Comedian and MAD TV actress Erica Ash dies aged 46

Actress and comedian Erica Ash has died. She was 46.

Her family confirmed Ash died after a long battle with cancer in a statement shared with Deadline.

"Erica was an amazing woman and talented entertainer who touched countless lives with her sharp wit, humour and genuine zest for life," the statement read. "Her memory will live eternally in our hearts."

Ash was best known for her roles on MADtv, Survivor's Remorse and The Big Gay Sketch Show.

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Fellow comedian and close friend, Loni Love, also took to social media to pay tribute.

"I am sad to confirm my friend and fellow actress Erica Ashe's passing," she wrote on Instagram alongside a carousel of images.

"Erica was talented and hilarious whether it was the show Survivor's Remorse or Madtv she would put her all into her work," Love added.

"She would always just be there.. now she's gone.. My sincere condolences to her family and fans 🙏🏾🙏🏾"

BET Network also confirmed Ash's passing, taking to Instagram to remember the late comedian.

"Known for being equal parts witty and funny, Erica starred in BET favorites such as legal drama In Contempt and reality spoof Real Husbands of Hollywood," the network wrote.

"We send our deepest condolences and love to her parents, siblings, friends, and family. Fly high Queen 🕊️"

Ash first broke onto the scene in the mid 2000s with roles on comedy sketch shows MADtv and The Big Gay Sketch Show.

As her career picked up momentum, she found herself working on projects such as Scary movie 5 and working alongside Kevin Hart in the Real Househusbands of Hollywood.

But it was her role on Survivor's Remorse that shot her to fame.

She starred as Mary Charles "M-Chuck" Calloway on the series from 2014 to 2017, working alongside actors such as Mike Epps and Jessie T. Usher.

Some of her more recent roles include The Big Bend, We Have a Ghost and Outlaw Johnny Black alongside Gillian Iliana White.

White took to Facebook to remember her late co-star, referring to Ash as a "beautiful, funny, quirky, AMAZINGLY talented woman."

"You were loved by so many and to me, you were so real, down to earth and truly inspiring….working with you was a joy on Outlaw Johnny Black (you were the true star of our film!)," White wrote.

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"Our conversations deep…your laugh made me laugh…You should still be here…continuing to grace our screens and lives with your presence.

"You were a true warrior….a fighter…but you can rest easy now, Sis….you will be so incredibly missed. Prayers and condolences to your family."

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