Crisicilla Anderson Dead at 45: Viola Davis and More Pay Tribute

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Hollywood is mourning the loss of one of its brightest stars.

People are fondly remembering Criscilla Anderson, the former choreographer for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, after her recent passing at age 45 following a fight with cancer. Her impact on those who knew her and admired her work is being celebrated.

Viola Davis expressed her profound sadness, calling the news “just devastating.” She shared that she had been consistently praying for the person and will continue to do so for their family and children, hoping their memory lives on. She concluded with a message of faith, stating, “God’s got her.”

Reality TV star Todd Chrisley paid tribute to a dear friend, sharing that he was utterly heartbroken and would always cherish their memory.

Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Reece Weaver shared her sadness about Criscilla’s passing, describing her as a remarkably kind and strong woman. Weaver believes Criscilla is now at peace, having lived a life of faith and love. She expressed her sympathy for Criscilla’s children and family during this difficult time, remembering the joy and kindness Criscilla shared with everyone.

As someone who often observes the power of community and heartfelt expression, I was deeply moved by Kelli Finglass, director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, sharing her grief. She posted a message saying it’s just too soon to accept the loss, and asked for heaven to comfort Criscilla and for God to be with her family. It’s a raw and beautiful example of how loss impacts us all, and the need for support during difficult times.

Criscilla first revealed she had colon cancer in 2018. Sadly, she announced her passing on December 2nd, just a month after a friend shared news that the cancer had spread to her brain.

Criscilla announced her passing in a heartfelt message on Instagram, sharing that she had peacefully died, embraced by love. She wrote to her followers, saying she had found peace in the arms of Jesus and asked them not to dwell on sadness. She emphasized that she had lived and loved fully, and while she was no longer with them physically, she was now at peace, ‘Home’.

Criscilla Anderson shared a heartfelt message, saying, “Please be kind to one another. Cherish my children – Ethan, 14, Emmarie, 12, Everleigh, 9, and Savannah, 17 – and remember that hope is always within reach. I love you all, always.” She was speaking following her separation from husband Coffey Anderson.

For his part, Coffey penned his own tribute celebrating her life.

I’m absolutely heartbroken. Criscilla… she was just unbelievably strong, a true fighter unlike anyone I’ve ever known. Seriously, she was one of a kind. It feels like the world lost a shining light today, like heaven finally got a star that truly deserved to be there. I’m going to miss her so much.

It’s hard to express how much we’re already missing them. Honestly, it feels like our world has been turned upside down. The house feels so empty without their presence. But through it all, our kids are showing incredible strength – we’re so proud of how they’re coping, and we know we’ve done a good job raising them. They’re truly resilient.

Like Criscilla, keep reading for more stars who have shared their own deaths. 

Lauren Anderson, the former choreographer for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and a star on the 2020 Netflix reality show Country Ever After with her ex-husband, Coffey Anderson, has passed away at the age of 45 after a seven-year fight with colon cancer.

In a December 2025 Instagram post shared by her friend Lindsey Villatoro, she wrote that she had peacefully passed away, finding comfort in her faith. She asked those grieving not to dwell on sadness, emphasizing that she had lived a full life filled with love and fought bravely.

Criscilla spoke directly to her children – Ethan, Emmarie, and Everleigh – and also included Coffey’s daughter, Savannah, from a previous relationship, lovingly referring to all of them as “my whole heart.”

To Ethan, she said, “You made me a mom, and I’m always here supporting you.” She then turned to Savannah, calling her a wonderful surprise and a true blessing. To Emmarie, her sweet and faith-filled dancer, she encouraged her to keep pursuing her passion through all of life’s stages. And to Everleigh, her energetic and shining daughter, she urged her to fearlessly chase her dreams.

Criscilla said, “My children… I’m always with you. When you feel a comforting warmth, a sense of familiarity, or experience something wonderfully unexpected—that’s me looking out for you. I’m still a mother to you, and I’ll always be there for you.”

Tanner Martin, a social media influencer who bravely shared his five-year struggle with colon cancer, including his life with wife Shay and daughter AmyLou, has passed away. He announced his own death personally.

In a video shared on Instagram in June 2025, Tanner announced, “If you’re seeing this, it means I’ve passed away.”

Oh my god, it breaks my heart even thinking about it. Tanner was only 30 when he… when he passed. He actually planned to make a video to explain everything, because some other creator had done it, and he thought it was a chance to really share what was on his mind. But mostly, he wanted everyone to know about his wife and daughter – he called his little girl ‘Jiaozi,’ it was the cutest thing, and he just wanted to make sure everyone remembered them both. It’s just…so incredibly sad.

