(Gray News) – Tributes are pouring in for actor Obi Ndefo, who played Bodie Wells in the television series “Dawson’s Creek” and also had a recurring role in “Stargate SG-1.” He was 51 years old.

Ndefo’s sister, Nkem Ndefo, announced his death in a Facebook post on Saturday, saying she was “heartbroken over the loss of my younger brother.”

Ndefo’s sister said on X that he died on August 28. “Tragically, Obi’s heart failed during his long-term battle with the eating disorder orthorexia,” she said.

The disorder is described as an obsession with healthy eating that, according to the National Institutes of Health, “can lead to malnutrition, loss of relationships, and a reduced quality of life.”

She added that they are sharing this information “in the hope that those suffering from this devastating disease receive the compassionate care they deserve.”

In addition to his best-known roles, Ndefo has appeared in “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “The West Wing” and “NYPD Blue,” among others. He has also worked as a yoga instructor and founded a nonprofit organization focused on the arts, Variety reported.

Ndefo lost both legs and nearly his life when an SUV hit him in a Los Angeles parking lot in 2019, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The impact, which occurred while he was loading groceries, severed one of his legs and the other leg was so damaged that it had to be amputated, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Katie Holmes, who starred with Ndefo in “Dawson’s Creek,” paid tribute to him in an Instagram story, Deadline reported.

Mary-Margaret Humes, another co-star, also spoke of her grief in an Instagram post, saying: “What an example of pure, unfiltered love and tenacity you have been as you have faced life’s challenges recently. I will cherish all of our messages of love and support for one another over the past few years. Rest in peace, sweet warrior.”

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