Gregg Leakes, the husband of actor and star of the American drama show ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ NeNe Leakes, died at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer. 

Ernest Dukes, a family friend of Gregg Leakes and publicist said in a statement on Wednesday that “the Leakes family is in deep pain with a broken heart.”

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He followed with the announcement of Gregg Leakes’ death. He added, “After a long battle with cancer, Gregg Leakes has passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by all of his children, very close loved ones and wife Nene Leakes”, according to reports from Entertainment Online.

“We ask that you pray for peace and strength over their family & allow them to mourn in private during this very very difficult time”, Dukes said.

Gregg Leakes is survived by six children –Denton, Dexter, Daryl, Katrina, Damian and Brentt, who was his only child with NeNe. The 66-year-old was also a stepfather to Bryson, who is NeNe’s son from a previous relationship.

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According to reports from Entertainment Online, NeNe filed for divorce from Gregg in 2010 after nearly 13 years of marriage. However, the two got back together and got married again in 2013.

Gregg Leakes was diagnosed with colon cancer four years back. In 2019, NeNe took to social media to share that her husband was cancer-free.

However, days before Gregg Leakes died, NeNe said on social media that her husband may be losing the battle against cancer. 

She said, “My husband is transitioning to the other side. You don’t know what we’re dealing with right now. We walked in this lounge because we had to walk in this lounge because this is our business. So, when people approach and say, ‘you’re rude because you don’t want to say happy birthday,’ my husband is at home dying. I don’t want to say ‘happy birthday,’ okay?”.