{{Short description|American actress (1977–2024)}} {{BLP sources|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Erica Ash | image = Erica Ash.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Erica Chantal Ash | birth_date = {{birth date|1977|09|19}} | birth_place = [[Tallahassee, Florida]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|07|28|1977|09|19}} | death_place = [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]], U.S. | occupation = Actress, comedian, model, singer | years_active = 1998–2024 | other_names = | alma_mater = [[Emory University]] | website = {{URL|ericaash.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 ''[[Mad TV|MADtv]]'' and ''[[The Big Gay Sketch Show]]'', and she later starred in the [[Starz]] sitcom ''[[Survivor's Remorse]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mason|first=Aiden|date=October 22, 2017|title=Five Things You Didn't Know About Erica Ash|url=https://www.tvovermind.com/five-things-didnt-know-erica-ash/|access-date=March 24, 2019|website=TVOvermind}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Ash was born in [[Tallahassee, Florida]], on September 19, 1977,<ref>"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.</ref> 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.<ref name="japan">{{cite web|author=Ash|first=Donnie|title=Post-Japan Success Stories: Erica Ash|url=http://www.thejapanguy.com/post-japan-success-stories-erica-ash/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818120225/http://www.thejapanguy.com/post-japan-success-stories-erica-ash/|archive-date=August 18, 2016|access-date=August 7, 2016|work=The Japan Guy}}</ref> She attended a performing-arts school in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], during her youth.<ref name=japan /> Ash planned on becoming a doctor, graduating from [[Emory University]], in Atlanta with a degree in pre-medicine, and prepared to attend medical school.<ref name="officialsite">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ericaash.com/ |title=Erica Ash official website |access-date=March 10, 2010 |archive-date=April 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426201613/http://ericaash.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, after a trip to Japan, where she became a backup singer and a runway model, Ash decided to pursue a career in entertainment.<ref name="officialsite" />
== Career == === ''The Big Gay Sketch Show'' === In February 2006, Ash landed multiple job opportunities in Broadway shows like ''[[The Lion King (musical)|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]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MADtv Cast|url=http://www.madtv.com/cast/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607121032/http://www.madtv.com/cast/index.html|archive-date=June 7, 2010|website=MADtv.com}}</ref> Ash was a cast member for two seasons.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=The Big Gay Sketch Show Episodes|url=https://www.logotv.com/shows/the-big-gay-sketch-show|website=Logo TV}}</ref> 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).<ref name=":0" />
=== ''MadTV'' === Ash joined the cast of ''[[Mad TV|MADtv]]'' in 2008 as a featured performer for the 14th season, along with [[Matt Braunger]], [[Eric Price]], and [[Lauren Pritchard (actress)|Lauren Pritchard]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=MADtv Season 14|url=http://www.madtv.com/about/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529125738/http://www.madtv.com/about/index.html|archive-date=May 29, 2010|website=MADtv.com}}</ref> 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 ==== {|class="wikitable" |- !Character !Sketch !Season !Catch phrase |- |Cerise Muhammad |Daughter of Legions |14 |"...and everything, so." |}
==== Impressions ==== {|class="wikitable" |- !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 == Ash died from [[breast cancer]] in Los Angeles on July 28, 2024, at the age of 46.<ref name = Ruberg>{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/29/arts/television/erica-ash-dead.html|title = Erica Ash of 'Mad TV' and 'Survivor's Remorse' Dies at 46|last = Ruberg|first = Sara|date = July 29, 2024|accessdate = July 29, 2024|newspaper = [[The New York Times]]|url-access = limited}}</ref><ref name="bet_obit">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bet.com/article/bzz5cl/real-husbands-of-hollywood-actress-erica-ash-has-passed-away-after-cancer-battle |title='Real Husbands Of Hollywood' Actress Erica Ash Has Passed Away After Cancer Battle |first1=Ty |last1=Cole |publisher=BET |date=July 29, 2024 |access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.etonline.com/erica-ash-madtv-cast-member-dead-at-46-loni-love-pays-tribute-229773 |title=Erica Ash, MADtv Cast Member, Dead at 46 -- Loni Love Pays Tribute |first1=Mekishana |last1=Pierre |publisher=ET |date=July 29, 2024 |access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Saad |first1=Nardine |title=Erica Ash, 'Real Husbands of Hollywood' and 'Survivor's Remorse' star, dies at 46 |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-07-30/erica-ash-dead-real-husbands-hollywood |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=31 July 2024 |date=30 July 2024}}</ref> Ash had first been diagnosed in 2008 and went into remission after treatment, though the cancer recurred in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blackhealthmatters.com/actress-erica-ash-has-died/|work=Black Health Matters|last=Corbett|first=Corynne|url-status=live|title=Actress Erica Ash Has Died After A Battle With Cancer|archive-url=https://archive.today/20251128083655/https://blackhealthmatters.com/actress-erica-ash-has-died/|archive-date=November 28, 2025}}</ref>
