Actor and model Sam Sarpong, the former co-host of the MTV show Yo Momma, has died at age 40. Suicide is believed to be the cause.
Sarpong died Monday in Pasadena, Calif., his publicist confirms.
Sam died of an apparent suicide after Pasadena law enforcement and fire officials responded to calls about a man on a bridge.
Family members called to the scene provided “background regarding his emotional state,” a police source recalls after the fact.
“Tragically, after approximately seven hours of communication, the male jumped from the bridge,” the police statement reads.
A statement from Sarpong’s representatives reads:
“The family appreciates the thoughts prayers and other expressions of sympathy, and request their privacy be respected at this extremely difficult time.”
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner completed postmortem testing Wednesday afternoon.
Sarpong’s first TV role was in My So-Called Life.
He acted and modeled, including a six-year stint as the face of Tommy Hilfiger, before taking up Yo Momma co-host duties with Wilmer Valderrama.
Most recently, Sarpong appeared in two episodes of Bones last season and is set to appear in an episode of FX’s American Crime Story next year.
Sarpong is survived by his father, Samuel Sr., his sister, June, who is also a TV personality in the U.K., and many friends who knew him well.
“Sam was a friend and a longtime client,” his agent J.D. Sobol tells EW. “Had a pure heart and always went out of his way to help others.”
“We will all miss him dearly.”