In his video, he shared, “I’ve had a wonderful life.” He expressed his gratitude to everyone for their support and love during his time with them and for his family. He then asked for continued prayers for his wife, Shay, and their daughter, Jiaozi.

The influencer thanked his followers, and his last wish was for them to keep his family in their thoughts and prayers.

“It was a good life,” Tanner said, reflecting on his time. “I’m glad I got to experience it. I hope there’s something more after this, and that we’ll meet again. I’m especially looking forward to seeing loved ones who have passed, healthy and happy.”

In October 2024, Bella Bradford, a popular TikTok creator, passed away at the age of 24 after fighting a rare cancer in her jaw.

In a heartfelt video, Bella shared that she had lost her battle with terminal cancer. Despite the sad news, she wanted to create one last ‘Get Ready With Me’ video, sharing her passion for fashion with her followers. She thanked everyone for joining her on her journey and hoped her videos would continue to bring a little happiness to those who watched them.

And despite the heartbreaking circumstances, Bella left followers with a hopeful note. 

“Remember that you live every day and you only die once,” she explained, “so everything helps.”

I was absolutely heartbroken to learn that the incredible TV host announced her passing on Instagram back in October 2024. She’d been so brave throughout her three-year fight with motor neuron disease, which is a really tough condition, similar to ALS. It was just devastating news, but she handled everything with such grace.

Fiona announced her departure in an Instagram post, sharing photos of herself with her sons, Harry and Rafe. Her sister, Kylie, posted the message for her, with Fiona writing, “Hopefully I’m looking down from a cloud.”

And the 67-year-old did not hide the debilitating effect her disease had on the end of her life. 

She confessed that the previous night marked the end of a really difficult period. Although she never wanted to end her life, she found the idea of escaping her physical pain to be comforting.

She finished by saying she didn’t want to say goodbye completely, hoping to meet them again someday. She promised to always remember their love and happiness, and asked that they remember hers as well.

Kimberley Nix, a Canadian influencer, passed away in May 2024. For three years, she had been openly sharing her experiences with metastatic sarcoma online.

In a TikTok video, Kimberley announced to her followers that she had passed away peacefully.

The 31-year-old influencer, a doctor who trained in internal medicine, described her happy life and shared some of her favorite things, like her pets, makeup, and her husband, Michael MacIsaac.

As someone who shares a lot of my life online, I’ve always believed in the power of community, and I was so touched by the support I received after sharing my health journey following my diagnosis in 2021. It really meant the world to me to be able to connect with others and educate them about my condition, and I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has been a part of that.

She expressed her gratitude, saying, “I love you all, and I’m so thankful for this incredible opportunity.” Overcome with emotion, she added that she was crying happy tears because they had given her a renewed sense of purpose, especially later in life.

In February 2024, Daniella Thackray announced her passing on Facebook. She had been bravely fighting cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and fast-moving cancer that affects the bile ducts in the liver.

Danielle, from Leeds in the United Kingdom, wrote this message to be shared after her death from cancer. She explained that while we can’t control life’s events, we can control our response to them. Despite being heartbroken, she chose to focus on enjoying her remaining time rather than dwelling on what she was losing.

The 24-year-old shared that while she wished for more research into her type of cancer, which currently has no known cause or cure, she was proud to have lived a full and meaningful life.

In her goodbye message, Daniella encouraged everyone to appreciate life’s small pleasures and make the most of every moment. She urged people to find joy in everyday things and to prioritize their own happiness, refusing to let anyone diminish it.

Daniella’s last message was to her fiancé, Tom Calvert. She wrote, “I love you and always will. Please enjoy your life now – you deserve to be happy.”

Paul Harrell, a popular YouTube reviewer of firearms with over a million subscribers, passed away from pancreatic cancer in September 2024. He posthumously shared a video titled “I’m Dead” on his YouTube channel.

In a video recorded in December 2023, Paul stated, “If you’re watching this, I’m gone.”

In a recent video, Paul shared that despite an early diagnosis, his cancer quickly spread to his bones. He realized this meant he didn’t have much time left.

Paul expressed his gratitude to everyone who has supported his work by watching, liking, commenting, sharing, subscribing, or donating through Patreon, simply saying, “Thank you.”

As he put it, “I can’t even begin to articulate how beneficial and appreciated those things are.”

The 58-year-old also expressed his apologies to his fans for suddenly leaving the public eye.

It really broke my heart to hear him say he’d hoped to keep going for another 10 or 15 years. Knowing his diagnosis took him so quickly, it just makes it even more painful. He even apologized for stopping, saying he felt like he’d let us all down, which was absolutely not true. He gave us so much, and we’ll always be grateful.

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2025-12-04 19:52