Kimberly Hébert Gregory, the formidable and beloved actress best known for her unforgettable role as Dr. Belinda Brown in HBO’s Vice Principals, has died, tvline.com reports.
She was 52 years old.
The news was confirmed by her ex-husband, Chester Gregory, in a moving tribute shared on Instagram. “You were brilliance embodied, a Black woman whose mind lit every room, whose presence carried both fire and grace,” he wrote. “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… So much more than ex-wife, you were my friend. Thank you, Kimberly, for every chapter we shared. Your story was never defined by the battle, but by the beauty you carried through it.”
Walton Goggins, who co-starred with Hébert Gregory on Vice Principals, also shared his profound sadness on Instagram. “We lost one of the best yesterday… one of the best I’ve ever worked with. Kimberly Hébert Gregory. I had the honor… the good fortune of getting to know, getting to spend months working with this Queen on Vice Principals. She made me laugh like no other. A professional’s professional. A gatdamn SOPRANO that never missed a note. You will be missed my friend. As much as you know.”
Busy Philipps, who played Gale Liptrapp on the acclaimed HBO series, commented on Goggins’ post, expressing her shock: “Oh my god, I’m devastated to hear this. She was a light and a force. She will be missed.”
In Vice Principals, which ran for two seasons from 2016-2017, Hébert Gregory played Dr. Belinda Brown, the formidable incoming principal at North Jackson High School, whose career becomes the target of a joint takedown effort by the series’ protagonists, played by Goggins and Danny McBride. Her powerful and nuanced performance was a critical highlight of the show.
Hébert Gregory’s extensive television career also included roles in Genius: Aretha, Future Man, Medical Police, and Kevin (Probably) Saves the World. She was also known for her voice work in animated series such as Craig of the Creek and its spinoff Jessica’s Big Little World, as well as Carol & the End of the World.
•Featured image: Kimberly Hébert Gregory/Amanda Edwards/WireImage
