Following Roy Black's passing, Andy Cohen has reacted to the news. He also shared his unique connection to the famous lawyer and his wife, The Real Housewives of Miami alum, Lea Black.
Andy addressed the lawyer's passing on his Sirius XM show, Radio Andy, on July 23. His comments came the same week it was confirmed that Black had died at the age of 80. Black passed away on July 21 at home in Coral Gables after an illness. "I also wanna say condolences to Lea Black, whose husband Roy Black, the great attorney, passed away yesterday, it was announced," the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen host said, adding, "And I just wanna remind everybody my backstory with Leah Black and Roy Black."
Andy Cohen explains his "backstory" with Lea Black and Roy Black before RHOM
From there, Andy reflected on his pre-Bravo career when he worked as a news producer. "I was sent down for the morning show at CBS in the 90s. When there was a huge trial, and [when] there still is, all the networks try to book the jurors," he said. "And so I was sent down to Florida to book a juror in the William Kennedy Smith trial [in 1991], prosecuted by Roy Black. The juror I booked was Leah Black."
Andy Cohen at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards held at The Orpheum on July 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California; Lea Black attends Bravo's 'Real Housewife of Miami' Lea Black's book signing and after party on June 4, 2015 in West Hollywood, California.
He continued, "She was on the jury, and I guess they were kind of noticing each other the whole time. She wound up marrying him. And, anyway, so I always felt kind of a special connection that she many years later wound up becoming a Real Housewife."
Lea married Roy in 1994. As fans will recall, Lea appeared as an original cast member on RHOM on Seasons 1 through 3. Roy Black and their son, RJ, also appeared on the show.
Lea Black's statement on Roy Black's death at age 80
Shortly after the news of the attorney's passing made news, Lea shared a statement on Instagram. "Thank you all for your blessings," she wrote on Tuesday, July 22. "We will be announcing details for a tribute and celebration of life in a few weeks."
Lea Black and Roy Black attend the Haute Living Miami Haute 100 Dinner Presented By Dom Perignon And Jade Signature at PAMM Art Museum on April 26, 2014 in Miami, Florida.
In the years following her exit, Lea made a cameo in Season 5, in which she reunited with Lisa Hochstein.
