Dawson’s Creek and Stargate SG-1’s actor Obi Ndefo has died at 51, according to Deadline. Ndefo’s sister, Nkem, made her brother’s death public on Saturday night via Facebook.
The Facebook post was a throwback photo of the two. The cause of the actor’s death has not been stated.
The caption for the post is as follows, “Heartbroken at the loss of my younger brother, and knowing he’s finally at peace.”
Five years before his passing, Ndefo lost his legs due to a Los Angeles hit-and-run accident. Since then, he focused on his recovery and overall health. Ndefo remained active by working as a yoga instructor.
“This is just so horrendous what happened to me, why would I compound this by feeling bad about it?” He informed the Los Angeles Times after the accident.
Ndefo attended Yale University’s drama school and, after his graduation, acted in a wide range of television series. He was included in episodes of 3rd Rock From The Sun, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Jamie Foxx Show and The Wayans Bro.
His most well-known role was Bodie Wells, the brother-in-law of Joey Potter, played by Katie Holmes (First Daughter, The Dark Night) on Dawson’s Creek. He appeared on the show from 1998 to 2002. His co-star, Mary-Margaret Humes (Motocrossed), paid tribute to Ndefo on Instagram.
“These words don’t come easy,” she said under the post. “It’s hard for me to conceive that you have left us, my dear friend. You always were and always will be a bright shining light. What an example of pure unfiltered love and tenacity you set as you faced life’s challenges of recent. I will cherish all of our messages of love and support to each other over the past few years. Rest in peace sweet warrior.”
In addition to Dawson’s Creek, Ndefo was in Angel, Crossing Jordan, NCIS: Los Angeles, NYPD Blue, Star Trek: Voyager and The West Wing. He was also the founder of Arts Alliance for Humanity, a non-profit organization that supports art literacy in communities and public schools.