Ariana DeBose is mourning the death of her mother, Gina Michelle DeBose, who died on Aug. 17 at age 57 after battling Stage 3 ovarian cancer.
In a touching post on Instagram on Tuesday (Aug. 19), DeBose wrote: “At 10:28 am on August 17th my gorgeous, hilarious, outspoken, warrior queen Mother – Gina Michelle DeBose – passed away due to complications with stage 3 ovarian cancer. I couldn’t be more proud of her and how she fought this insidious disease over the past 3 years. She was 57 years young.
“She was my favorite person, my biggest fan and toughest critic. My best friend. She was my date to every important moment in my professional and personal life – and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It had always been the two of us for as long as I can remember. Through lean times, and there were many of those & green times. She fought like hell to give me a good life, a good education and every opportunity in the world. I wouldn’t be where I am without her. I meant it when I said my Oscar “is just as much hers as it is mine.”
DeBose did say that when she won an Oscar for best supporting actress in 2022 for her role as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s reboot of West Side Story. “I’m gonna wrap this up and talk about my family. My mother, who is here tonight. Mama, I love you with my whole heart, and this is as much yours as it is mine.”
DeBose had earlier received a Tony nomination for playing “Disco Donna” in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical in 2018. She also hosted the Tony Awards three years running from 2022-24. She was the first person of color to host three times in the show’s history, which dates to 1947.
In her post, Ariana DeBose, 34, said her mom’s “life’s purpose, aside from being my mom, was educating young people. She passed just shy of delivering 30 years of service as a public school teacher (most currently 8th grade social studies). And, my god, did she thrive in a classroom. Her creativity knew no bounds. She was beloved and incredibly respected by her colleagues and students alike.”
DeBose concluded her salute by saying: “For the record: my greatest and most proud achievement will always be to have made her proud. I love you mommy. Now travel amongst the seas, the winds and the angels as I know you always loved to do.”