 💔😞 pic.twitter.com/mjnq7cE3dR
— Tai. (@iSpeakTai) December 7, 2020
On December 7, the actor’s manager Dolores Robinson took to Twitter to confirm the news. Robinson described Desselle-Reid as “a bright light. She was an amazing actress and comedienne but also an awesome mother & wife.” According to TMZ, as they later confirmed, the legendary comedian passed away from “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.”
Natalie Desselle the beautiful talented actress passed away this morning.
— DoloresRobinson (@DoloresRobinson) December 7, 2020
Natalie was a bright light. She was an amazing actress and comedienne but also an awesome mother & wife.
Sending prayers to her family.
I had the pleasure of managing her career.
Many of Desselle-Reid’s previous peers demonstrated their love for the actress and her family on Twitter with remarkable messages. Actress Holly Robinson Peete, best known for her role in the television drama 21 Jump Street, said, “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.”
Just absolutely decimated by this news…
— Holly Robinson Peete😷🥰 (@hollyrpeete) December 7, 2020
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.
💔🙏🏽😢
Rest In Peace, Sweet Girl🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/BsyltHxKRG
Another devastated Hollywood peer was Halle Berry, who expressed herself by saying, “I’m in total shock… completely heartbroken. gonna need a minute.” Berry co-starred with Desselle-Reid in the 1997 comedy film B.A.P.S. which resonated with many as it combined a great storyline with incredible comedy.
I’m in total shock… completely heartbroken. gonna need a minute. #RIP @NatalieDesselle pic.twitter.com/Amt2k2ZYM7
— Halle Berry (@halleberry) December 7, 2020
Desselle-Reid demonstrated throughout her career how versatile and trailblazing she could be.
Let me add my voice to chorus currently singing the praises of the late Natalie Desselle Reid. What a presence she was: beautiful and funny, leaving such an imprint on my heart through her screen roles. May she rest. pic.twitter.com/7nhZ0H9Feh
— C.S.R. Calloway (@ChanceCalloway) December 7, 2020
She has left her mark in the hearts of many with her charisma and beautiful personality—our best regards to Desselle-Reid’s family, husband Leonard, and her three children.
