Sonia Pizarro died in her sleep earlier this week (Picture: Getty)
Operation Repo star Sonia Pizarro has died at the age of 60, her family has confirmed.
The truTV icon died on Wednesday night in Arizona in her sleep, her niece Lyndah Pizarro told TMZ. Her cause of death has not been announced.
Pizarro’s ex-husband and fellow Operation Repo cast member Froylan Tercero paid an emotional tribute to her on Instagram.
He wrote: ‘I’m deeply sad to inform you that Sonia has passed away, to many she was a bada** chick that kicked some serious a**, to me she was and will always be my ex wife, the mother of my son and she will always have a place in my heart and on my body since I still have her name tattooed on my stomach.
‘Sonia we love you and I will honor you with all the good mementos you have me, thank you and I love you.
‘I will be stepping away from social media for some time, thank you guys for understanding, love you guys.’
Pizarro shot to fame on car repossession reality show Operation Repo (Picture: AFF/PA Images)
Pizarro had previously been hospitalised in 2018 after suffering a stroke but Lyndah said her death was unrelated.
Operation Repo, which ran from 2006 until 2014, followed Pizarro and members of her family, who worked in car repossession.
Set in California’s San Fernando Valley, the show depicted scripted and dramatised re-enactments of repossession incidents.
Operation Repo ran for nearly decade between 2006 and 2014 (Picture: WireImage)
Operation Repo produced spin-offs including a movie (Picture: truTV)
After the programme ended, Pizarro starred in spin-offs including Operation Repo: Lou’s Revenge and Operation Sonia: Love Thy Bleeping Neighbor.
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She also played a homeless woman in horror film Followed, which landed in cinemas in 2018.
Pizarro leaves behind three children Ruby, Robert and Froylan Jr and three grandchildren Bryant, Brie and Danica.
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Pizarro died in her sleep.