# Erica Ash

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American actress (1977–2024)

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Erica Ash Born Erica Chantal Ash (1977-09-19)September 19, 1977 Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. Died July 28, 2024(2024-07-28) (aged 46) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Alma mater Emory University Occupations Actress, comedian, model, singer Years active 1998–2024 Website 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](/source/Sketch_comedy) programs *[MADtv](/source/Mad_TV)* and *[The Big Gay Sketch Show](/source/The_Big_Gay_Sketch_Show)*, and she later starred in the [Starz](/source/Starz) sitcom *[Survivor's Remorse](/source/Survivor's_Remorse)*.[1]

## Early life and education

Ash was born in [Tallahassee, Florida](/source/Tallahassee%2C_Florida), on September 19, 1977,[2] to Donald and Diann Ash. Her parents were both in the [U.S. military](/source/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](/source/Atlanta), [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state)), during her youth.[3] Ash planned on becoming a doctor, graduating from [Emory University](/source/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

### *The Big Gay Sketch Show*

In February 2006, Ash landed multiple job opportunities in Broadway shows like *[The Lion King](/source/The_Lion_King_(musical))* 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](/source/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*

Ash joined the cast of *[MADtv](/source/Mad_TV)* in 2008 as a featured performer for the 14th season, along with [Matt Braunger](/source/Matt_Braunger), [Eric Price](/source/Eric_Price), and [Lauren Pritchard](/source/Lauren_Pritchard_(actress)).[7] She became the fifth African-American female cast member in the show's history ([Debra Wilson](/source/Debra_Wilson), [Daniele Gaither](/source/Daniele_Gaither), [Nicole Randall Johnson](/source/Nicole_Randall_Johnson), and [Daheli Hall](/source/Daheli_Hall) were the first four). Of the five female [African-American](/source/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](/source/FOX).

#### Characters

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

#### Impressions

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](/source/Breast_cancer) in Los Angeles on July 28, 2024, at the age of 46.[8][9][10][11] Ash had first been diagnosed in 2008 and went into remission after treatment, though the cancer recurred in 2018.[12]

## Filmography

Ash's acting career projects include:[13]

### Film appearances

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[14] Nikki Miss Me This Christmas Regina 2018 Uncle Drew Maya 2019 Skin in the Game Lena 2021 Violet Lila Horror Noire Shanita The Big Bend Georgia Talbott 2022 Singleholic Sarah Wilcox 2023 We Have a Ghost Melanie Presley Outlaw Johnny Black Bessie Lee

### Television appearances

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 2024 Extended Family Lydia 1

### Video games

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[15] Video game

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Mason, Aiden (October 22, 2017). ["Five Things You Didn't Know About Erica Ash"](https://www.tvovermind.com/five-things-didnt-know-erica-ash/). *TVOvermind*. Retrieved March 24, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-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.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-japan_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-japan_3-1) Ash, Donnie. ["Post-Japan Success Stories: Erica Ash"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160818120225/http://www.thejapanguy.com/post-japan-success-stories-erica-ash/). *The Japan Guy*. Archived from [the original](http://www.thejapanguy.com/post-japan-success-stories-erica-ash/) on August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-officialsite_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-officialsite_4-1) ["Erica Ash official website"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180426201613/http://ericaash.com/). Archived from [the original](https://www.ericaash.com/) on April 26, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["MADtv Cast"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100607121032/http://www.madtv.com/cast/index.html). *MADtv.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.madtv.com/cast/index.html) on June 7, 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_6-1) ["The Big Gay Sketch Show Episodes"](https://www.logotv.com/shows/the-big-gay-sketch-show). *Logo TV*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["MADtv Season 14"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100529125738/http://www.madtv.com/about/index.html). *MADtv.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.madtv.com/about/index.html) on May 29, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ruberg_8-0)** Ruberg, Sara (July 29, 2024). ["Erica Ash of 'Mad TV' and 'Survivor's Remorse' Dies at 46"](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/29/arts/television/erica-ash-dead.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Retrieved July 29, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bet_obit_9-0)** Cole, Ty (July 29, 2024). ["'Real Husbands Of Hollywood' Actress Erica Ash Has Passed Away After Cancer Battle"](https://www.bet.com/article/bzz5cl/real-husbands-of-hollywood-actress-erica-ash-has-passed-away-after-cancer-battle). BET. Retrieved July 29, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Pierre, Mekishana (July 29, 2024). ["Erica Ash, MADtv Cast Member, Dead at 46 -- Loni Love Pays Tribute"](https://www.etonline.com/erica-ash-madtv-cast-member-dead-at-46-loni-love-pays-tribute-229773). ET. Retrieved July 29, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Saad, Nardine (July 30, 2024). ["Erica Ash, 'Real Husbands of Hollywood' and 'Survivor's Remorse' star, dies at 46"](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-07-30/erica-ash-dead-real-husbands-hollywood). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. Retrieved July 31, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Corbett, Corynne. ["Actress Erica Ash Has Died After A Battle With Cancer"](https://blackhealthmatters.com/actress-erica-ash-has-died/). *Black Health Matters*.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Erica Ash"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1404359/). *IMDb*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** N'Duka, Amanda (October 6, 2017). ["'Business Ethics' Adds Carolina Bartczak; Erica Ash Gets 'A Little Something For You Birthday'"](https://deadline.com/2016/10/business-ethics-movie-carolina-bartczak-erica-ash-a-little-something-for-you-birthday-movie-1201832028/). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved October 1, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Erica Ash (visual voices guide)"](https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Erica-Ash/). *behindthevoiceactors.com* (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). Retrieved July 4, 2023.

## External links

- [Erica Ash](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1404359/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Erica Ash's Official Site](https://www.ericaash.com/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180426201613/http://ericaash.com/) April 26, 2018, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Erica Ash](https://www.discogs.com/artist/Erica+Ash) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National United States France BnF data Spain Academics CiNii Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Erica Ash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erica_Ash) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erica_Ash?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.