*Sad news to report in the world of entertainment.
BET All Access pre-show host Sam Sarpong has died.
BET reports the passing came from an apparent suicide after the British-American actor and model jumped off a bridge on Tuesday (Oct. 27). He was 40.
Police in Pasadena, California where Sarpong lived, say he jumped from the Colorado Street Bridge following seven hours of attempts to talk him down.
Born in London, Sarpong set out to pursue a career in Hollywood by moving to Los Angeles at a young age. He was best known for hosting the BET Awards All Access pre-show for seven years in a row
Over the course of his life, Sarpong’s presence was felt in the modeling world as the face of Tommy Hilfiger. In addition, he served as a co-host of MTV’s “Yo Momma” with Wilmer Valderrama.
As an actor, Sarpong’s work included roles on the small screen with appearances on various hit shows, including “My So-Called Life,” “Boston Public,” “Veronica Mars, “Everybody Hates Chris,” Cold Case,” and “24.” This past spring saw the entertainer, who is of Ghanaian descent, appear in two episodes of “Bones. Sarpong’s other TV work includes a minor role in the upcoming series “American Crime Story.” On the big screen, Sarpong played Kadeem in the 2003 Nick Cannon and Christina Milian film “Love Don’t Cost a Thing.”
In a July 2013 interview with Black Hollywood Live, Sarpong looked back on his journey to success, saying “I went from barely being able to pay my bills to now being an international model.
“I made a lot of money early,” he said. “Luckily I had my father to guide me.”
Sarpong is survived by his sister, June Sarpong. Thoughts and prayers go out to Sarpong’s family, friends and fans, on behalf of EURweb.
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