Nicole DeHuff was an American actress who appeared in the comedy movie Meet the Parents, as well as several TV shows such as CSI: Miami, Without a Trace, and Monk. She died of complications from pneumonia at the age of 30 on February 16, 2005.
Early Life and Career
Nicole DeHuff was born on January 6, 1975 in Antlers, Oklahoma. She grew up in Broken Bow and Oklahoma City, and developed a passion for acting. She earned a bachelor’s degree in drama from Carnegie Mellon University, where she met her future husband, executive producer and director Ari Palitz. They married in 2000.
DeHuff landed her first big role in Meet the Parents, where she played Deborah Byrnes, the sister of Teri Polo’s character. She had a memorable scene where she took a volleyball in the face from Ben Stiller’s character. After that, she had a regular role in the 2002 TV series The Court, and guest-starred in several other shows. She also appeared in the movies Killing Cinderella, Suspect Zero, and Unbeatable Harold, the latter of which was directed by her husband and released posthumously.
Illness and Death
DeHuff suffered from asthma, which made her more susceptible to respiratory infections. In the days before her death, she checked into two hospitals for respiratory illnesses, and was misdiagnosed both times as having bronchitis. She was sent home with Tylenol and antibiotics, but her condition worsened.
On February 15, 2005, she collapsed at her home, gasping for air. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she lost consciousness. The doctors discovered that she had an aggressive form of pneumonia that led to a staph infection and cardiac arrest. She died the next day, leaving behind her husband and her parents.
According to her mother, her official cause of death was sepsis complicated by pneumonia, asthma, and a staph infection. Her death was a shock to her family, friends, and fans, who remembered her as a talented and beautiful actress.
