Actor Winston ‘Bello’ Bell, best known for being one half of gifted comedic duo Bello and Blakka, died on Saturday after experiencing medical complications.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Bishop Winston Alexander Bell who passed away on April 15, 2023 due to complications from Neuropathy,” the bishop’s Facebook page said.

Peripheral neuropathy refers to the many conditions that involve damage to the peripheral nervous system, which is a vast communications network that sends signals between the central nervous system.

There was an outpouring of condolences as social media users expressed surprise and shock at the comedian’s death.

“OMG Rip, you are with your wife again,” one person said.

Another said: “Walk good Bello. Joy was missing you. Forever Loving you.”

Efforts to get a comment from his family and friends were futile.

“I just heard the sad news myself… I am on my way to church to see Blakka (Ellis) now, I can’t make a comment now,” Ity Ellis told OBSERVER ONLINE.

Bell was a 45 year veteran of theatre in Jamaica, and is known for his roles in Third World Cop, One Love, First Black Britons, Glory to Gloriana, and Ghett’a Life.

He is perhaps best known as one half of the comedy duo Bello & Blakka (alongside Owen ‘Blakka’ Ellis).

He had married his beloved wife, Joy Bell in May 1995, but she predeceased him.

Bello was in first form at Camperdown in 1975 when he fell in love with theatre. Originally from Cockburn Pen in Kingston, he grew up in the Jones Town and McGregor Gully areas. A Christian since 1979 when he attended the Jamaica School of Drama, he became more involved in ministry work, with His Time Out for Jesus Worldwide Ministry and charity work with the Joy Bell Foundation over the years.

He still remained active on the theatre circuit, doing productions such as Patrick Brown’s long-running Jamaican fairytale Glass Slippaz in 2013. He even won a Best Supporting Actor award in 2012. His theatre credits include Louis Marriott’s Bedward and Trevor Rhone’s Pepper.

In later years, he concentrated on his ministry and hosted the morning show Pastor Bello Live on Roots FM.

In 1985, Winston ‘Bello’ Bell and Owen ‘Blakka’ Ellis decided they would combine their acting and comic talent to form the duo ‘Bello and Blakka’. Years later, they went solo, doing their own acts, but got together in 2015 to mark their 30th anniversary with a series of shows.

-Claude Mills