Sad news has come in as rapper and actorCooliohas died. Perhaps best known for his hit song “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which popularized by its inclusion in the 1995 filmDangerous Minds, Coolio was found dead on Wednesday in Los Angeles. As of now, a cause of death has not been determined for the performer. He was just 59 years old.PerTMZ, Coolio had been visiting a friend’s home when paramedics were called at around 4 p.m. for a medical emergency when Coolio’s friend found him unresponsive in the bathroom. Coolio was pronounced dead on the scene, and though there are no apparent signs of foul play, law enforcement officials are now investigating the rapper’s death. An autopsy and toxicology test will be conducted, but police say there were no drugs or drug paraphernalia found at the scene. According to Coolio’s manager, Jarez, paramedics suspect that he suffered a cardiac arrest.Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. on Aug 23, 2025, Coolio found success in hip-hop, winning a Grammy Award for his single “Gangsta’s Paradise” along with his other hits “Fantastic Voyage,” “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New),” and “C U When U Get There.” Coolio’s rise to fame in the 1990s also saw him performing the opening theme song in the intro tothe Nickelodeon seriesKenan & Kel. A recognizable personality, Coolio would later appear frequently on different reality shows, such asCelebrity Big BrotherandWife Swap, and he has also starred in his own cooking web series after exploring another passion he had for the culinary arts.Coolio had also ventured into acting with various appearances in feature films and television shows. This includes a small role as Jonathan Crane in the superhero movieBatman & Robin; he later appeared in Ben Affleck’sDaredevilmovie. His other film roles includeDear God,Leprechaun in the Hood,Submerged,Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th,In Pursuit,the Beat,Stealing Candy,A Wonderful Night in Split,Dracula 3000,Pterodactyl, andThree Days to Vegas. On the small screen, Coolio has appeared on TV shows likeMartin,Sabrina the Teenage Witch,The Nanny,Joey,Black Jesus, andTeachers.Related:These Are 5 of the Best Actors Who Were Once Rappers
Coolio’s Famous Friends Are Paying Tribute
The loss of Coolio has many of his friends expressing their sorrow. Kenan Thompson is having trouble processing the news, as he noted his shock in a post on his Instagram Stories. Thompson noted, “Wait, now Coolio!!! Damn homie!!! Rest in Power!!!”
On his own Instagram account, Martin Lawrence also posted a tribute. He shared an image of Coolio along with the message, “My deepest condolences and prayers go out to the family of Coolio.”
“Weird Al” Yankovic, who parodied Coolio’s biggest hit with his own successful song “Amish Paradise,” also shared an image of the two hugging and wrote, “RIP Coolio.”
Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Coolio at this time. May herest in peace. you may see some more tribute messages to the rapper and actor below.
