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How did Bert Belasco die at 38? Girlfriend's distraught call to Virginia hotel staff leads to discovery of body

Reportedly, his girlfriend couldn't get through to him and ultimately asked the hotel staff to check on him

There’s some more tragic news coming in 2020. Actor Bert Belasco, who starred on BET’s 2011-14 sitcom ‘Let’s Stay Together’ and also appeared on Showtime’s ‘I’m Dying Up Here’ and Fox’s ‘Pitch’, has died. He was 38 and Deadline confirmed the news with his agency. On Sunday, November 8, his body was discovered in a Richmond, Virginia hotel room. He was filming a movie role and was staying inside the hotel under the required quarantine prior to joining the film set. The cause of death has not been announced yet.

A TMZ report states that his girlfriend couldn't get through to him and ultimately asked the hotel staff to check on him. When he was discovered, there was blood on the sheets. The family is awaiting autopsy results. His father Bert Sr. told TMZ, he believes his son suffered a fatal aneurysm.

After working at Chicago’s Second City improv theater, Belasco began appeared in TV shows such as ‘House’ and ‘Justified’, before landing his well-known role of Charles Whitmore on the BET sitcom ‘Let’s Stay Together’. His guest credits included ‘Key & Peele’, ‘The Soul Man’, ‘NCIS: New Orleans and The Mick’. In 2016, Belasco got cast as Sonny Evers in ‘Pitch’ and in 2018 as Rene Marson in ‘I’m Dying Up Here’. Deadline reports, people also remember his memorable 2010 Super Bowl commercial for Snickers candy bars, which also had Betty White in it. In the commercial, he tells a friend in a pick-up football game, “Mike, you’re playing like Betty White out there.” White herself appeared in the ad, responding, “That’s not what your girlfriend said.”

Actress Yvette Nicole Brown tweeted, “This is me and my dear friend #BertBelasco who just passed away at 38. No day is promised. Please let the ones you love KNOW that you love them today, right now. Any moment could be your last. #RIP you dear, kind, gentleman.” Actress Jackée Harry tweeted, “Heartbroken at the passing of Bert Belasco - a talented, kind young man who I had the pleasuring of working with numerous times on #LetsStayTogether. Squeeze your loved ones tight! Tomorrow is never promised.” His ‘Let’s Stay Together’ co-star RonReaco Lee wrote a post on Instagram: “Beyond saddened by the sudden passing of Bert Belasco. One of the kindest people I’ve ever met.” He said, “If you knew Bert, you knew 2 things: He loved the movie Ghostbusters and he LOVED acting. Bert loved acting more than any actor I’ve ever met. And he was DAMN good at it too. There wasn’t a scene we shared that I didn’t enjoy.” Lee added, “My prayers are with his Dad, his Step Mom and the rest of his family and friends. Rest well my Brother...certainly gone too soon. #castmates4life”

A few others as well paid tribute to him on Twitter. A user tweeted, “This is truly sad. I use to love this show. "Let's Stay Together" Rest In Peace Bert Belasco. I am praying for his family and sending condolences.” Another said, “38 is way too young to leave this earth. RIP #BertBelasco.” One user stated, “RIP #BertBelasco...was great in #LetsStayTogether on #BET. Seemed like a down to earth brother.”