Actress Halle Berry Heartbroken and Needs Time Following Passing of B.A.P.S. Co-star and Friend, Natalie Desselle-Reid, Actress Says She’s Still Processing the News

2020 has claimed another bright shining Black star. Actress Natalie Desselle-Reid, who appeared alongside Oscar winner Halle Berry in the Robert Townsend comedic send-up “B.A.P.S.,” passed from colon cancer on December 7th, 2020. The dedications and well-wishes to her family came fast and swift, as many waited to see what Berry would say.

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A post shared by Natalie Desselle Reid (@nataliedessellereid)

“It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the loss of our beautiful Natalie this morning,” said the official statement shared with TMZ. “She was a bright light in this world. A queen. An extraordinary mother and wife.”

Many remember her from “B.A.P.S.” but the veteran actress had a lengthy list of credits. She also starred on the sitcom Eve for three years, playing the character Janie Egins alongside rapper and star of the show, Eve. She also appeared in Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Big Happy Family” as Tammy. One other fan favorite was appearing as stepsister Minerva in the television reimagining of Cinderella, which starred singers Brandy and Whitney Houston.

Apparently, Desselle-Reid kept her diagnosis from her fans, wanting privacy. She’d apparently been diagnosed earlier in 2020 and kept her condition to herself and family and close friends. In her final moments, she was in hospice and surrounded by family when she passed, according to TMZ.

Veteran actress Holly Robinson Peete wrote an especially moving tribute to the actress and was one of the first to confirm that Reid had passed, leaving behind a husband and 3 children.

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.
💔🙏🏽😢
Rest In Peace, Sweet Girl🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/BsyltHxKRG

— Holly Robinson Peete😷🥰 (@hollyrpeete) December 7, 2020

“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🙏🏽”

But it was Berry who fans particularly wanted to hear from. The two made an important cultural impact with their roles in “B.A.P.S.” and it was clear from all who watched the movie that their chemistry was something special. After needing to process the event a bit further, Halle Berery finally took to her own social media to tribute her good friend “Nat Dog.”

I’m in total shock… completely heartbroken. gonna need a minute. #RIP @NatalieDesselle pic.twitter.com/Amt2k2ZYM7

— Halle Berry (@halleberry) December 7, 2020

“I’m still processing this devastating news – and as I continue to read all of your kind words, memories of Natalie continue to flood back to me,” she began. “Natalie was one of the most precious people I’ve ever known. The second I met her our hearts were intertwined – we had a connection that was simply unexplainable, and she stayed her same sweet self all the years I knew her.”

I mentioned how damn funny she was, right? ♥️ #RIP #NatalieDesselleReid pic.twitter.com/i4gF4tishT

— Halle Berry (@halleberry) December 8, 2020

“With her I laughed harder than I’d ever laughed before,” she continued. “She showed us it was ok to be goofy and funny while still being sincere and extraordinarily kind. She and I would hoot and holler over every BAPS tribute we came across, sending them back and forth to one another, overwhelmed that our on-screen friendship meant as much to you as it did to us. She was especially humbled by that, as am I.”

See the rest of Halle’s tribute below.

#RIP @NatalieDesselle pic.twitter.com/b5DzvzqErP

— Halle Berry (@halleberry) December 8, 2020