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Stefanie Sherk, Model and Actress Wife of Oscar Nominee Demian Bichir, Dies at 43

Canadian model and actress Stefanie Sherk died on April 20 at the age of 43.

Her husband, Oscar nominee Demián Bichir (2012’s A Better Life), confirmed the sad news in a touching Instagram post on Wednesday, explaining that Sherk — whom he called “my beloved and loving wife” — had “passed away peacefully.”

A cause of death was not revealed.

“It has been the saddest and toughest time of our lives and we don’t know how much time it will take for us to overcome this pain,” Bichir, 55, wrote. “Stefanie’s beautiful, angelical and talented presence will be immensely missed. We will hold Stefanie in our hearts forever.”

“We thank everybody beforehand for their prayers and we respectfully ask for your understanding so we may grieve in peace and privacy in these incredibly difficult times,” Bichir added. “It is our sincerest hope that our beautiful Stefanie, my angel and love of my life, will rest in eternal peace.”

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Dear friends, On behalf of the Sherk and the Bichir Nájera families, it is with inconceivable pain that I announce that on April 20, 2019, our dearest Stefanie Sherk, my beloved and loving wife, passed away peacefully. It has been the saddest and toughest time of our lives and we don’t know how much time it will take for us to overcome this pain. Stefanie’s beautiful, angelical and talented presence will be immensely missed. We will hold Stefanie in our hearts forever. We thank everybody beforehand for their prayers and we respectfully ask for your understanding so we may grieve in peace and privacy in these incredibly difficult times. It is our sincerest hope that our beautiful Stefanie, my angel and love of my life, will rest in eternal peace. Queridos amigos, A nombre de la familia Sherk y la familia Bichir Nájera, con un dolor indescriptible, les informo que nuestra hermosa Stefanie Sherk, mi amada esposa, falleció en completa paz, el pasado 20 de Abril del año en curso. Han sido los días más tristes y dolorosos de nuestras vidas y no sabemos cuánto tiempo nos llevará sobreponernos a este dolor. La hermosa, angelical y talentosa presencia de mi Stefanie será echada de menos profundamente y permanecerá en nuestros corazones para siempre. Agrademos a todos de antemano sus oraciones y de manera respetuosa pedimos su comprensión para que podamos vivir este luto en paz y privacidad en estos momentos tan difíciles para todos nosotros. Es nuestra más sincera esperanza que nuestra amada Stefanie, mi ángel y amor de mi vida, descanse eternamente en paz.

A post shared by DEMIAN BICHIR (@demianbichiroficial) on Apr 23, 2019 at 10:06pm PDT

Bichir and Sherk began dating in 2010. They did not have any children together, though Bichir has a daughter — Gala, born in 2011 — from a previous relationship.

David Livingston/Getty
David Livingston/Getty

Sherk had a number of acting credits to her name, including a role in Bichir’s directorial debut, Un Cuento de Circo & A Love Song in 2016. She’s also had roles in #Hashtag: The Series, Valentine’s Day, Star Power, Loco Love, as well as the upcoming horror movie Grudge, which she filmed with John Cho and Andrea Riseborough.

According to her IMBD profile, Sherk was born in Niagara-On-The-Lake, Canada, and studied at the University of Western Ontario, graduating with an honors bachelor’s degree in history.

Demián Bichir and Stefanie Sherk | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Demián Bichir and Stefanie Sherk | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

On Instagram, both friends of the couple and fans offered their condolences.

“Oh Demian, I’m so sorry I had no idea,” wrote actress Diane Kruger, who starred with Bichir in The Bridge. “I’m sending you so much love in this difficult time.”

Fellow Oscar nominee Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me) also commented with a string of broken heart emoji.