Chuy Bravo, best known as Chelsea Handler’s sidekick on her E! late-night talk show “Chelsea Lately,” died on Saturday night, according to ET Online. He was 63.
The Mexican-American actor was hospitalized with stomach pains and died suddenly. He was visiting family in Mexico City.
His cause of death is unknown at this time.
Handler mourned the death of her sidekick in an Instagram post that featured a collage of photos of them together.
“I loved this nugget in a big way, and I took great pleasure in how many people loved him as much as I did and do,” the caption began.
“@chuybravo gave us so much laughter and I’ll never forget the sound of his laughter coming from his office into mine. Or his “business calls” with his “business manager,” or his shoe rack with all his children-sized shoes. I’ll never forget him coming to Christmas with my family one year in the Florida keys, and when my niece who was 5 or 6 at the time–saw him, she ran in the other direction saying she was scared. My sister and I were mortified and were apologizing to Chuy, who told us,”it’s ok, lots of little kids get scared when they see big kids coming their way.” I love you, Chuy!”
Born in 1956 with dwarfism and named Jesús Melgoza in Tangancícuaro, Michoacán, Mexico, Bravo migrated to the United States with his family when he was 15. His acting career began in the films “The Honeymooners” (2005) and “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (2007), and he also appeared in “The Sex Trip” and “Tiptoes.”
The prostate cancer survivor started the Little Nugget Foundation in his hometown to provide food and clothing for those struggling with alcoholism.