The “All That” Actress Was Killed in a Hit-and-Run in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday. She Was 33 Years Old.
The New York Police Department has located the vehicle believed to have struck and killed Kianna Underwood, the former Nickelodeon child star who died in a hit-and-run last week in Brooklyn. She was 33 years old.
Police said they found a black 2021 Ford Explorer connected to the fatal incident and are investigating whether the vehicle’s owner was involved in the crash. According to the New York Daily News, investigators have contacted the owner of the SUV, who reportedly declined to speak with police without a lawyer present. No arrests have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Underwood was struck around 6:50 a.m. on Friday, January 16, while crossing an intersection in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. Police said she was hit by a black Ford SUV and became trapped underneath the vehicle as it continued driving for approximately another block. While she was still in the roadway, she was struck again by a second vehicle. Both drivers fled the scene. Underwood was pronounced dead at the scene from her injuries.
Underwood rose to prominence as a child actor with a career that spanned television, film, and theater. She first gained recognition as the voice of Fuschia Glover on the Nick Jr. animated series Little Bill, which aired from 1999 to 2004. She later appeared in the 1999 film The 24 Hour Woman opposite Rosie Perez.
Her most high-profile television role came in 2005, when she appeared during the final season of Nickelodeon’s long-running sketch comedy series All That, which helped launch the careers of performers such as Kenan Thompson, Amanda Bynes, and Nick Cannon. All That marked her final credited screen appearance. In addition to her on-screen work, Underwood spent a year touring nationally as Little Inez in the first national tour of Hairspray
Following news of her death, former All That cast member Angelique Bates spoke publicly about Underwood’s struggles later in life and criticized the entertainment industry for failing to support former child actors. Bates told TMZ that she had attempted to draw attention to Underwood’s situation, including periods of homelessness in recent years.
Although Bates and Underwood were not on All That during the same seasons, Bates said she remembered her from a wrap party and described their interaction as lasting and meaningful. “Pretty much everyone had turned their back on me,” Bates said. “She gave me the biggest hug and told me how much she looked up to me. She wanted to be on the show because of me. And for her season, she was the only Black girl.”
Neighbors from the Lincoln housing projects in Harlem, where Underwood grew up before her parents separated, told the Daily News they were surprised to learn she had faced significant hardships as an adult. Many said they believed she had gone on to lasting success in the entertainment industry. A friend told the newspaper that Underwood had spoken about wanting to return to acting but acknowledged that “life is hard.” Reports indicate she struggled with housing insecurity and substance abuse in adulthood.
Bates said Underwood’s story should serve as a warning. “I felt like we should have done better,” she said. “Do not let this industry raise your child, or you’re gonna see the outcome of your child being raised by the industry — and you’re not gonna like it.”
As of Monday, police have not released additional details about potential suspects, and the case remains under active investigation.
