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Vanessa Williams has announced the death of her ‘remarkable’ mother, who died during a trip to London to see her perform in a West End show.
The actress, 61, said Helen died on December 28 aged 85 at the London Clinic due to complications from “acute liver failure”.
He had flown to the UK to see Vanessa on stage in a musical adaptation of the film The Devil Wears Prada and to celebrate her 85th birthday.
Vanessa confirmed the sad news in a statement shared on Instagram while paying tribute to the “loyal friend and powerhouse.”
She wrote: ‘On December 28, the world lost a powerhouse, a dynamo and the force of nature packed into a 5-foot frame.
“Our mother, Helen Williams, also known as Gaga to many, took her final bow in London 20 days after celebrating her 85th birthday surrounded by family and friends.”
Vanessa Williams has announced the death of her ‘remarkable’ mother, who passed away during a recent trip to London (pictured together in 2022)
Vanessa added: “It’s impossible to describe everything she meant to everyone because each person saw a different side of her. Loyal friend to many, icy stares to a select few.
‘We will miss it all. During his visit (to London) he suffered a significant deterioration in health that ended his life.’
The actress added “some reflections” on Helen’s “extraordinary life” after working as a teacher and university lecturer before retiring in 1996.
The statement revealed that Helen would tell her students: ‘Work as hard as you can and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something… ever!’ Make up your mind, prepare, study hard and be very, very confident.’
She added that she was a “devoted shopper,” loved to travel and was a devoted grandmother.
In addition to being the mother of Vanessa, she was also the mother of a son named Christopher. Her husband of 45 years, Milton, died in 2006.
Helen will be remembered at ‘private and intimate memorial services’ in January and the family has requested that donations be made to the Helen Tinch Williams Vocal Performance Fund.
Vanessa currently stars in the new musical, based on the hit book and movie, as the iconic Miranda Priestly.
The actress, 61, said Helen died on December 28 at the age of 85 at the London Clinic due to complications from “acute liver failure” (Vanessa pictured in December).
Vanessa confirmed the sad news in a statement shared on Instagram while paying tribute to the “loyal and powerhouse friend.” Our mother, Helen Williams, took her last bow in London.
She wrote: ‘On December 28, the world lost a powerhouse, a dynamo and the force of nature packed into a 5-foot frame.
The actress added “some reflections” on Helen’s “extraordinary life” after working as a teacher and university lecturer before retiring in 1996.
The production had preview performances at the Theater Royal Plymouth in July and August before its West End premiere in October.
In a promo for the show shared in early July, which boasts: ‘Miranda has arrived,’ the actress and singer was seen shooting from under the stage in dramatic fashion.
The musical is based on Lauren Weisberger’s best-selling 2003 novel and the hit 2006 film, which received two Academy Award nominations.
Vanessa plays Miranda Priestly, the powerful New York City-based editor-in-chief of the fictional fashion magazine Runway, played by Meryl Streep in the film adaptation.