Bill Cosby’s daughter Ensa Cosby died on Friday at the age of 44 following a battle with renal disease, TheWrap has confirmed.
Despite her father’s success as an actor and comedian, Cosby largely stayed out of the public eye, only making one significant statement in defense of her father ahead of his sexual assault trial last year.
“I strongly believe my father is innocent of the crimes alleged against him, and I believe that racism has played a big role in all aspects of this scandal,” Cosby said on the NYC radio talk show “The Breakfast Club” in May, blaming the media for vilifying her father “without any proof.”
Ensa was one of five children to Bill Cosby and his wife Camille. Her only brother, Ennis Cosby was murdered alongside a Los Angeles freeway in 1997 in what police said was a robbery attempt gone wrong.
TMZ first reported on Monday that Cosby died.