Dawson's Creek icon dies aged 51 as heartbroken co-stars pay tribute
Obi Ndefo, who is best known for playing Bodie Wells in Dawson's Creek, has died at the age of 51, with his sister announcing the tragic news in an emotional tribute
The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Dawson's Creek actor Obi Ndefo, who has passed away at the age of 51, his sister confirmed. Best known for his role as Bodie Wells in the hit series, he starred alongside notable actors such as James Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, and Katie Holmes.
Obi's sister, Nkem Ndefo, shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, stating: "Heartbroken at the loss of my younger brother and knowing he's finally at peace."
The cause of death has not been disclosed, but the tragedy follows a serious accident in August 2019 when Obi was struck by a car, resulting in the amputation of both his legs. His acting career began in 1995 with a guest appearance on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and he subsequently appeared in shows like The Jamie Foxx Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Crossing Jordan, The West Wing, and Stargate SG-1.
His last acting credit was in an episode of NCIS: Los Angeles in 2021.
In Dawson's Creek, Obi portrayed Bodie, a chef who becomes romantically involved with Bessie Potter (played by Nina Repeta), leading to them settling down in Capeside and having a son, Alexander, reports OK!.
Tributes have poured in from Obi's former Dawson's Creek colleagues, including Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Gale Leery, Bodie's on-screen mother. On Instagram, she expressed her sorrow: "These words don't come easy. It's hard for me to conceive that you have left us, my dear friend. You always were and always will be a bright shining light," she lamented.
"What an example of pure unfiltered love and tenacity you set as you faced life's challenges of recent. I will cherish all of our messages of love and support to each other over the past few years. Rest in peace sweet warrior."
In her touching tribute, Mary-Margaret reminisced by sharing a video of Obi alongside co-stars Katie Holmes, James Van Der Beek, and Joshua Jackson, as well as a nostalgic selfie with him.
Obi had previously opened up about the tragic loss of his legs in a 2019 interview with the LA Times. After teaching a yoga class, he was placing groceries into his car when a speeding SUV struck him.
"This is just so horrendous what happened to me, why would I compound this by feeling bad about it? " he reflected during the interview.
Despite the tragedy, Obi harboured "not one ounce" of resentment towards the hit-and-run driver. He expressed his determination to excel in life, likening himself to an "I couldn't live in this world without becoming sort of like an Olympic athlete of certain things, you know - of kindness and of health - because there is no other choice for me," He added, "So there's a sort of rigor to me, and I think, 'OK my legs are severed. I don't know how to do this, but I know how to do this."
