‘Dawson’s Creek’ actor dies at 51
Former “Dawson’s Creek” cast member Obi Ndefo has died. He was 51.
The actor’s sister, Nkem Ndefo, announced his death in a Facebook post on Saturday.
“Heartbroken to lose my little brother and know he is now at peace,” Nkem wrote.
He also shared a selfie of the siblings in which they can be seen smiling.
Nkem did not reveal the cause of Obi’s death.
Obi studied drama at Yale University. According to his IMDb, he made his acting debut in 1995 in an episode of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
Over the next 25 years, Obi starred in numerous shows including “The Jamie Foxx Show”, “Angel”, “Columbo”, “Crossing Jordan”, “NYPD Blue”, “The West Wing” and “Stargate SG-1”.
He was best known for playing Bodie Wells on “Dawson’s Creek” from 1998 to 2002.
Bodie is a chef in Capeside who works at Leery’s Fresh Fish restaurant with Gail Leery (Mary-Margaret Humes), the mother of Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek). He is in a relationship with Bessie Potter (Nina Repeta).
Humes, 70, paid tribute to Obi on Instagram on Sunday after news of his death broke.
“These words do not come easily 💔,” she wrote. “It’s hard for me to imagine you have left us, my dear friend. You were and always will be a shining light. What an example of pure, unconditional love and perseverance you have set in the face of life’s challenges recently.”
“I will treasure all the messages of love and support we have given each other over the past few years,” the actress added. “Rest in peace sweet warrior.”
Humes’ tribute featured a behind-the-scenes video of Oobi on the set of the WB teen drama series.
Four years before his death, Obi lost both his legs after being hit by a car while exiting a supermarket in Los Angeles
The late star was loading things into his car when he was hit by an SUV and his right leg was severed. According to the LA Times, his left leg had to be amputated when he was brought to the hospital.
His surgeon, Dr. Milton Little, called his survival “a miracle.”
Obi told the LA Times: “I can’t live in this world without being like an Olympic athlete in terms of certain things, you know — kindness and health — because I don’t have any other choice. So I have a kind of rigidity inside me, and I think, ‘OK my legs are amputated. I don’t know how to do this, but I know how to do this.’ “
After the accident, a GoFundMe page for Obi raised more than $287,000. This helped cover the cost of his prosthetic leg and other items.
