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Kianna Underwood grew up performing in New York City, starting her acting career around age six in the 1999 film The 24 Hour Woman. She gained wide recognition as a child actor on Nickelodeon, appearing in seven episodes of All That during its tenth season alongside Amanda Bynes and Kenan Thompson. She also voiced Fuchsia Glover on the animated series Little Bill and performed as Little Inez in the national tour of Hairspray.
Despite her early work in television and theater, Underwood faced severe struggles later in life. She experienced homelessness in the years leading up to her death and lived on the streets in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood. Local store workers along Pitkin Avenue recognized her and often gave her food, money, and small items to help her get by.
People who knew Underwood from her acting years had noticed her situation and tried to offer support. In 2023, former All That cast member Angelique Bates shared a video online asking fans to help Underwood. Bates spoke about her after the crash, saying Underwood held deep affection for her former castmates and deserved to feel cared for.
On the morning of January 16 around 6:50 a.m., Underwood was crossing Pitkin Avenue near Mother Gaston Boulevard. Police records show she was in a marked crosswalk but crossing against the light. A black 2021 Ford Explorer heading west crossed double yellow lines to pass a right-turning vehicle, striking Underwood as she crossed.
Moments after the initial impact, a second vehicle described as a black-and-gray sedan struck Underwood as she lay in the roadway. The sedan dragged her for more than two blocks before driving off. Paramedics pronounced the 33-year-old dead at the scene, and both drivers initially fled.
Police arrested 72-year-old Michael Griffiths on Tuesday morning after an eight-month investigation. Officers linked Griffiths to the Ford Explorer, which had accumulated 41 prior traffic violations, including 25 for speeding. Griffiths admitted he was behind the wheel but claimed he did nothing wrong, stating he left the scene to take medication after feeling faint.
The news of Underwood’s case came as former All That cast members mourned another loss. Actress Christy Knowings died at age 46 in a Los Angeles hospital after an asthma attack left her with severe brain damage. Knowings had spent three seasons on All That starting in 1997, known for recurring roles like Penny Lane and Jessica in the show’s popular sketches.
Griffiths now faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and leaving the scene with injury. Meanwhile, NYPD investigators are still searching for the second driver involved in the crash, leaving the Brownsville community waiting for full answers.
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