A star of The Big Bang Theory and Gossip Girl has sadly died.
Tributes are flooding in from Hollywood colleagues, with heartfelt messages celebrating her life.
Actor Walton Goggins led the emotional tributes, sharing his grief on social media.
Goggins described working with the late actress as an honor, praising her as ‘one of the best I’ve ever worked with’ and remembering how ‘she made me laugh like no other.’
He went on to call her ‘a professional’s professional’ and ‘a gatdamn SOPRANO that never missed a note,’ promising she would be deeply missed.
Actress Busy Phillips added her voice to the chorus of remembrances, calling the departed star ‘a light and a force.’
Fellow performer Leslie Jones expressed condolences, while Niecy Nash described her as ‘the sweetest soul.’
Actor Jason Ritter noted she was ‘so brilliant and so kind’ and would be ‘so so missed by all of us lucky enough to know her.’
The most poignant tribute came from her ex-husband, Chester Gregory, who shared their son together.
In a moving statement on Instagram, he wrote: “You were brilliance embodied, a Black woman whose mind lit every room, whose presence carried both fire and grace.
“You taught us lessons in courage, in artistry, in resilience, and in how to keep showing up, even when life demanded more than its share.”
He continued: “Thank you, for every chapter we shared. Your story was never defined by the battle, but by the beauty you carried through it.”
He described their son as ‘the living echo of your light,’ ensuring that her brilliance and laughter would never fade.
Kimberly Hébert Gregory has died at the age of 52.
The accomplished actress, who passed away on October 3, built an impressive career spanning theater, film, and television over more than two decades.
Born on December 7, 1972, in Houston, Texas, Gregory studied at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts before earning a degree in psychology from Mount Holyoke College and a master’s in clinical social work from the University of Chicago.
She later trained at DePaul University’s MFA program, launching her career on the stages of Chicago and New York.
Her theatrical work earned critical acclaim, including a Drama Desk nomination for her performance in By the Way, Meet Vera Stark.
She became known for her intelligence, humor, and emotional precision on stage before transitioning to screen work.
Gregory made her television debut in 2007 on The Black Donnellys and quickly became one of television’s most versatile performers.
She appeared in numerous hit series, including Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, Law & Order, Two and a Half Men, Shameless, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Big Bang Theory, Better Call Saul, and New Amsterdam.
Her breakout television role came as Dr. Belinda Brown in HBO’s dark comedy Vice Principals, where she starred opposite Danny McBride and Walton Goggins.
The role showcased her exceptional ability to blend sharp comedy with vulnerability, earning her widespread recognition.
She later headlined the ABC series Kevin (Probably) Saves the World and portrayed Ruth Jean Baskerville Bowen in National Geographic’s Genius anthology series about Aretha Franklin.
Beyond her impressive body of work, Gregory was a passionate advocate for representation in the arts and dedicated herself to mentoring young Black women pursuing creative careers.
In a 2017 essay for Time magazine, she reflected on the importance of self-belief in an industry that often presented obstacles.
Her final roles included voice work in Craig of the Creek and Netflix‘s Carol and the End of the World.
At the time of writing, Gregory’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
She is survived by her son and countless colleagues whose lives she enriched.