One of Sarah Becker’s former co-stars has shared a cryptic post about her “traumatic experience” filming MTV’s “The Real World” while mourning her death by suicide.
A family member confirmed that Becker, 52, died early last week at his Illinois home after struggling with mental health issues in recent months, TMZ reported.
He appeared on the fifth season of MTV’s The Real World in 1996, and said he applied as a joke.
Now her former co-star Dan Renzi has posted on Instagram suggesting they went through some “traumatic experiences” while filming the show.
He said: “Yes, I know about the death of Sarah Becker, one of my roommates on ‘The Real World.’
‘Sarah and I hadn’t spoken since the end of the show, so I don’t know anything about her struggles.
“All seven of us in the cast went through a strange, intense and sometimes traumatic experience together, and it creates a connection between people, even when they choose not to associate with each other.
“I can only say that it is very sad.”
Sarah Becker, pictured in a selfie, died last week at age 52 from suicide, TMZ reported
Becker’s co-star Dan Renzi, photographed on The Real World in 1996.
Her former co-star Dan Renzi posted on Instagram suggesting that they went through some “traumatic experiences” while filming the show.
The cover image for season 5 of The Real World Miami, which Becker applied as a joke.
Before her death, Becker reportedly moved to Illinois to care for her sick mother and sister.
His mental health issues were said to have been compounded by the responsibility of caring for his family and a skateboard accident.
Becker initially pursued a career as a comics editor before applying to star in the 22-episode season of The Real World on MTV at the age of 25.
She 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 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.
Becker is shown here riding a skateboard. She was an avid skateboarder throughout her life.
The show ran for 33 seasons until 2016, making it one of the longest-running reality shows in history.
Each season was 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.
Her other co-stars, including Renzi, were 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.’
After the show ended, Becker spoke to the Chicago Tribune about his experience on television.
“For me, ‘The Real World’ was a six-month 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.”