Supermodel Sam Sarpong Jumps To his Death

29 Oct, 2015

Sam Sarpong, a supermodel and former host of MTV’s Yo Momma, has died after jumping off a bridge in Pasadena, Calif. He was 40.

Ed Winter, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, said Sarpong was found shortly after 3 pm Monday below the Colorado Street Bridge, known as a “suicide bridge.”

Winter said a witness saw Sarpong leap from the bridge.

A final cause of death is pending toxicology reports, Winter said. He is survived by his sister, British TV presenter June Sarpong.

Sarpong, who lived in Pasadena, was born in London and moved to the USA with his Ghana-born father when he was 11.

He appeared as an actor in scores of films, such as Anchor Baby and Love Don’t Cost a Thing, and also scores of TV series, such as Bones, 24, Cold Case, NCIS and ER.

His IMDb page reports he was filming a role in the upcoming FX series, American Crime Story, scheduled to air in 2016.

As a model for Tommy Hilfiger, he was the face of the brand for several years. He also modeled for designers such as Versace, Donna Karan, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana.

He may have been best known as a co-host on MTV’s Yo Mommafor three seasons  alongside Wilmer Valderrama.

He won the MAA Fashion Award for Male Model of the Year, and twice was named by Today’s Black Woman magazine on their “Fifty Most Beautiful People” list.

USA Today 

Image THR Twitter

Mentioned In This Post: