Christy Knowings, best known for her three seasons on Nickelodeon’s beloved sketch comedy series All That, has died. She was 46.
According to TMZ, Knowings suffered an asthma attack on Friday, August 7 that left her with brain damage and was placed on life support at a Los Angeles-area hospital. Her family made the difficult decision to remove her from life support on Tuesday, August 11.
Her aunt, Tyleah Joseph, announced the news on Facebook. “My brother Charles’ daughter Chrissy has passed,” she wrote. “She was an outstanding actress, comedian, twin sister, an amazing daughter. Rest in power Chrissy.”
Knowings joined All That in 1997 after appearing in a Nickelodeon sketch comedy pilot, spending three seasons on the show alongside Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, Nick Cannon, Amanda Bynes and Danny Tamberelli. Among her most beloved characters were Jessica from the recurring “Whateverrr!!!” sketches opposite Bynes and Gloria Bankhead, which she described in a 2019 interview as her personal favorite role. “I had never played any character like her,” she said. “Everybody loved it.” Her most iconic moment on the series was the “Whatever” catchphrase she shared with Bynes, which became a defining piece of 1990s pop culture.
Following All That, Knowings appeared in several episodes of Sesame Street from 2008 to 2011 alongside her real-life twin brother Chris Knowings, who remains a regular on the series. She also appeared in the 2009 film Mother and Child, on which she also held a writing credit, and released the folk single “To the World” in 2020.
Kenan Thompson paid tribute on Instagram following the news. “Man this one hit hard,” he wrote. “Rest well Christy. Never could have imagined this day. Sending so much love to her family. She was a real one and one of the funniest people out here. Gonna miss you buddy.”
Knowings is the second former All That cast member to die this year, following the fatal hit-and-run of Kianna Underwood in Brooklyn in January.
Sending our deepest condolences to her family, her twin brother Chris and everyone whose childhood was shaped by her talent. 🕊️