Busy Philipps mourns devastating family loss: 'You fought so hard'

"Birdie captioned this: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl," Busy wrote in the caption, referring to the 2015 film wherein a teenage boy befriends a classmate with cancer. 

"It's actually our sweet boy cat Guildo who has cancer, which makes Gina and Rosie the 'Me' and 'Earl' in question, I suppose. Personally, I feel like Rosie is the 'Me' and Gina is 'Earl', but either way, it's sweet and funny and sad and feels right." 

Busy then announced Guildo's death in a touching tribute to the cat on Tuesday. 

"RIP to our sweet Guildo aka Guildenstern. You were the best cat with a heart-shaped spot on your back, and you fought so hard, and we loved you so much, and you loved us so much in return," she shared, alongside a carousel of photos from throughout his life.

"I'm really going to miss sitting on the floor with my little guy, something I've been doing since 2016." 

The mother of two's friends and fans took to the comment section to share their condolences, with Yellowjackets star Melanie Lynskey writing: "Lots of love sweet one. I'm sorry," while actress Gina Gershon added: "Oh Busy, I'm so sorry. Just the worst – but seems you had many beautiful [moments] with Guido. Sending love and hugs." 

Busy later reflected on her loss by posting a meme by @two.tones.jones on her Instagram story, which read: "'You let your cat on the couch?' I'd let him represent me in a court of law," alongside several heart and crying emojis. 

The White Chicks actress shares her kids Birdie, 17, and Cricket, 12, with her ex-husband, Marc Silverstein, and the family also have a cat named Rosie and a dog named Gina Linetti.

"Birdie was just a huge Brooklyn Nine-Nine fan, is still a huge Brooklyn Nine-Nine fan," Busy told People. 

"When the dog showed up, Birdie was like, 'The name is Gina Linetti.' And we're like, 'Okay, that sounds good.'"

"It worked. And she's such a little Gina," she added. 

Busy has already endured heartbreak in 2026 following the loss of her Dawson's Creek co-star, James Van Der Beek, who passed away in February after a battle with cancer.

"My heart is deeply hurting for all of us today…every person who knew James and loved him, anyone who loved his work or had the pleasure of meeting him, all of his dear friends and community that surrounded him as he battled this illness, especially his parents and brother and sister," Busy wrote in a lengthy social media tribute. 

"But I am profoundly heartbroken for his incredible wife, Kimberly, and their six magical children…James Van Der Beek was one in a billion, and he will be forever missed, and I don't know what else to say. I am just so, so sad. He was my friend, and I loved him, and I'm so grateful for our friendship all these years."