Kimberly Hébert Gregory Dies: ‘Vice Principals’ Star Was 52

Kimberly Hébert Gregory, the actress best known for her breakthrough role in the HBO comedy Vice Principals, died Oct. 3 at the age of 52.

A cause of death was not readily available. Her ex-husband, fellow actor Chester Gregory, posted a tribute to Facebook and Instagram announcing her death.

“Kimberly Hébert Gregory / You Were Brilliance Embodied, / A Black Woman Whose Mind Lit Every Room, / Whose Presence Carried Both Fire And Grace. / 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,” he wrote in part. (You can read his full post below.)

Born Dec. 7, 1972 in Houston, Gregory graduated from a performing arts high school, attained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and went on to pursue a master’s in social work from the University of Chicago. Around this time, she appeared in a number of Chicago Theatre Company productions, where Chester Gregory also performed.

Her first film credit is 2007’s I Think I Love My Wife, starring Chris Rock, Kerry Washington and Gina Torres. Gregory then racked up a slew of credits in television throughout the decade, logging episodes of Gossip Girl, New Amsterdam, Private Practice, Two and a Half Men, Law & Order, Shameless, The Big Bang Theory, Grey’s Anatomy, The Act, Dollface, All Rise and Barry, among others. She also logged two episodes each in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Better Call Saul and The Chi.

In 2014, Gregory had a recurring role on the Lifetime soapy dramedy Devious Maids, executive produced by Eva Longoria. However, the performer’s breakout came in the dark sitcom Vice Principals, where she portrayed incoming school principal Dr. Belinda Brown opposite conniving vice principals Danny McBride and Walton Goggins.

Of the role, she told the Summer TCA audience in 2016, “We have to be open … I want to be in a space where I can fight with two white boys. I want us in the industry … to get past and be open and really reach for that idea of equality.”

In an Instagram post Saturday night, Goggins called Gregrory “one of the best I’ve ever worked with.”

“I had the honor… the good fortune of getting to know, getting to spend months working with this Queen on Vice Principals,” he added. “She made me laugh like no other. A professionals professional. A gatdamn SOPRANO that never missed a note.”

Added fellow Vice Principals cast member Busy Philipps in the comments, “She was a light and a force.”

In 2017, Gregory booked a series regular role on ABC pilot Unit Zero, an action dramedy featuring Toni Collette and from Black-ish producing duo Kenya Barris and Lindsey Shockley. The pilot was not picked up to series.

Gregory also appeared in Genius: Aretha, portraying Ruth Bowen, a pioneer in her field as the first Black woman talent agent and the head of a successful Black-owned agency, who represents Aretha Franklin. She also had a voice role in Netflix’s adult animated dramedy Carol & The End of the World. Gregory was also the female lead opposite Jason Ritter in ABC’s shortlived high-concept comedy Kevin (Probably) Saves the World.

On the film side, Gregory is known for Five Feet Apart (2019), which stars Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse, as well as Spike Lee’s Red Hook Summer (2012). She also starred opposite Uzo Aduba, Matthew Modine, Aunjanue Ellis and more in the inspired-by-a-true-story indie drama Miss Virginia, about a struggling inner-city mom.

Among her final roles were voice parts in Cartoon Network’s popular animated comedy Craig of the Creek and its subsequent spinoff series and prequel film.