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Erica Ash

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Erica Ash
Born
Erica Chantal Ash

(1977-09-19)September 19, 1977
Florida, U.S.
DiedJuly 28, 2024(2024-07-28) (aged 46)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materEmory University
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian, model, singer
Years active2001–2024
Websiteericaash.com

Erica Chantal Ash (September 19, 1977 – July 28, 2024) was an American actress, comedian, singer, and model. She was a cast member on the sketch comedy programs MADtv and The Big Gay Sketch Show, and she later starred in the Starz sitcom Survivor's Remorse.[1]

Early life

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Ash was born in Florida on September 19, 1977,[2] to Donald and Diann Ash. Her parents were both in the U.S. military, leading the family to relocate often, moving to Germany and other parts of the world.[3] She attended a performing-arts school in Atlanta, Georgia, during her youth.[3] Ash planned on becoming a doctor, graduating from Emory University, in Atlanta with a degree in pre-medicine, and prepared to attend medical school.[4] However, after a trip to Japan, where she became a backup singer and a runway model, Ash decided to pursue a career in entertainment.[4]

Career

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The Big Gay Sketch Show

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In February 2006, Ash landed multiple job opportunities in Broadway shows like The Lion King and a two-week job in Germany. After returning from Germany, she successfully auditioned for the cable television comedy show The Big Gay Sketch Show.[5] Ash was a cast member for two seasons.[6] While she was a cast member, Ash had to split her time between the first season of the sketch show and The Lion King. Some of her characters included LaTanya, an uncouth, loudmouthed fitness instructor who teaches classes with a "Chicago-style" twist (i.e. Chicago-style yoga, Chicago-style pilates).[6]

MadTV

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Ash joined the cast of MADtv in 2008 as a feature performer for the 14th season, along with Matt Braunger, Eric Price, and Lauren Pritchard.[7] She became the fifth African-American female cast member in the show's history (Debra Wilson, Daniele Gaither, Nicole Randall Johnson, and Daheli Hall were the first four). Of the five female African-American cast members, Ash and Hall are the only two who were never promoted to a repertory player. Ash remained a featured member of the MADtv cast during the show's 14th and final season on FOX.

Characters

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Character Sketch Season Catch phrase
Cerise Muhammad Daughter of Legions 14 "...and everything, so."

Impressions

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Celebrity Sketch Season
Naomi Campbell Various 14
Whoopi Goldberg Various 14
Mo'Nique Various 14
Lisa Leslie Various 14
Raven-Symoné Family Feud 14
Michelle Obama Various 14

Death

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Ash died from breast cancer in Los Angeles on July 28, 2024, at the age of 46.[8][9][10][11]

Filmography

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Ash's television and voice acting career projects include:[12]

Film appearances

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Year Title Role Notes
2001 Minna no Ie Naomi
2011 I Can Smoke? Carmen Short film
2013 Scary Movie 5 Kendra Brooks
2014 Kristy Nicole
2015 Sister Code Jamaya
2016 Jean of the Joneses Anne
2017 All I Wish[13] Nikki
Miss Me This Christmas Regina
2018 Uncle Drew Maya
2019 Skin in the Game Lena
2021 Violet Lila
Horror Noire – Sundown Shanita
The Big Bend Georgia Talbott
2022 Singleholic Sarah Wilcox
2023 We Have a Ghost Melanie Pressley
Outlaw Johnny Black Bessie Lee

Television appearances

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Year Title Role Total episodes Notes
2006–2008 The Big Gay Sketch Show Various Characters Sketch Comedy
2008–2009 MadTV Various Characters 12 Sketch Comedy
2009 Cold Case Regina Reynolds 1 Drama
2012 American Judy Maya Television film
2013–2016 Real Husbands of Hollywood Bridgette Hart 19 Recurring Role
2014–2017 Survivor's Remorse Mary Charles "M-Chuck" Calloway 36 Main Role
2016 Hell's Kitchen Herself 1 Dining Room Guest
2018 In Contempt Gwen Sullivan 10 Main Role
2019 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Herself Guest Judge
Legacies Veronica Greasley 4
2019;
2021 		Family Reunion Grace 3
2020 Bless the Harts Julie Vous Coucher (voice) 1
2021 A Black Lady Sketch Show 1
Aquaman: King of Atlantis Wendy (voice) 1
Sacrifice Beverly Rucker 1
2022 Unthinkably Good Things Reesa Television film

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Shenmue II Additional Voices Video game
Xbox version
DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution 6thMix (PlayStation 2, Japan) Singer (Kind Lady) Video game
DDRMAX2 Dance Dance Revolution 7thMix (PlayStation 2, Japan) Singer (Kind Lady (interlude)) Video game
2003 DDRMAX2 Dance Dance Revolution (PlayStation 2, North America) Singer (Forever Sunshine) Video game
Bloody Roar 4 Nagi Kirishima[14] Video game

References

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  1. ^ Mason, Aiden (October 22, 2017). "Five Things You Didn't Know About Erica Ash". TVOvermind. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  2. ^ "United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, FamilySearch, Erica C Ash, Residence, New York, New York, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.
  3. ^ a b Ash, Donnie. "Post-Japan Success Stories: Erica Ash". The Japan Guy. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Erica Ash official website". Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
  5. ^ "MADtv Cast". MADtv.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2010.
  6. ^ a b "The Big Gay Sketch Show Episodes". Logo TV.
  7. ^ "MADtv Season 14". MADtv.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010.
  8. ^ Ruberg, Sara (July 29, 2024). "Erica Ash of 'Mad TV' and 'Survivor's Remorse' Dies at 46". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Cole, Ty (July 29, 2024). "'Real Husbands Of Hollywood' Actress Erica Ash Has Passed Away After Cancer Battle". BET. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Pierre, Mekishana (July 29, 2024). "Erica Ash, MADtv Cast Member, Dead at 46 -- Loni Love Pays Tribute". ET. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  11. ^ Saad, Nardine (July 30, 2024). "Erica Ash, 'Real Husbands of Hollywood' and 'Survivor's Remorse' star, dies at 46". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  12. ^ "Erica Ash". IMDb.
  13. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (October 6, 2017). "'Business Ethics' Adds Carolina Bartczak; Erica Ash Gets 'A Little Something For You Birthday'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  14. ^ "Erica Ash (visual voices guide)". behindthevoiceactors.com. Retrieved July 4, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
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