The Season 27 houseguest had been in intensive care after a series of cardiac arrests, according to her family.
ATLANTA, GA — Mickey Lee, a recent contestant on CBS’ reality series “Big Brother,” died Thursday, Dec. 25, at age 35 after several days in an intensive care unit, her family said. The family announcement, shared on social media, said Lee suffered a series of cardiac arrests earlier in the week.
Lee competed this summer on the show’s 27th season and became a familiar face to viewers for her assertive gameplay and off-camera candor. News of her death prompted a rush of tributes from former housemates, producers and fans. Host Julie Chen Moonves posted condolences and recalled a recent interview in which Lee spoke about ongoing health challenges. A verified crowdfunding page created before her death had raised tens of thousands of dollars toward medical costs, underscoring the speed and severity of her final hospitalization. Memorial details were not immediately announced, and the family requested privacy as they make arrangements.
Lee’s relatives said she was hospitalized in critical condition after multiple cardiac arrests and placed in the ICU in the days leading up to Christmas. She died on Christmas Day. In a remembrance, Chen Moonves praised Lee’s “light” and said she believed they would “see each other on the other side.” Former contestants posted messages describing Lee as generous with her time and unfailingly direct, sharing favorite moments from the house and from fan events this fall. The show’s official account expressed sympathy to her loved ones. While the family statement focused on the recent medical emergency, it did not specify an official cause of death beyond the cardiac episodes.
Public posts and prior interviews indicate Lee had spoken about earlier health struggles, including being born with a heart condition and recovering from a serious ATV crash. Friends said she relocated to Atlanta in 2025 for work and appearances following the season’s finale. On the show, she lasted into the second half of the competition before being evicted, returning for media rounds and fan meetups afterward. Viewers remembered her strategic alliance-building and sharp diary-room commentary, which made her a polarizing presence at times but also a consistent topic of post-episode debate.
Authorities have not indicated any criminal investigation connected to Lee’s death. No autopsy findings have been released. A family-organized fundraiser posted days before her death reported that she had been resuscitated after cardiac arrest and remained sedated in intensive care. That page, which surpassed $34,000 by Friday, noted escalating medical expenses. Producers of “Big Brother” shared condolences and said the show community would support memorial plans once the family was ready to share them. A formal obituary published Friday summarized her television credits and reiterated that she died on Dec. 25 after days in the ICU.
Lee was raised in Florida and more recently based in Atlanta, where she attended a promotional event for CBS affiliates in mid-September after the season wrapped. Fans who met her there posted photos and described her as approachable and eager to talk about the game. In interviews this fall, she reflected on how public scrutiny affected her life after the show and said she hoped to use her platform for charity appearances. Neighbors at her Atlanta complex left flowers at the front desk Friday afternoon, and a few wore T-shirts from summer watch parties to sign a card placed beside the arrangement.
By Friday evening, friends from the Season 27 cast had organized a private gathering to remember Lee, with public memorial details still pending. A family statement said updates on services would be shared later. For now, tributes continue across social media as former players, producers and fans reflect on a holiday week marked by sudden loss. The next public update is expected when the family finalizes service plans in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated December 27, 2025.