Kenan Thompson Mourns the Loss of Christy Knowings

Kenan Thompson expressed his heartbreak over the passing of his former “All That” co-star, Christy Knowings, who died on Tuesday at the age of 46 following an asthma attack.

Thompson, who worked alongside Knowings on the Nickelodeon sketch show from 1997 to 1999, shared an emotional tribute shortly after the news broke on Thursday. He wrote, “This has been tough! Rest in peace, Christie! I never imagined a day like this would come! Sending so much love to her family! She was the real deal and one of the funniest people here! I’ll miss you, buddy!” on Instagram.

Kel Mitchell, Thompson’s co-star from “Keenan & Kel,” also remembered Knowings fondly, describing her as “very natural, funny, incredibly talented, and fearless.” He added, “Christie was truly one of a kind. She had a knack for creating characters that were big, memorable, and completely her own,” and included a clip of their time together in his post.

Mitchell continued, saying, “I will always be grateful for the laughs, memories, and time we shared as part of the All That family. Thank you, Christie, for sharing your amazing gift with all of us. Your talent and the joy you brought to so many will never be forgotten.” He offered his condolences to Knowings’ family, closing with, “Rest in Heaven, @christyknowings.”

Knowings suffered brain damage from the asthma attack and was hospitalized on August 7, where she was placed on life support. Her family decided to take her off life support on Tuesday.

The Bronx-born actress was a fixture on “All That,” which aired for three seasons from 1997 to 2000, alongside stars like Thompson, Mitchell, Amanda Bynes, and Nick Cannon. The series led to various spinoffs, highlighting the impact it had during that era.

Reflecting on her time on the show, Knowings had once noted how she and Thompson brought cultural details to their sketches that the writers may not have considered. “The diversity of the cast made a huge difference,” she said in a past interview, discussing the nuances they contributed.

She also fondly remembered how welcoming Thompson and Mitchell were when she joined the cast. “It felt like all the producers and writers really welcomed me,” she mentioned.

One of Knowings’ memorable catchphrases, “whatever,” became iconic through her sketches with Bynes. After her time on “All That,” she participated in the 2009 film “Mother and Child,” receiving a screenwriting credit, and made guest appearances on “Sesame Street” from 2008 to 2011 alongside her twin brother, Chris.

In 2020, Knowings released a song titled “To the World.” Tragically, she is the second cast member from “All That” to pass away in the past year, following Kiana Underwood, who died in January at 33 from a hit-and-run incident in Brooklyn.