Disney Channel star Cameron Boyce dies suddenly at 20
Cameron Boyce in a selfie posted to Instagram from Vancouver on June 9. Photo: Instagram
Disney Channel star Cameron Boyce died of natural causes, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office revealed on Thursday.
Boyce was found unresponsive at his North Hollywood home on July 6.
“Preliminary information suggests the death occurred under natural circumstances,” the coroner’s office said in a news release.
“The final cause and manner of death will be determined at a later date.”
Victor Boyce, the late star’s father, described his son’s sudden death as a “nightmare I can’t wake up from.”
Mr Boyce took to Instagram on Wednesday to share one of the last photos taken of his son,”just hours before he was snatched from our lives.”
Captioned the grieving father, “My son … I miss him terribly. I hope that no one ever has to feel the agony I’m feeling but no one is immune to tragedy.”
Stars including Adam Sandler, Salma Hayek and Zendaya also paid tribute to Boyce after his sudden death at age 20.
“Cared so much about his family. Cared so much about the world. Thank you Cameron, for all you gave us. So much more was on the way,” tweeted Sandler.
Boyce at a Los Angeles housing charity event on April 25. Photo: Getty
Best known for his roles as Luke Ross in Jessie and Carlos de Vil in The Descendants, Boyce “passed away in his sleep,” a rep for his family said in a statement on Sunday (US time.)
The death was linked “to a seizure which was a result of an ongoing medical condition” for which Boyce was being treated.
“The world is now undoubtedly without one of its brightest lights, but his spirit will live on through the kindness and compassion of all who knew and loved him,” the statement continued.
“We are utterly heartbroken.”
The day before his death, Boyce posted a black and white photo to his 12.7 million Instagram followers. It drew over 7 million likes.
In his final interview two months ago, Boyce told Haute Living about his passions: family and charity work.
“There’s a long line of difference makers in my family. I’m following in the footsteps of some really strong men and women who have showed me what it means to give back,” Boyce said.
“It’s the greatest way to fulfil yourself … there aren’t many feelings more euphoric. Changing someone else’s life positively changes yours for the better as well.”
Boyce speaking at the 2019 Biden Courage Awards in New York on March 26. Photo: Getty
The Los Angeles native was nine when he appeared in 2008 thriller Mirrors before playing one of Adam Sandler’s children in 2010 movie Grown Ups and its follow up.
“Too young. Too sweet. Too funny. Just the nicest, most talented and most decent kid around,” Sandler tweeted.
“All our hearts are broken.”
Tweet from @AdamSandler
Salma Hayek, who played Boyce’s mother in both Grown Ups movies, shared her memories of the co-star she had stayed in touch with over the years.
“He was spirited, talented, kind, generous and funny and a shining light,” Hayek said.
“Cameron Boyce. Over the past decade I’ve met many actors, but you always stood out,” Gregg Sulkin posted.
“Yes you were talented. But most importantly, you were kind. You were humble. You had a special spark.”
Jessie co-stars Skai Jackson and Charles Esten, who played Boyce’s dad on the show, paid tribute on Instagram.
A “distraught” Jackson wrote, “I wish I would have hugged you tighter when I saw you a couple of months ago.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BznJVjiHg4W/
And yet, Cameron never carried himself with anything but kindness, humility, effortless grace, and great humor. Even as his star ascended with JESSIE, and he began to receive the type of fame that can change people, I never saw that change. Not even a little. /3
— Charles Esten (@CharlesEsten) July 7, 2019
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzn_kvqgBwu/
Absolutely heartbreaking, my heart goes out to his friends and family♥️ https://t.co/X8PAGo0Igi
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) July 7, 2019
“Peter Pan, The forever boy! Love you Cam,” wrote Descendants director Kenny Ortega.
Walt Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger wrote Boyce was “filled with so much talent, heart and life, and far too young to die.
“Our prayers go out to his family and his friends.”
Descendants actress Keegan Connor Tracy posted she found it “unfathomable” that “such a brilliant light” as Boyce’s could be gone.
“You shone more brightly in a few years than most do in a lifetime.”
At April’s Annual Thirst Gala, Boyce was honoured with the Pioneering Spirit Award after raising more than $30,000 for the global water crisis non-profit to help build two wells in Swaziland.
“Many people have the heart to give back, but a lot don’t know how to,” Boyce said.
“I try to be the bridge for those people.”