Medical Examiner Releases Official Cause of Death for Retired Actress and Bodybuilder
The San Diego County Medical Examiner has officially released the cause of death for retired actress and bodybuilder Jayne Trcka, who passed away at age 62 on December 12. The report confirms her death was accidental, resulting from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease complicated by a left femoral fracture.
According to the medical examiner's findings, chronic alcohol use was identified as a contributing factor in Trcka's demise. The Minnesota-born athlete, who also boxed and wrestled under the name Kasie Cavanaugh, was found unresponsive in her kitchen after friends became concerned when she failed to respond to calls for several days.
A Multifaceted Career in Fitness and Entertainment
Trcka made her acting debut in 2000, portraying gym teacher Miss Mann in Keenen Ivory Wayans' slasher parody Scary Movie. The film, produced on a $19 million budget, went on to amass $278 million at the global box office and spawned five sequels, including one scheduled for release this June.
The 5ft7in athlete's entertainment career extended beyond horror comedy. She appeared on the improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and played a women's prison guard in Jonas Åkerlund's 2010 music video for Lady Gaga's Telephone, which featured Beyoncé.
From Postal Worker to Bodybuilding Champion
According to her official biography, Trcka grew up in Minnesota where she initially pursued gymnastics before taking up weight training in 1986. While working as a US postal carrier from 1991 to 1998 and as a certified personal trainer, she transformed her passion for fitness into a professional career.
"I have been able to turn my hobby and love for fitness into my career and help other people with their goals," Trcka once wrote about her journey.
Between 1988 and 2000, the San Diego City College graduate participated in 26 bodybuilding competitions, achieving first-place finishes at Jr. Nationals, CA State Championships, and the North County Classic. She appeared in numerous muscle and fitness publications including:
- Flex
- Muscle Mag International
- Woman's Physique World
- Ironman
- Fighting Females
Personal Philosophy and Later Challenges
In a 2004 interview with Bodybuilding.com, Trcka reflected on her career progression: "Bodybuilding wasn't an instant decision. It just kind of followed a progression of stages. Competing in my first competition and placing first and also getting coverage including the back cover in Woman's Physique World. That led to my second show. Placing well and loving competition and performing kept me going."
She offered encouragement to aspiring athletes: "If being a champion bodybuilder is your dream, then go for it and pursue it. Don't let anyone talk you out of it." However, she acknowledged the changing landscape of women's bodybuilding, noting that "female bodybuilding has definitely decreased in popularity since the fitness [industry] came around a few years back."
Trcka, who maintained an active lifestyle enjoying traveling, investments, scuba diving, rollerblading, biking, tennis, martial arts, and outdoor activities, faced health challenges in recent years. In 2016, she launched a GoFundMe campaign that raised $5,875 of a $7,500 goal to help cover medical costs from a stomach virus that hospitalized her three times in one year.
The retired actress and bodybuilder is survived by an unnamed 42-year-old son. Her legacy spans competitive sports, entertainment, and fitness advocacy, leaving a multifaceted imprint on each field she touched during her diverse career.
