The host of House Hunters, Suzanne Whang has died at the age of 56 after a long battle with breast cancer. The face and voice made synonymous with popular HGTV show had battled cancer for over 13 years.

One of HGTV’s original shows, House Hunters, highlights potential homebuyers in the search of finding their perfect home with the help of real estate agents. The series first aired in 1999 and has curated over 1,700 episodes so far. The show follows couples as they go through the process of picking between three potential homes to buy. The show has been so popular, that HGTV has created over 15 spin-off shows, including House Hunters International, House Hunters on Vacation, and Tiny House Hunters. The show has had 17 seasons so far and three hosts, Suzanne Whang from 1999-2007, Colette Whittaker from 2008-2009, and Andromeda Dunker from 2009-now. Whang became an HGTV fan favorite during her 9 years of hosting the wildly popular HGTV series. She was also an actress with supporting roles on countless TV movies and TV series, including, General Hospital, Criminal Minds, and NYPD Blue.

According to People, Whang passed away Tuesday, September 17th at 7:20 pm, after a long and painful battle with breast cancer. She was 56-years-old. Whang had a full life - she was an actress, television host, comedian, radio host, author, minister, writer, producer, and political activist. And before becoming the beloved host of House Hunters, she studied psychology at Yale and Brown University. Her partner, Jeff Vezain, wrote a heartfelt message on her Facebook page, writing, “Suzanne breathed her last breath here at home, as I knelt beside her and caressed her.” He wrote that “a lifetime of love, adventure, humor and bliss now lives in our memories.” He wrote about how the TV host has “confronted cancer with courage, humor, determination and optimism. She was immensely encouraged by the love of her family, friends and those she had yet to meet.” See the full tribute for Whang below:

Vezain shard what he loved most about Whang, saying, “Her audacious sense of humor blessed many, shocked a few, but allowed us to laugh in the face of adversity. She was an amazing daughter, sister, friend, mentor and advocate.” HGTV also released a statement about the popular TV host’s passing, they said, “Suzanne was warm, funny and kind with a distinctive voice that made everyone feel at home. Our HGTV family mourns her loss and wishes to express deepest condolences to her friends, fans and family who knew and loved her.” 

It seemed that Whang’s loved ones and fans alike have been mourning the loss of the TV host. She had left a lasting impression on HGTV viewers. The many years she spent with HGTV narrating and hosting House Hunters and all of the other contributions to television will be remembered forever. RIP Suzanne Whang.

Next: New HGTV Series Stay or Sell Helps Homeowners Who Love Their Neighborhoods

Source: People, Suzanne Whang