Christopher “Big Black” Boykin, 45, was in dire need of a heart transplant before his untimely death, his ex-wife claims.

Shannon Turley spoke with TMZ about the entertainer and musician’s health.

Turley says the Rob and Big star—who died Tuesday—was hospitalized in Plano, Texas, for several days as doctors monitored his condition. She also said he had a defibrillator implanted in his chest.

Doctors attempted to resuscitate Boykin for a half an hour when his heart gave out. He was pronounced dead at 4 p.m. While he was not yet on the transplant list, Turley says doctors said he was heading in that direction.

Boykin and Turley had a 9-year-old daughter, Isis. Although they divorced in 2009, she said they’d been living together due to Boykin’s declining health.

Turley took to Boykin’s Twitter account on Tuesday to announce his passing:

Friend and Rob and Big cast member, Rob Dyrdek, also reportedly reacted to the news on Tuesday:

“My heart is broken. I don’t want to write this post,” Dyrdek wrote on Tuesday. “I don’t want to believe this is reality. I am so thankful for you. We truly were brothers that lived an unexpected unforgettable adventure. I just can’t fathom that it would end so suddenly.”

Our condolences go out to Boykin’s loved ones.