Charlbi Dean, a South African actress and model, died in Charlbi Dean, a South African actress and model, died in August from a bacterial infection, according to several accounts.
According to Fox News Digital, the actress from “Black Lightning” and “Triangle of Sadness” was only 32 when she died of a sudden illness that was determined Wednesday by the New York City medical examiner to be bacterial sepsis.
The actress’ death was reportedly ruled an accident. She died at a New York City hospital on Aug. 29, a source told The Post at the time.
Capnocytophaga, the type of bacteria that sickened her, is rare and lives in the mouths of dogs and cats, though it won’t make the animals sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
“Capnocytophaga germs can transfer to people through dog or cat bites, scratches, or close contact and may cause sickness, including sepsis,” according to the CDC’s website.
“People with specific health conditions are more likely to become infected, but anybody can become ill with Capnocytophaga bacteria,” the CDC adds.
Because the full autopsy report has not been released, it is unclear whether her infection was caused by contact with a dog or cat.
Dean’s brother told Rolling Stone in August that his sister was in a serious vehicle accident in 2009 and had her spleen removed.
Dean’s other film roles include “Blood in the Water,” “Don’t Sleep,” “An Interview with God,” “Porthole,” and “Spud,” her debut in 2010.
She was a model who appeared in British Vogue, GQ, and Cosmopolitan.
Dean proposed to fellow model Luke Volker in April.