Sarah Becker, a reality TV star who appeared on the fifth season of MTV’s The Real World, died by suicide, TMZ reported.
A relative of Becker confirmed that she died early last week at her home in Illinois.
He reportedly moved to the state to care for his sick mother and sister, but planned to move to California when he could.
Becker has been struggling with mental health symptoms in recent months, compounded by the responsibility of caring for his family and a skateboard accident.
She made a career as a comic book editor and, when she was 25, had the opportunity to star in a 22-episode season of The Real World in 1996.
Sarah Becker, pictured in a selfie, died last week at age 52 from suicide, TMZ reported
Becker revealed to the Chicago Tribune in 1997 that he didn’t like the fame he gained from the show and said he sometimes wore a hoodie when he went out.
The Real World is an MTV show that aired for 33 seasons until 2016, making it one of the longest-running reality shows in history.
Each season is set in a different city, and the narrative follows a group of young people from different walks of life who are forced to become roommates for several months.
Becker’s season took place in Miami, where he shared a room with seven other twenty-something strangers.
His co-stars included Dan Renzi, Melissa Padrón, Joe Patane, Cynthia Roberts, Flora Alekseyeun and Mike Lambert.
Alekseyeun posted a tribute to Becker on her Instagram on Sunday, calling her former roommate “the most selfless person I’ve ever met.”
‘She was always kind and helpful to everyone. “I haven’t spoken to her in years and I never knew she was worried,” Alekseyeun wrote.
‘My prayers are with his family. RIP my roommate, my friend. May you skate with angels and never feel pain again.’
This season’s never-before-seen twist was that the group of young people had to try to start a business together from their fancy beachfront home in South Beach.
Becker was one of the oldest members of the cast, but described herself as “a 19-year-old trapped in a 25-year-old body.”
His official MTV bio also revealed that he graduated from Indiana University and worked at WildStorm Comics in La Jolla, California.
“Sarah, a tomboy, says she doesn’t deal well with meanness and wants to stay true to herself while on the show,” her bio read.
Becker is shown here riding a skateboard. She was an avid skateboarder throughout her life.
The cover image for season 5 of The Real World Miami, which Becker applied as a joke.
Once the show was over, Becker spoke to the Chicago Grandstand about his experience on television.
“For me, ‘The Real World’ was a six-month long vacation,” he said. “I knew from the beginning that it couldn’t be a stepping stone to bigger and better things.”
“I want to have my own magazine someday and I don’t think Sarah from ‘The Real World’ is going to have anything to do with that,” Becker said.
Becker also revealed that he didn’t like the fame he got from the show and said he sometimes wore a hoodie when he went out.
In fact, Becker applied to be on The Real World as a joke and was surprised when she was accepted.
Despite initially having reservations, she decided to join the cast, adding that her experience “was great.” And I learned that I am very happy with who I am.”
Becker’s friends took to social media hours after his death became public to honor his memory.
“Today I saw the news that we have lost one of WildStorm’s favorite people, Sarah Becker,” former WildStorm VP of Marketing Jeff Mariotte wrote on Facebook.
“Even if you weren’t into comics in the ’90s, you might remember her from The Real World (and the first episode of its season, part of which was filmed in our offices and at Sarah’s wild farewell party).”
“I’m so sorry Sarah is gone,” he concluded. She ‘she added sunshine to every room she walked into, the fans loved her and so did we. Good winds, Sarah. Miss you.’
Another friend, Daniel Norton, said Becker was “made of pure sunshine.”
‘You couldn’t help but feel his warmth in his presence. “I am grateful for our adventures and laughter,” wrote Daniel Norton.
Becker is credited as the editor of dozens of comic book series that WildStorm published in the 1990s.
Becker’s family described her as a selfless person who cared about everyone else. She died at 52 years old.