Photo: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Karwai Tang/WireImage
Michelle Pfeiffersays she is “heartbroken” following thedeath of rapper Coolio.
Coolio died Wednesday in Los Angeles at the age of 59, his longtime manager, Jarez Posey, confirmed to PEOPLE. His cause of death has not been shared.
Shortly after his death was announced, Pfeiffer paid tribute to the rapper born Artis Leon Ivey Jr.
Pfeiffer starred in the music video of Coolio’s Grammy-winning song “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which was also the lead single off the soundtrack for Pfeiffer’s 1995 filmDangerous Minds.
Sharing a portion of the video on Instagram, Pfeiffer, 64,wrote, “Heartbroken to hear of the passing of the gifted artist@coolio. A life cut entirely too short.”
She reflected on their history together, adding, “As some of you may know I was lucky enough to work with him on Dangerous Minds in 1995. He won a Grammy for his brilliant song on the soundtrack - which I think was the reason our film saw so much success.”
For more on Coolio, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
According toTMZ, which was first to report the news, Posey said the late musician went to the bathroom at a friend’s house. When he didn’t come out, the friend called his name but he didn’t answer. They then found Coolio on the floor.
The friend called for help, per the outlet, and once responders arrived, Coolio was pronounced dead.
RELATED VIDEO: Dave Grohl Breaks Down in Tears Mid-Performance, Plays Drums at Taylor Hawkins' Tribute Concert
Born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, in 1963, Coolio later moved to Compton, California, where he attended Compton Community College before becoming a rapper.
Coolio released the hit single “Gangsta’s Paradise,” featuring singer L.V., in 1995. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1996 Grammys.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
He also provided the opening track “Aw, Here It Goes!” for the Nickelodeon television seriesKenan & Kel.
In addition to eight studio albums, he appeared in the reality showCoolio’s Ruleson Oxygen in 2008.
He made additional television appearances, including onCelebrity Big Brotherin 2009 and onUltimate Big Brotherin 2010. He also created the web seriesCookin' with Coolioand released a cookbook titledCookin' with Coolio: 5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price.
source: people.com
