Moesha Actors You May Not Know Passed Away

The sitcom "Moesha" was launched in 1996 on UPN. The show, which ran for six seasons before it was canceled, stars R&B sensation Brandy Norwood – best known to the American public as just Brandy — in the title role alongside a talented supporting cast and a variety of guest stars. While "Moesha" remains a beloved show among '90s kids and continues to gain new fans thanks to streaming (you can watch the Brandy-led sitcom on Netflix), it's perhaps best known for a dark reason.

"Moesha" has earned something of a haunting legacy in that a number of stars and guest stars from the show have passed away. This has even led to speculation there could be some kind of "Moesha" death curse. While the idea of a "Moesha" curse certainly feels far-fetched, it's hard to ignore the fact that a lot of talented performers who appeared on the show have died. Here's a list of "Moesha" cast members and guest stars who are no longer with us.

One of many great comedians who died too young, Bernie Mac played Uncle Bernie on "Moesha," which would eventually lead to his own show called (you guessed it) "The Bernie Mac Show," running from from 2001 to 2006. While "The Bernie Mac Show" wasn't exactly a spin-off of "Moesha," it did feature some of the same actors, including Kellita Smith and Shar Jackson.

Prior to his big break on TV, Mac appeared in a handful of movies. The Chicago native debuted with a role in the Daman Wayans comedy "Mo' Money," playing a doorman. This led to roles in "Who's the Man?," "House Party 3," and the uproarious comedy "Friday," in which he played Pastor Clever. In later years, he became known for playing Frank in the "Ocean's" movies and Gin in "Bad Santa."

The last movie Bernie Mac was in before he died was "Old Dogs," a family comedy starring John Travolta and Robin Williams. The actor and comedian had sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that weakened his immune system. He died from complications due to pneumonia in August 2008, aged 50. 

Lamont Bentley played the role of Moesha's friend and next-door neighbor Hakeem Campbell on "Moesha," appearing in all six seasons of the show. He got his start in show business by appearing in commercials before making the jump to television, where he appeared in shows like "Gabriel's Fire," "South Central," "Family Matters," and "NYPD Blue."

Bentley also appeared in several films, including 2001's "The Wash," a vehicle for Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg that bombed hard with critics but gained something of a cult following in the years that followed. Comedy wasn't the only genre Bentley performed well — he also earned notice for playing the unhinged Crazy K character in the urban horror film "Tales From the Hood."

Bentley died in January 2005 following a car accident. He crashed his vehicle in Ventura Country, California, near the suburb of Simi Valley. Eyewitnesses reported seeing Bentley lose control of his vehicle and hit a stop sign before the car tumbled into a ravine. He was then reportedly thrown from the vehicle and into oncoming traffic, where he was struck by several cars. He was 31.

Fans of the late Kobe Bryant are probably aware that there was a romantic connection between Bryant and Brandy. In fact, before he became one of the greatest basketball stars to ever play the game, he asked Brandy out to the prom, and she accepted. Both were 17 at the time, and Bryant would join the Lakers soon after that.

Bryant had a big crush on the singer. They first met at the Essence Awards earlier that year, and he would later swear to friends he was going to take her to the prom, which he ultimately made happen. Per E! News, Brandy recalled, "I thought he was cute. I read about him after I met him. And then I saw he was going somewhere in life and I thought I would love to go to the prom with him."

Bryant starred in an episode called "The Whistle Blower," playing a promising young basketball player named Terry Hightower who needs Moesha's help passing his SATs. He was killed in a helicopter crash in California along with eight others in January 2020, aged 41.

Believe it or not, the acclaimed writer, poet, and social activist Maya Angelou appeared in "Moesha."  She played herself in the episode "Fired Up," which aired during the fifth season.

In the episode, Moesha pretends to be a reporter for Vibe to score an interview with Angelou. It soon becomes clear that Moesha is woefully unprepared, but Angelou offers her sage advice about continuing her education and building a better life for herself. Moesha ends up getting fired, and the interview doesn't get published, but she tells her parents she wants to go to college, and they have no idea it was Angelou that encouraged her to do so.

As the site SheLit wrote, "The 'Moesha' guest appearance was a multi-generational milestone for Black women on TV by having intellectual icon Maya Angelou reciting her poetry about rising above racial barriers with [the] top Black girl singer of the time, Brandy." Angelou died in May 2014 at the age of 86.

Late rapper DMX (real name Earl Simmons) is one of many guest stars who played himself on "Moesha," appearing in an episode called "Gimme a Break," which centers around Moesha and Niecy taking a trip up to Santa Barbara. There they see DMX perform live in concert, complete with his trademark white tank top and chains.

DMX's appearance on "Moesha" wasn't the only time he appeared on camera. Like many hip-hop artists, he parlayed his musical fame into a side-gig as an actor, co-starring with Steven Seagal in the action film "Exit Wounds" and with Jet Li in "Cradle 2 the Grave." Another action-crime thriller that you may have forgotten DMX was in is "Romeo Must Die," starring Li and the late singer Aaliyah.

