Moesha Star Yvette Wilson Dead at 48

Comedian sadly loses her battle with stage 4 cervical cancer and kidney disease

By Josh Grossberg Jun 15, 2012 3:43 PMTags
Yvette WilsonMARCOCCHI GIULIO/SIPA

Yvette Wilson, the comic actress best known for starring in the '90s UPN sitcom Moesha and its spinoff The Parkers, has died of cervical cancer. She was 48.

"Unfortunately I can verify Yvette's passing yesterday. She was a good friend, a talented actress and a very funny lady, both onscreen and off," close friend Jeffrey Pittle confirmed to E! News. "She will be sorely missed, but I'm sure her talent and humor will live on in her legion of fans. It's a small comfort knowing we can still experience Yvette through the work she left behind."

After getting her start as a stand-up comedian, Wilson shot to fame as Andell Wilkerson on Moesha and continued playing the character on The Parkers. Feature credits include House Party 2, House Party 3, Friday and Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam.

Her Moesha costar Shar Jackson was among a slew of celebrity colleagues who mourned her passing on Twitter.

"F--k Cancer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she wrote in the first of a series of tweets, adding, "Oh god…..My heart is soooo unbelievably broken…."

Shar later tweeted: "I wanna thank all my tweeties for their prayers but god has chosen to take my sister Yvette home."

"God bless u Yvette Wilson. Tears in my eyes. Keep God laughing," lamented Jamie Foxx.

"R.I.P Yvette Wilson (Andell From The Parkers). She recently lost her battle with cancer. Life is short, so cherish yours," reflected former Fugees singer Lauryn Hill.

"Yvette Wilson always a sweetheart...Need a moment. Y'all join me in my twitter moment of silence respecting a beautiful funny lady & friend," tweeted Marlon Wayans.

Wilson had been suffering for some time with stage 4 cervical cancer and in recent years had battled kidney failure and undergone kidney transplants.

As a result, the funny lady has been under heavy financial strain, enough so that Pittle launched a website on GiveForward.com on Wilson's behalf, which raised more than $13,000 in donations to help cover the costs of her treatment.

"I met Yvette through work, and her spark of creativity was unmatched," added Pittle, who at one time also had stage 4. "Our experiences with cancers gave us a special bond, and I am proud to have been able to lend her support emotionally, as well as financially through the fundraiser I held. I only wish I could have done more."

No word yet on funeral plans.

—Reporting by Marcus Mulick