LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Erica Ash, an actor and comedian skilled in sketch comedy who starred in the parody series 鈥淢ad TV鈥� and 鈥淩eal Husbands of Hollywood,鈥� has died. She was 46.
Ash died Sunday in Los Angeles because of cancer, according to her publicist and a statement by her mother, Diann. 鈥淓rica 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,鈥� the statement said.
Ash impersonated Michelle Obama and Condoleezza Rice on 鈥淢ad TV,鈥� a Fox sketch series, and was a key performer on the Rosie O'Donnell-created series 鈥淭he Big Gay Sketch Show.鈥� Her other credits included 鈥淪cary Movie V," 鈥淯ncle Drew鈥� and the LeBron James-produced basketball dramedy 鈥淪urvivor's Remorse.鈥�
On the BET series 鈥淩eal Husbands of Hollywood,鈥� Ash played the ex-wife of Kevin Hart's character. Ash told the Los Angeles Times in 2017 that for awhile, the only roles she was offered were similar to that character, but she wanted to have a more varied career.
鈥淚 want to make choices based on what I want to read about myself when I鈥檓 older. For me, it鈥檚 just about growing and moving forward,鈥� .
She appeared in the Broadway production 鈥淏aby It's You鈥� and a touring production of 鈥淭he Lion King.鈥�
Ash attended Emory University to study medicine but took a break and went to Japan, where she performed and modeled and her career flourished.
鈥淥ne thing led to another, so I tell people I鈥檓 the Forrest Gump of my field. I just blindly, by faith, walked through life and said 鈥榶es鈥� to things that were presented to me, and it led me here,鈥� Ash told the Times.
The Associated Press