DMX died following a heart attack in April 2021. He was 50.

Best known for playing the title role in the '80's sitcom "Benson," Robert Guillaume also guest-starred on the "Moesha" episode "All This and Turkey, Too," playing the character of Arthur. Guillaume was a music major in college and he toured with the musical "Free and Easy." He primarily did stage work, appearing in musicals like "Guys and Dolls" and "Purlie" before making his TV debut on the Diahann Carroll drama "Julia."

The actor went on to make many TV appearances in shows like "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "Sanford and Son," and "All in the Family" before finally finding his breakout character on the '70s sitcom "Soap," where he played the sharp-tongued butler Benson. This eventually led to the character's own series, which ran from 1979 to 1986. He later provided the voice for Rafiki in the animated version of "The Lion King." He was nominated for seven Emmys over the course of his career, winning on two occasions.

Guillaume died in October 2017 at the age of 89.

A beloved sitcom star, Ja'Net DuBois was best known as Willona Woods on the classic '70s comedy "Good Times." She also wrote and sang "Movin' On Up," the theme from "The Jeffersons." She appeared on "Moesha" in the episode "Mentor," playing the character of Mrs. Moss.

DuBois was a native of Philadelphia who started on Broadway, appearing in plays like "Golden Boy." Once she moved on to television she was a pioneering presence and became the first Black actress to have a regular series role on a daytime soap when she was cast on "Love of Life."

Her "Good Times" break came in 1974, then her memorable "The Jeffersons" theme song hit the airwaves in 1975. DuBois also made a memorable appearance in the Wayans brothers' blaxploitation spoof, "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka." She died unexpectedly in February 2020 at the age of 74.

If you're a '90s kid, then Ricky Harris' work likely touched some part of your childhood. To "Moesha" fans, he's Javon "J. W." Willis, a mechanic and a close friend of the family who has a tendency to barge in at the worst possible time. Though he only pops up five times across the first three seasons of the show, in every single appearance he's a memorable scene-stealer.

Harris had a long resume that included big screen appearances in "Tales from the Hood," "High School High," "Simon Sez," "This Christmas," "Bones," "Dope," and Michael Mann's based-on-a-true-story gangster flick "Heat." His television credits included "American Crime Story" and "Everybody Hates Chris," in which he recurred as neighborhood ne'er-do-well Malvo. He also appeared in a number of Snoop Dogg music videos, including "Gin & Juice" and "Murder was the Case."

Harris died of a heart attack in December 2016 at the age of 54.

Denise Dowse only did a single episode of "Moesha," though she made a huge impact. She appeared in the Season 5 episode "Secrets & Lies" as Aunt Hattie, who delivers a shark jump-worthy bomb of an announcement, accidentally letting slip that Dorian is Frank's biological child. Away from her part in dynamiting the Mitchell family, she was known for playing authority figures in other TV shows.

'90's kids might remember her best as Mrs. Teasley, the vice principal on "Beverly Hills, 90210." Dowse also played a vice principal character in "California Dreams." Perhaps her most prominent role was that of Judge Rebecca Damsen on "The Guardian," a character she played more than 30 times between 2001 and 2004. She was so good at playing a judge that she was cast as one many times during her career, appearing behind the bench in the likes of "Eulogy," "Gilmore Girls," "Shark," "Rizzoli & Isles," and "Castle."

On the big screen, Dowse had roles in the films "Bio-Dome," "Guess Who," "Pleasantville," "Ray," and "Starship Troopers," in which she played Sky Marshal Meru. She died in August 2022 from complications related to a form of meningitis.

Yvette Wilson was a regular on "Moesha," playing Andell Wilkerson. She started out in stand-up comedy, then went into steady TV and feature work in the 1990s. Besides her regular "Moesha" appearances, she also showed up in "The Parkers," a "Moesha" spin-off. Wilkerson owned The Den, a popular hangout for Moesha and her friends, similar to The Max on "Saved By the Bell."

While she was best known for playing Andell, portraying the character in over 200 episodes across "Moesha" and "The Parkers," Wilson also plied her trade in some other TV shows. She worked on two episodes of "In Living Color" in the early '90s and later appeared in "The Jamie Foxx Show." She also had roles in the movies "Friday," "House Party 3," and "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking your Juice in the Hood."

Wilson died in June 2012 of cervical cancer at the age of 48. When news of her passing broke, friends and former co-stars took to Twitter to pay tribute. Marlon Wayans tweeted that she was "always a sweetheart ... a beautiful funny lady & friend," while Jamie Foxx wrote, "God bless u Yvette Wilson. Tears in my eyes. Keep God laughing."

The devastating death of Estelle Harris rocked many TV fans, especially lovers of "Seinfeld" — she was best known for playing George Costanza's mother. Harris also appeared in "Moesha" during an episode called "Break a Leg." In the episode, Harris plays a commercial agent named Frances Howie, who can potentially make Moesha a star.

