Vice Principals actress Kimberly Hébert Gregory dead at 52

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Kimberly Hébert Gregory, famous for playing Dr. Belinda Brown on the popular HBO comedy Vince Principals, has passed away at the age of 52.

Her ex-husband and fellow actor, Chester Gregory, confirmed the devastating news on Friday.  

‘You were the very definition of brilliance, a Black woman who illuminated every space with her intellect, and possessed a spirit of both strength and elegance,’ Chester, 52, shared on Instagram. ‘You showed us the importance of bravery, creativity, perseverance, and continuing to move forward, even when facing immense challenges.’

I was so touched by what Chester had to say about Kimberly. He really emphasized that she was so much more than just his ex-wife – he actually called her his friend! It was beautiful to hear him talk about their connection, describing a bond that ‘no storm could break’. It’s clear they still have a really special relationship.

He expressed his gratitude to Kimberly for all they had experienced together. He stated that her story wasn’t about the struggles she faced, but rather about the inner strength and grace she maintained throughout them.

Below his post, Yvette Nicole Brown commented: ‘I’m really struggling to make sense of this. I’m deeply saddened for you and your son, @chestergregory. It’s a loss for all of us.’

Leslie Odom Jr. shared: ‘Beautiful tribute, bro. What a light she shared. I am so sorry to hear.‘

Jason Ritter shared his sadness about the loss, posting: ‘I’m deeply sorry… this is truly heartbreaking. She was incredibly talented and a genuinely kind person, and she’ll be greatly missed by everyone who had the chance to know her.’

Kimberly’s former Vince Principals costar, Walton Goggins, also paid tribute on Instagram. 

We sadly lost a truly exceptional person yesterday-one of the best I’ve ever collaborated with. Kimberly Hebert Gregory,” he shared. “I was incredibly honored and fortunate to have gotten to know and work with this Queen on Vice Principals for months. She had an incredible gift for making me laugh-like no one else could.

He finished by saying: ‘A true professional. A damn good singer who never faltered. We’ll all miss you, my friend. And you knew that.’

Busy Philipps, who played Gale Liptrapp on the show, wrote: ‘Oh my god I’m devastated to hear this. She was a light and a force. She will be missed.’

Vice Principals, a show that aired on HBO for two seasons from 2016 to 2017, was created by Danny McBride and Jody Hill.

This darkly humorous show revolves around two rival assistant principals – portrayed by McBride and Goggins – who reluctantly team up to try and remove their school’s new principal, Dr. Belinda Brown (Kimberly).

Kimberly Hébert Gregory was born in Houston, Texas, on December 7, 1972, and developed a passion for performing at a young age. She honed her skills at the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and later earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Theatre School at DePaul University.

She began her acting career in Chicago during the late 1990s, performing with the Chicago Theatre Company. Her performance in By the Way, Meet Vera Stark was particularly notable, earning her a nomination for a Drama Desk Award.

Gregory then moved into film and TV, with roles in movies like I Think I Love My Wife (2007), Spike Lee’s Red Hook Summer (2012), Arizona (2018), Five Feet Apart (2019), Miss Virginia (2019), and John Henry (2020).

She’s also appeared on many popular TV shows, with guest and recurring roles in series like Gossip Girl, Law & Order, Two and a Half Men, Shameless, The Big Bang Theory, Devious Maids, Grey’s Anatomy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Better Call Saul.

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2025-10-05 19:19