Calgary's Sean Cheesman, a top choreographer who now works all over the world, has added his voice to the tributes that are pouring in from around the world from people who are mourning the death of pop superstar Whitney Houston.

Houston was pronounced dead Saturday in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton.

Cheesman appeared with Houston in the 1992 film The Bodyguard. He choreographed Houston in the movie, and in the music video for her song I'm Every Woman.

Choreographer Sean Cheesman, originally from Calgary, remembers Whitney Houston as a talented singer and actress. (CBC)

“It’s very shocking and very sad,” he said.

He said Houston was born to sing and he will remember her as someone who could make him laugh.

“Besides being an incredible artist and singer, she was a real good comedian,” he said. “She used to make me giggle on set.”

Cheesman said he feels Houston was the soundtrack to the lives of his generation in the 80s and 90s.

He said they became very close when they worked on The Bodyguard set, even later attending Houston’s wedding.

“Her passion was to perform, so she put everything into it,” said Cheesman.

Houston ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, something Cheesman said is hard to deal with in the public eye.

“When I would see and read things it was a person I didn’t know, but, you know, when you are going through those problems you become a different person,” said Cheesman. “We all have our demons we have to deal with ... that was her struggle but that wasn’t who she was.”

Houston's death at age 48 came just hours before she was to attend a Grammy Awards party.

Her passing is sad news ahead of Sunday’s ceremony, but the show will go on and is set to include a tribute to the superstar from Jennifer Hudson.

The cause of Houston's death is still unknown.