Story highlights
- Matthews later turned away from the entertainment industry and embraced Christian faith
- As an evangelist, she said she was miserable in her entertainment roles
(CNN)Denise Matthews, who as Vanity fronted the group Vanity 6 but was best known for her collaboration with Prince, has died at a hospital in Fremont, California.
Her death was confirmed by Gisela Hernandez, spokeswoman for Washington Hospital Health Care System. Hernandez did not say when Matthews died or under what circumstances.
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She was 57 years old, according to her biography on the Internet Movie Database.
Matthews was born in Canada and began her career as a model. She took on film roles, playing mostly sultry characters beginning in 1980, including in the movies "52 Pick-Up" and "Action Jackson."
And in 1982 she headlined the group Vanity 6, which had a close association with Prince. The band published only one album, allmusic.com said in a biography on the band.
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In the mid 1990s, Matthews turned her back on the entertainment industry and dedicated herself to her Christian faith, eventually becoming an evangelist. As a devout Christian, she spoke with disdain of her former career, saying she had been miserable throughout it.
Another former Prince protege Sheila E, also a professing Christian, said goodbye to Matthews in a tweet.
"SADDEN my FRIEND IN CHRIST gone 2day. Vanity, Denise Matthews. MISS YOU DEARLY. U ARE IN HIS ARMS NOW, NO Pain," she said.
SADDEN my FRIEND IN CHRIST gone 2day. Vanity, Denise Matthews. MISS YOU DEARLY. U ARE IN HIS ARMS NOW, NO Pain pic.twitter.com/UbCWtl8brc
— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) February 16, 2016
Other celebrities also expressed their condolences.
"Rest in Peace Vanity," singer Solange Knowles tweeted.
Rest in Peace Vanity. pic.twitter.com/J6CalDPx60
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) February 16, 2016
"I am really sad to hear of Vanity/ Denise Matthews' passing. I will always treasure our time together. RIP," British rocker Billy Idol tweeted.
I am really sad to hear of Vanity/ Denise Matthews' passing. I will always treasure our time together.
— Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) February 16, 2016
RIP
A note on a gofundme page in Matthews' name describes a battle with multiple health issues.
They appeared to center around a kidney ailment and a dialysis treatment that may have led to the often deadly condition sclerosis encapsulating peritonitis, also known as abdominal cocoon.