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Erica Watson, standup comedian and The Chi actor, has died of COVID-19, the Chicago Tribune reports. Watson died of complications caused by the virus at her home in Jamaica, where she passed on Saturday night, as confirmed by her brother. Watson, who was a celebrated comedian in Chicago, had moved to Montego Bay and had recently celebrated a birthday there.
The Chi fans know Watson as Miss Tiny, but she also starred in projects like Precious, Top Five, Side Effects and Spike Lee’s film Chi-Raq. Watson was also a contributor to ABC7-Chicago’s Windy City Live and performed stand-up.
“Erica was loved and adored by just so many people. She had such a vibrant, vivacious spirit,” Gill Talent Group’s April Williams, who represented Watson, told WBBM News Radio. “I really hope and am praying that she knew what a gem to Chicago she was and how proud we were of her.”
Sherri Shepherd, Watson’s Precious costar, paid tribute to the late comedian on Twitter. “Sad to hear that comedienne & my Precious co-star @EricaFayeWatson passed!” Shepherd wrote. “She was a fellow Chicago girl & was affectionately known as Miss Poundcakes. She was all about size acceptance & beauty comes in hidden packages. Another casualty of this virus! 🙏🏾💔 #EricaWatson #RIP.”
When news of her death broke, countless other tributes from her fans, followers and friends poured in on social media.
Watson was born in Chicago on Feb. 26, 1973 and stayed in the city for college, earning both a BA and an MA from Columbia College Chicago. As her own career took off, she continued to mentor aspiring performers in her home city. Along with helping young talent reach their potential, Watson was also a vocal body positivity advocate. “She was a Black woman, a heavyset Black woman, but she was never afraid to step on stage,” Williams told the Tribune. “And she encouraged others to do the same.”
According to her website, Watson was also a columnist for the Huffington Post and a film and TV director. Her one-woman show about body image and race, Fat Bitch, began at the Brooklyn Museum in 2010 and went on to tour the country. In 2017, she organized a Feminist Comedy Marathon, also at the Brooklyn Museum, which showcased 50 local female comedians.
In a post on Watson’s Instagram account today, her close friend Lynx Garcia shared the news of her death with her followers, and also revealed that the late star got married while in Jamaica. “Rest in Paradise Queen 👸🏽,” Garcia wrote. “Beautiful funny kind generous understanding… Condolences to her husband and the entire Watson family , her friends and the world 🌎 we lost a beautiful soul.”
Watson is survived by her family and her husband.
