Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Kimmare Johnson died on Wednesday, November 4, at the age of 50. Her family confirmed the news, stating she had suffered a heart event and was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Hospital on October 27, where she was diagnosed with a "heart aneurysm condition."
Family and Early Life
Johnson's niece, Rhonda Scott, told TMZ that her aunt passed away peacefully. Johnson shared a close bond with Scott, the daughter of Johnson's eldest brother, Edward, after stepping up as a surrogate parent for her when Scott was just 16, during a period when the teen's parents battled drug abuse.
Johnson and her mother Carol raised Rhonda, and Johnson spoke about the experience in a 2014 interview with The Bakersfield Californian. "For me, it was very difficult at first, because I didn't want to have a child. But I had to step up to the plate and be her mom and that was difficult, because I was still in school. It didn't matter, because I really loved her. That was the way it was going to be. That's life," she said.
Johnson later had a son, Cameron, 23, who is a musician.
Career Highlights
Johnson's first-ever role was in a teen drama in 1998, playing a character named Judy. She then went on to star opposite Pamela Anderson in her post-Baywatch detective show V.I.P.
On the big screen, she appeared opposite Ashton Kutcher in his cult comedy hit Dude, Where's My Car? playing the role of Jumpsuit Chick. She also had roles in films including Gang Warz, Spanish Fly, Shadow Fury, and The Summer of Massacre.
Health Condition and Tributes
The NHS describes a heart aneurysm, also known as an aortic aneurysm, as a dangerous bulge in the aorta, the main blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. When this swelling happens in the chest, it is a thoracic aortic aneurysm; when it happens in the lower part of the vessel in the tummy, it is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). It is not known which type of aneurysm Johnson suffered from.
Tributes flooded in for the star as the news became public. On Facebook, her cousin wrote: "I am heartbroken over the sudden passing of my cousin Kimmarie Johnson. This hit hard, that life can pass in a twinkle of an eye. I went back over messages between she and I and I cried! She was always so supportive of everything I did, encouraging! I am truly speechless. Please pray for her family…"
Another relative commented: "I'm so very sorry to learn the news of Kimmarie's passing; I know you were close. Devastating loss for our entire family." A third added: "Sending condolences and prayers to you and your family."
Meanwhile, a woman who said she was Johnson's high school classmate shared that the star "was a lovely spirit who was so supportive of me and my writing, especially because she was a model and fashionista. She really appreciated my Ann Lowe novel. I'm going to miss her. RIP."
