DuShon Monique Brown, best known for her role on NBC’s hit drama Chicago Fire, has passed away. She was 49.
Brown died at St. James Olympia Field Hospital just outside of Chicago on Friday afternoon. Her representative, Robert Schroeder, called the performer a “kind hearted soul.”
“We are devastated by the loss of a very talented and kind hearted soul,” Schroeder told TODAY. “DuShon was a film, television, commercial and voice-over actress who also graced the stages of many Chicago theaters. She brought laughter and joy to many and will be greatly missed.”
Schroeder said the actress died of “natural causes” after reportedly complaining about chest pains, but the Cook County Medical Examiner has yet to release an official cause of death.
Dick Wolf, producer of Chicago Fire, said the cast and crew were “devastated” by Brown’s death.
“The Chicago Fire family is devastated to lose one of its own,” Wolf said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with DuShon’s family and we will all miss her.”
Derek Haas, Chicago Fire co-creator, took to Twitter to share his thoughts about the beloved actress.
“Very sad to hear about DuShon’s passing yesterday,” Haas wrote. “I’m grateful we got to work with her and so happy she got to make millions of people smile. She will be greatly missed.”
While Brown has appeared on screen in shows like Empire, Prison Break, and Shameless, as well in several theatrical productions, she remained a counselor at a Chicago public school.
In addition to her heartbroken friends and coworkers, Brown leaves behind her daughter, 14-year-old Zoe, and a fiancé.
A GoFundMe fundraising page has been set up to support her family.