Obi Ndefo, ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Actor Who Lost His Legs After Hit-and-Run Accident, Dies at 51

As a movie buff who has watched countless hours of television and films, I have to admit that I was saddened to learn about the passing of Obi Ndefo. His roles on “Dawson’s Creek” and “Stargate SG-1” brought joy to many viewers, including myself. However, it is his indomitable spirit and resilience in the face of adversity that truly stands out.


As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’m saddened to share that I recently lost a fellow artist who graced our screens through his memorable roles on “Dawson’s Creek” and “Stargate SG-1.” On August 28, Obi Ndefo passed away in a hospital situated within the Los Angeles area. He was just 51 years old.

On Saturday evening, Obi Ndefo’s sister, Nkem Ndefo, shared the sad news of his passing via a Facebook post, expressing her grief by saying, “Deeply saddened by the loss of my dear younger brother and knowing that he is now in a place of tranquility.”

On a Monday post on her ex-Twitter platform, Nkem Ndefo disclosed additional details about Obi Ndefo’s passing. Among these details was the revelation that the actor’s heart failed during his prolonged struggle with the eating disorder known as orthorexia.

In a different piece about X, Nkem Ndefo expressed: “We are sharing this information to highlight the seriousness of orthorexia and to ensure that those battling this heartbreaking condition get the empathetic treatment they require.”

Obi Ndefo gained recognition for his portrayal of Bodie Wells on the teenage drama show “Dawson’s Creek”. From 1998 to 2002, he embodied this character who was the boyfriend of Joey Potter’s elder sister, Bessie Potter, played by Nina Repeta.

From 2000 to 2005, he portrayed the Jaffa warrior Rak’nor on “Stargate SG-1.” Additionally, he made appearances in various other television shows such as “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “The Wayans Bros.,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “3rd Rock From the Sun,” “Angel,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” “NYPD Blue” and “The West Wing.”

2019 saw actor Obi Ndefo suffer the loss of both legs following an unfortunate hit-and-run incident in a Los Angeles parking lot. As he was placing groceries into his car’s trunk, a driver under the influence crashed into him, as reported by the L.A. Times. The impact immediately took his right leg, and his left leg, though not instantly severed, was so severely damaged that it had to be amputated later on.

2019, I shared with the L.A. Times how utterly devastating my recent experience had been. But why should I add insult to injury by feeling down about it? The truth is, I didn’t need to force myself to find the silver lining.

Obi Ndefo obtained both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the drama school at Yale University, completing them in 1994 and 1997 respectively (as reported by Yale News). Alongside his acting career, he also worked as a yoga instructor.

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2024-09-02 20:16