Katie Holmes is remembering her late Dawson’s Creek costar Obi Ndefo.
Obi died at the age of 51, his sister Nkem Ndefo announced in a Facebook post on Saturday, Aug. 31.
Her post included a photo of the two siblings smiling while embracing each other and staring down into the camera lens. “Heartbroken at the loss of my younger brother and knowing he’s finally at peace,” Nkem wrote in the caption.
On Sunday, Sept. 1, Holmes, 45, shared a tribute to the late actor on her Instagram Stories, alongside a screenshot of a reel posted by her Dawson’s Creek costar Mary-Margaret Humes on Instagram on Saturday.
“He was wonderful to work with and such a kind man. I send prayers and grace to his family. Rest in Peace,” Holmes wrote underneath a screenshotted photo of Humes, 70, and Obi, including a heart emoji.
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Katie Holmes/Instagram
Humes — who played Dawson Leery’s mom Gail Leery in the teen drama — wrote a tribute to Obi in the caption of her Instagram post.
“These words don’t come easy 💔. It’s hard for me to conceive that you have left us, my dear friend,” she wrote. “You always were and always will be a bright shining light. What an example of pure unfiltered love and tenacity you set as you faced life’s challenges of recent.”
Humes’ message concluded: “I will cherish all of our messages of love and support to each other over the past few years. Rest in peace sweet warrior. 🙏🕊️❤️💫.”
Christian Vierig/Getty Images
Obi played Bessie Potter’s boyfriend Bodie Wells on Dawson’s Creek from 1998 to 2002. His character lived with Holmes’ character Joey Potter, the younger sister of Bessie.
Also a yoga teacher, Obi graduated from Yale University’s drama school, according to his profile on L.A. Theatre Works. He also worked on TV shows including NCIS: Los Angeles, The West Wing and NYPD Blue.
Per the Los Angeles Times, Obi became a double amputee after he was hit by an SUV while packing his car full of groceries in a supermarket parking lot in 2019.
Obi Ndefo/Instagram
Speaking about the accident in a video interview with the newspaper in 2020, Obi said: “I so clearly could have died….I had to instantaneously accept the reality of loss.”
“I started to realize day by day that..who says that this isn’t an opportunity?” he added. “I’m in a new body now. Life goes on.”
He adapted his yoga practice and said that the near-death experience made his purpose in life become “crystal clear.”
