Julie Chen Mourns As 'Big Brother' Star Cassandra Waldon Dies In Car Wreck
Oct. 5 2019, Updated 10:37 p.m. ET
Julie Chen is mourning the death of an original Big Brother competitor.
Cassandra Waldon, 56, reportedly passed away in a car wreck overseas.
On Friday, October 4, Chen, 49, the host of the reality TV show, posted Waldon photos on her Instagram account that appeared to show a funeral announcement, and also wrote, "Rest in Peace Cassandra. Your light will continue to shine in this world because of the way you lived your life: with class and grace. May your family and loved ones find solace and peace. Thank you for bringing your intelligence, warmth and wisdom to the Big Brother house Season 1. You are in my thoughts and in my prayers. May God Bless your soul."
Waldon, who worked at the United Nations and was the very first Big Brother contestant to enter the house on the U.S. version of the series, reportedly died on September 25 from injuries related to a car accident in Rome.
According to the report, Waldon was hit by a car about two months ago, and suffered a head injury. She supposedly never regained consciousness before her death.
Waldon passed away on September 25. Her funeral will be held next weekend in her native Maryland.
She entered the Big Brother house in July 2000 and impressed her roomies and viewers. Waldon wound up finishing 6th in the competition.
The reality TV contestant worked at the UN as its Director of Communications for the International Fund for Agricultural Development. She was reportedly living and working in Rome when the accident happened.
In her Big Brother introduction, Waldon said, “My work is very, very challenging, and rewarding, but I needed something exciting in my life. I’ve got to try this! I’ve got to see if I can do it! I have a lot of friends who are very supportive of me in my life, and I’m going to miss them.”
Big Brother has been a hit on CBS and recently concluded its 21st season.
It also has a popular celebrity edition which has featured such stars as Lindsay Lohan's mother, Dina.
RadarOnline.com sources said Chen's CBS Celebrity Big Brother crew rallied around her as she and her disgraced husband, former network CEO Les Moonves, 69, dealt with the aftermath of his sex scandal.
Both Chen and Moonves denied the sexual misconduct allegations against him.
Chen quit her gig on The Talk but hung onto her Big Brother job. She's set to return as host when new group of house guests will do the TV show in Summer 2020.
Fans of the reality series have shared their thoughts about Waldon’s loss on social media, with one writing, “The First Official Big Brother Houseguest: Cassandra Waldon Has Left This World. She Will Be Missed Greatly.”