The reality star’s family said in a statement to PEOPLE that they’re “deeply grateful to know how cherished she was and how brightly she will continue to shine”

Francine Beppu

Francine Beppu in 2012.Credit : Alamy

The Real L Word alum Francine Beppu has died at 43, PEOPLE confirms.

Beppu’s family first confirmed the news on Monday, Feb. 23 in a statement to TMZ.

A cause of death was not shared, but a spokesperson for the family tells PEOPLE that Beppu died on Feb. 17.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our beloved Francine ‘Naoko’ Beppu,” her family’s statement to PEOPLE reads. “The outpouring of care and concern fro her friends and colleagues is a testament to the tremendous impact she had on everyone around her. We are deeply grateful to know how cherished she was and how brightly she will continue to shine through all who knew her.”

The Beppu family adds that they appreciate “the many gestures of love for Francine and kindly asks for privacy and time” as they “navigate this unimaginable loss and honor her memory.”

Sajdah Golde, Francine Beppu, Romi Klinger, Claire Moseley, Whitney Mixter, Kacy Boccumini and Cori Buccumini arrive at Showtime's "The Real L Word Season 2" premiere

Showtime’s The Real L Word Season 2 premiere party in 2011.Amanda Edwards/WireImage

The Real L Word debuted in June 2010 and ran for three seasons. The show followed lesbians in Los Angeles and New York as they navigated their careers, relationships and everything in between.

In June 2023, the Hawaiian native spoke with Hawaii Business about her role after reality television, working as the VP of integrated marketing at NMG Network, which featured LGBTQ+ programming for travelers.

“My mom was an actor and a singer in Japan in the 1960s and I’m a big TV and movie buff,” Beppu told the outlet of how she got her start in the entertainment industry.

“I loved that energy and the lights, the musicals, the shows. Hawai‘i is such a beautiful place and we are so blessed to live here, but I really wanted to live in a big city,” she said.

Beppu added at the time, “For a few years into my career, I wasn’t out. It affects you. It’s stressful to not share who you are when you’re at work. I see a trend in larger companies having a DI [diversity and inclusion] program.”

“I think there’s been progress in understanding the complexities, and happy employees make better workers,” she continued.

In addition to her time on The Real L Word, Beppu has worked for Sony Electronics, as well as Viacom, where she helped launch Logo, the first LGBTQ+ cable channel, per Hawaii Business.