Erica Ash

Erica Chantal Ash, born September 19, 1977, in Tallahassee, Florida, was an American actress, comedian, singer, and model who worked across Broadway, television, and film. She died on July 28, 2024, in Los Angeles from breast cancer at the age of 46.

Ash grew up in a military family; her parents, Donald and Diann Ash, served in the U.S. military, which brought the family to Germany and other locations around the world. During her youth she attended a performing-arts school in Atlanta, Georgia. She went on to graduate from Emory University in Atlanta with a degree in pre-medicine, intending to pursue a career as a doctor. A trip to Japan redirected her path, where she worked as a backup singer and a runway model, ultimately leading her to choose a career in entertainment.

Her Broadway career spanned from 2002 to 2011 and included credits in The Lion King and Baby It's You!. In February 2006, Ash secured a role in The Lion King alongside a two-week engagement in Germany. When she subsequently joined the cast of the cable comedy series The Big Gay Sketch Show, she divided her time between its first season and her ongoing work in The Lion King. She remained with The Big Gay Sketch Show for two seasons, portraying characters that included LaTanya, a loudmouthed fitness instructor who taught classes with a Chicago-style theme, incorporating formats such as Chicago-style yoga and Chicago-style Pilates.

In 2008, Ash joined MADtv as a featured performer during the show's 14th season, appearing alongside Matt Braunger, Eric Price, and Lauren Pritchard. Her addition made her the fifth African-American female cast member in the program's history, following Debra Wilson, Daniele Gaither, Nicole Randall Johnson, and Daheli Hall. She and Hall were the only two of those five performers who were never promoted to repertory player status. Ash remained with MADtv through its 14th and final season on FOX. She later starred in the Starz sitcom Survivor's Remorse.

Ash had first been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and entered remission following treatment. The cancer recurred in 2018, and she died from the disease on July 28, 2024, at the age of 46.