Sam Sarpong, former supermodel and star of MTV’s Yo Momma, committed suicide by jumping off a bridge in Pasedena, CA. He was 40.
Sarpong’s body was found below the Colorado Street bridge at 3 p.m. The bridge is dubbed “suicide bridge” by locals.
A final cause of death is pending a toxicology report. A witness saw Sarpong leap from the bridge, USA Today reports.
The British-American moved to the USA from London with his father when he was 11. The Charlamagne the god look-a-like pursued modeling and quickly became the face of a Tommy Hilfiger campaign. He landed more modeling gigs with top designers such as Versace, Donna Karan, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana.
Sarpong won numerous fashion awards and was twice named to the “Fifty Most Beautiful People” list by Today’s Black Woman magazine.
Sarpong landed television and movie roles including a coveted gig co-hosting MTV’s reality TV show Yo Momma with actor Wilmer Valderrama.
Sarpong and Valderrama traveled the country interviewing people with the best “snaps”.
When Yo Momma was canceled after 3 seasons, Sarpong hosted the BET Awards pre-show All Access.
He is survived by his sister, British television personality June Sarpong.
