Kimberly Hébert Gregory, the accomplished actress best known for her role as Dr. Belinda Brown in HBO’s “Vice Principals,” died on Friday, October 3, 2025, at age 52. Her death was confirmed by her ex-husband and fellow actor Chester Gregory through a heartfelt social media tribute.
Chester Gregory announced the news on Instagram, describing his former wife as brilliance embodied and a Black woman whose mind lit every room. He emphasized that her presence carried both fire and grace, and praised her for teaching lessons in courage, artistry, and resilience. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Born on December 7, 1972, in Houston, Texas, Gregory graduated from the High School for Performing and Visual Arts before attending Mount Holyoke College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1994. She later pursued a master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago.
Gregory’s theatrical career began in Chicago during the 1990s with the Chicago Theater Company, where she earned critical acclaim. Her performance in “Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery” garnered her a Joseph Jefferson Award nomination for best supporting actress in a play at the 1998 Joseph Jefferson Awards Equity Branch.
Her transition to screen began in 2007 with her film debut in “I Think I Love My Wife,” starring Chris Rock and Kerry Washington. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Gregory built an impressive television resume with appearances on numerous popular shows, including “Gossip Girl,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Law & Order,” “Two and a Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Better Call Saul,” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
Gregory’s breakthrough role came in 2016 when she joined the cast of “Vice Principals” as Dr. Belinda Brown, the determined school principal who frequently clashed with the show’s two scheming vice principals, played by series co-creator Danny McBride and Walton Goggins. The HBO dark comedy ran for two seasons from 2016 to 2017.
In a 2016 interview with Vanity Fair, Gregory reflected on the show’s portrayal of a Black woman leading an organization while contending with resentful white male subordinates, noting that such dynamics were familiar territory in her own life. She characterized the central theme as white male entitlement and emphasized the importance of casting equality that allows Black women to compete and potentially face attacks from white male characters.
Following “Vice Principals,” Gregory continued to expand her career with leading roles in “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World” on ABC from 2017 to 2018, and “Every Other Weekend.” She also took on voice acting work, lending her talents to animated series including “Craig of the Creek,” where she voiced Nicole Williams, “Jessica’s Big Little World,” and “Carol & the End of the World.”
Her additional television credits included recurring roles on “Devious Maids,” “The Chi,” “Genius: Aretha,” “Future Man,” “Medical Police,” “The Act,” and “Dollface.” In film, she appeared in Justin Baldoni’s 2019 drama “Five Feet Apart” and Spike Lee’s “Red Hook Summer.”
Walton Goggins, Gregory’s co-star from “Vice Principals,” paid tribute to her on Instagram, describing her as one of the best actresses he had ever worked with. Goggins wrote that “she made me laugh like no other” and called her a professional’s professional and a soprano who never missed a note.
Busy Philipps, who played Gale Liptrapp on “Vice Principals,” expressed her devastation upon learning of Gregory’s passing, remembering her former co-star as a light and a force who would be deeply missed.
Other industry colleagues also shared their condolences, with actress Kym Whitley commenting that Gregory had been fighting a good fight and describing her as a light to the world. Leslie Odom Jr. offered his sympathies and acknowledged the light Gregory shared with others.
In a 2016 interview with People magazine, Gregory discussed knowing from a young age that she wanted to act, telling her mother she planned to win awards for her performances. She also addressed the challenges of navigating the entertainment industry as a woman of color, emphasizing the importance of believing in herself despite industry messages about acceptability and adequacy.
Chester Gregory’s tribute concluded by acknowledging their son as the living echo of Kimberly’s light, expressing that through their child, her brilliance would never fade and her laughter would always resound. He thanked her for every chapter they shared and noted that her story was defined not by battles, but by the beauty she carried through them.
Gregory is survived by her son and ex-husband. Her final credited role was as Ruth Jean Baskerville Brown in the National Geographic series “Genius: Aretha.”