Harris had guest appearances on countless TV shows, including "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "iCarly," "ER," "Hercules," and more. Her big-screen credits include "Playing Mona Lisa," "Lost & Found," "This Is My Life," and "Stand and Deliver." She also did a lot of voice acting, most notably working on the "Toy Story" movies as Mrs. Potato Head. One of Harris's trademarks was her hilariously annoying voice, which worked perfectly for cartoons and became one of her endearing qualities in comedy.

Harris also earned the nickname the Queen of Commercials, and she performed in as many as 25 TV spots a year. She died in April 2022 at the age of 93.

New York native Merlin Santana started out as a model and child actor. He got his big break on "The Cosby Show" after his move into acting, playing Stanley, a boy who has a crush on Rudy Huxtable. Along with playing Ohagi on "Moesha," Santana became best known for playing Romeo on "The Steve Harvey Show." He was launching a rap career at the time of his murder in November 2002.

According to Global Grind, a 15-year-old girl named Monique King falsely claimed that Santana was inappropriate with her, prompting her boyfriend, Damien Andre Gates, and his friend, Brandon Douglas Bynes, to fire multiple rounds into Santana's car in Los Angeles. Damien was convicted of first-degree murder, and Bynes was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon.

Santana was 26 years old when he died, becoming the first member of the "Moesha" cast to lose his life.

Anthony Johnson made a guest appearance in a Season 1 episode of "Moesha," playing G-Dog, an associate of Dee's niece Charisse (Kellie Williams). When Charisse comes to visit the Mitchell family, Moesha starts to understand Dee more and Dee comes to appreciate Mo's maturity. Johnson, like many "Moesha" guest stars, was a stand-up comic who branched out into the acting world. His other TV credits included "The Jamie Foxx Show," "Malcolm & Eddie," "Martin," and "The Bold and the Beautiful." 

Johnson was perhaps best known for his film roles, bringing comic relief wherever he appeared. He gave a memorable turn as the petty thief Ezal in 1995's "Friday," and he also popped up as E.Z.E in "House Party," Tony in "Menace II Society," and Blue in "I Got the Hook Up" and "I Got the Hook Up 2." He died in September 2021 at the age of 55. According to a report from the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, the cause was "chronic ethanol use."

Montrose Hagins appeared in a brief role as a senior citizen in the "Moesha" episode "Talk to the Town." She was born in 1924 into a religious family in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hagins' father was an Episcopal minister, and she worked as a grade-school teacher in Gary, Indiana before finding her way into the world of acting.

Hagins didn't begin acting until she was in her 60s, so she made a living playing older roles like grandmas, church ladies, or the nice elderly neighbor next door. Her first role was on the TV mini-series "Crossings," and her movie debut was in the fun horror creature feature "Critters."

Other notable TV credits include "Hill Street Blues," "ER," "Home Improvement," "Matlock," "The Golden Girls," and "Homefront," in which she played Grandmother Davis. Disney Channel kids will likely remember her as Miz Coretta in "The Famous Jett Jackson," the biggest role of her career. Hagins' big screen credits include "Coming to America," "Say Anything," and "Return to Two Moon Junction." She died in October 2012 at the age of 88.

Platinum-selling rapper Big Pun was best known for his music, but he also did some acting, including in one episode of "Moesha." Guest starring as himself in "A Terrible Thing Happened on My Tour of College," he performs a song during the outing. His music provides the backdrop to a terrifying moment for Mo: Someone drugs her and she nearly passed out on the dance floor. 

Big Pun (real name Christopher Rios) also appeared in a handful of films. He was part of the Don Flip Crew in the comedy "Whiteboyz," and he played Punny in the Los Angeles-set gangster movie "Thicker than Water," both released in 1999. He also popped up as himself in 2000's "Boricua's Blood," a drama set in the Bronx. His debut album "Capital Punishment" earned him a Grammy nod for Best Rap Album, and the album itself was a top five hit. He unfortunately wouldn't live to see his next album top that by hitting third place on the charts: Big Pun died in February 2000 of a heart attack and respiratory failure aged just 28. 

Best known as the host of "The Dating Game," Jim Lange appeared on "Moesha" as himself in an episode called "The Short Story," where Moesha dates Emmanuel Lewis (who is best known as the child star from "Webster"). In addition to being a well-known game show host, Lange was also a DJ throughout the 1960s and 1970s on KSFO Radio in San Francisco.

"The Dating Game" was the creation of the infamous TV producer Chuck Barris, who also created "The Gong Show" and "The Newlywed Game." Interestingly, Barris claimed to have been an assassin for the CIA in his memoir "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," a claim that was debunked. This didn't keep Lange from appearing as himself in an adaptation of the biopic, which dramatizes some of those wild claims.

Lange made a habit of popping up as himself on TV shows, making appearances on "Bewitched," "Laverne & Shirley," "Amazing Stories," and "Parker Lewis Can't Lose." He died from a heart attack in February 2014 at the age of 81.