== Filmography == Ash's acting career projects include:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Erica Ash|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1404359/|website=IMDb}}</ref>
=== Film appearances === {|class="wikitable" |- !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |2001 |''[[Minna no Ie]]'' |Naomi | |- |2011 |''I Can Smoke?'' |Carmen |Short film |- |2013 |''[[Scary Movie 5]]'' |Kendra Brooks | |- |2014 |''[[Kristy (film)|Kristy]]'' |Nicole | |- |2015 |''Sister Code'' |Jamaya | |- |2016 |''[[Jean of the Joneses]]'' | Anne | |- | rowspan="2" |2017 |''[[All I Wish]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|title='Business Ethics' Adds Carolina Bartczak; Erica Ash Gets 'A Little Something For You Birthday'|date=October 6, 2017|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|url=https://deadline.com/2016/10/business-ethics-movie-carolina-bartczak-erica-ash-a-little-something-for-you-birthday-movie-1201832028/|access-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref> |Nikki | |- |''Miss Me This Christmas'' |Regina | |- |2018 |''[[Uncle Drew]]'' |Maya | |- |2019 |''Skin in the Game'' |Lena | |- | rowspan="3" | 2021 | ''[[Violet (2021 film)|Violet]]'' | Lila | |- | ''[[Horror Noire (film)|Horror Noire]]'' | Shanita | |- | ''The Big Bend'' | Georgia Talbott | |- | 2022 | ''Singleholic'' | Sarah Wilcox | |- | rowspan="2" | 2023 | ''[[We Have a Ghost]]'' | Melanie Presley | |- | ''[[Outlaw Johnny Black]]'' | Bessie Lee | |}
=== Television appearances === {|class="wikitable" |- !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 (TV series)|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 (American TV series)|Hell's Kitchen]]'' |Herself |1 |Dining Room Guest |- |2018 | ''[[In Contempt]]'' |Gwen Sullivan |10 |Main Role |- | rowspan="2" |2019 | ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars]]'' |Herself | |Guest Judge |- | ''[[Legacies (TV series)|Legacies]]'' | Veronica Greasley | 4 | |- | 2019;<br />2021 | ''[[Family Reunion (TV series)|Family Reunion]]'' | Grace | 3 | |- | 2020 | ''[[Bless the Harts]]'' | Julie Vous Coucher (voice) | 1 | |- | rowspan="3" | 2021 | ''[[A Black Lady Sketch Show]]'' | | 1 | |- | ''[[Aquaman: King of Atlantis]]'' | Wendy (voice) | 1 | |- | ''[[Sacrifice (TV series)|Sacrifice]]'' | Beverly Rucker | 1 | |- | 2022 | ''Unthinkably Good Things'' | Reesa | | Television film |- | 2024 | ''[[Extended Family (TV series)|Extended Family]]'' | Lydia | 1 | |}
=== Video games === {|class="wikitable" |- !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- | rowspan="3" |2002 |''[[Shenmue II]]'' |Additional Voices |Video game<br />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 |- | rowspan="2" |2003 |''[[DDRMAX2 Dance Dance Revolution]] (PlayStation 2, North America)'' |Singer (Forever Sunshine) |Video game |- |''[[Bloody Roar 4]]'' |Nagi Kirishima<ref>{{cite web|title=Erica Ash (visual voices guide)|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Erica-Ash/|website=behindthevoiceactors.com|access-date=July 4, 2023|type= 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 credits or other reliable sources of information}}</ref> |Video game |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name|1404359}} *[https://www.ericaash.com/ Erica Ash's Official Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426201613/http://ericaash.com/ |date=April 26, 2018 }} * {{discogs artist|Erica Ash}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ash, Erica}} [[Category:1977 births]] [[Category:2024 deaths]] [[Category:Actresses from Florida]] [[Category:African-American female models]] [[Category:American film actresses]] [[Category:American television actresses]] [[Category:American sketch comedians]] [[Category:American video game actresses]] [[Category:American voice actresses]] [[Category:American women comedians]] [[Category:Emory University alumni]] [[Category:Female models from Florida]] [[Category:21st-century American singers]] [[Category:21st-century American comedians]] [[Category:21st-century American actresses]] [[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]] [[Category:20th-century American women singers]] [[Category:20th-century American singers]] [[Category:21st-century African-American actresses]] [[Category:21st-century African-American musicians]] [[Category:Comedians from Florida]] [[Category:African-American women comedians]] [[Category:African-American comedians]] [[Category:Deaths from breast cancer in California]]