Overview
- The family learned of McFadden’s death when the U.S. State Department notified his sister, Bernice McFadden, and officials have not provided a date or cause of death.
- News outlets reported the notification on Monday and family members say they have not yet received further details from authorities in Tanzania.
- McFadden rose to national attention on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and was a cast member on Fox’s In Living Color in the early 1990s, with later TV and film credits including Martin, Moesha, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Jacob’s Ladder, and Little Nicky.
- He had lived in Tanzania for about 18 years, ran Olduvai Records there, and released an album titled ENJOY, Vol. 1 in May 2025 with distribution ties reported to Sony Music’s The Orchard.
- Survivors include his sisters Bernice and Misty, sons Jaron and Myles, brother Kris, and mother Vivian, and colleagues in the comedy community have begun issuing public tributes as the family awaits more information.