Actress Kianna Underwood, best known for her childhood appearances on Nickelodeon’s All That, has died after being struck in a hit-and-run crash in Brooklyn. She was 33.
According to the New York Police Department, Underwood was hit early Friday morning, January 16, while crossing the intersection of Watkins Street and Pitkin Avenue in the Brownsville neighborhood. Authorities say the incident occurred around 6:50 a.m., when a black Ford SUV struck her. Moments later, she was hit again by a second vehicle described as a black-and-gray sedan.
Underwood was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both vehicles fled the area, and as of now, police have not identified either driver. No arrests have been made. The NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate the case.
In the hours following her death, Underwood’s father, Anthony Underwood, shared a deeply emotional message on social media. In a Facebook post, he questioned whether his daughter was shown compassion in her final moments, expressing anguish over the possibility that she may have died alone.
“Did anyone try to comfort my baby as she layed dying in the street alone, or did they just stand around with their phones,” he wrote.
Underwood became a familiar face to a generation of viewers through All That, the popular Nickelodeon sketch comedy series that helped define children’s television in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The show also served as an early platform for performers such as Kenan Thompson.
She also spent several years working as a voice actor, portraying Fuschia Glover on Little Bill from 1999 to 2004.
As she transitioned into adulthood, Underwood continued acting in film, television, and theater. Her credits included The 24 Hour Woman, where she appeared alongside Rosie Perez, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Patti LuPone. She also had a small role in Death of a Dynasty, a satirical look at the hip-hop industry starring Kevin Hart.
Beyond screen work, Underwood found success on stage. She toured nationally for a year with Hairspray, performing as Little Inez in the production’s first national tour.
Born in New York City, Underwood later relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career. Her sudden death has shocked fans and members of the entertainment community, particularly those who grew up watching her during Nickelodeon’s heyday.
In the days since her passing, additional details about her personal circumstances have emerged. According to reports from local outlet Pix11, neighbors described Underwood as having been “down on her luck” in recent years, noting that many were unaware she was the former child star they had seen regularly in the neighborhood.
A video from late 2023 has also resurfaced in which Angelique Bates, another former All That cast member, publicly urged support for Underwood. In the clip, Bates alleged that Underwood was struggling financially and living without stable housing, and criticized what she described as a lack of intervention from people connected to the show.
According to TMZ, Bates expressed frustration that former colleagues and industry figures were not speaking up or offering help, despite publicly supporting other cast members.
Although no specific individuals were named, her comments reignited broader conversations about the long-term wellbeing of former child performers and the support systems available to them after early fame fades.
As investigations into the crash continue, tributes to Kianna Underwood have poured in from fans who remember her talent, warmth, and presence on screen.
She is survived by her family and loved ones.
Rest in peace, Kianna Underwood.