Natalie Desselle Reid was an American actress who performed in several films, including Def Jam’s How to Be a Player and Cinderella. She also acted in the television series Built to Last and For Your Love, and for three seasons, she played Janie Egins on Eve.
Natalie Desselle Reid died following a battle with colon cancer. She was 53. A statement on Desselle Reid’s Instagram page read, “it is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the loss of our beautiful Natalie this morning from colon cancer. “She was a bright light in this world. A queen. An extraordinary mother and wife. Her diverse career touched so many. she will be loved forever.”
The post continues, “Naturally, we are grieving and processing this profound loss, and we thank you in advance for respecting our privacy at this extremely difficult time.”
Holly Robinson Peete, whose mother Dolores Peete managed Desselle Reid’s career, broke the news shortly before on Twitter.
“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,” Robinson Peete tweeted on Monday. “Rest In Peace, Sweet Girl.”
“Natalie Desselle, the beautiful, talented actress, passed away this morning,” Dolores Robinson posted eight minutes later on the same social media site. “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.”
Desselle Reid played Janie Egins on all 66 episodes of “Eve.” Her resume also includes roles in the 1997 Brandy movie “Cinderella” and “Set It Off” (1996). The actress has guest roles in “E.R.,” “Yes, Dear,” and “Family Matters,” and recurred on “For Your Love” (which starred Robinson Peete).
Desselle married Leonard Reid in 2003. The couple has three children.
See tweets from both Robinson and Robinson Peete below. The post on Desselle Reid’s Instagram account can be found here.
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. We are sending out prayers to her children and husband.
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