Popular actor dies after complaining of dizziness

Diandra Grandison, Staff Reporter

Veteran Roots Play actor Cleve 'Chu Chu' Warren is dead.

The 46-year-old actor died late yesterday evening while undergoing treatment for an undetermined illness at the St Ann's Bay Hospital.

Warren's colleague and co-worker of 19 years Mytania Samuels of the comedic duo, Kafinal and Sambo, who was present at the time of the actor's passing, told THE WEEKEND STAR how the actor spent his last hour.

"He was supposed to go overseas for a show; he called me saying he wanted to see me, but I was in Ocho Rios. He was apparently already in the area and stopped by to see me ... he started telling me he was dizzy and asked me 'wah good fi dizziness.'"

Samuels told THE WEEKEND STAR that at the time, Warren was eating and assumed that the dizziness was caused by the food and suggested the actor take Andrews for the ailment and left him briefly to purchase the antacid.

It was on his return, however, that things took a turn for the worse.

"I went to buy the Andrews and when I came back, I saw him on the ground," he said.

Samuels told THE WEEKEND STAR he used Warren's motor vehicle to rush him to the hospital.

He said despite the severity of the situation, Warren was still in high spirits. "While I was driving him to the hospital and because I was speeding he said, 'Laawd me know me a go, but the speed weh you a drive anuh driving that!'"

When they arrived at the hospital, Warren was admitted and shortly after, a doctor returned with the sad news of the actor's passing.

THE WEEKEND STAR contacted fellow actor and cast-mate Lacell 'Girlie' Parnell and he recounted his last encounter with the actor.

"We recently did a play on DVD called, Lan' Saga, in it he played an old woman called Sissy B that was the last play he did."

A sombre sounding Parnell also told THE WEEKEND STAR that he is at a loss for words at his colleague's passing.

"I have no words right now. There are no words to describe my friend, a brother; we shared a bond when we were on stage, the chemistry was unbelievable. I can't believe he's gone."

Earlier this year, Warren started his own production company called Laf Land Production, which released on DVD the play, Lan Saga.

The talented Cleve Warren boasted over 20 years onstage and is well known for playing the role of a feisty yet likeable woman called 'Chu Chu' in the roots play Passa Passa among a host of other popular Jamaican plays.