UPDATE (7/11/19, 6:34 PM ET) — On July 11, Disney said they were cancelling the red carpet premiere event for Descendants 3 (scheduled for July 22). In a statement provided to HollywoodLife, Disney said, “We’re proud to be part of Cameron Boyce’s legacy by showcasing his talents on screen, but we are cancelling the red carpet premiere event for ‘Descendants 3’ (scheduled for July 22) and instead, The Walt Disney Company will make a donation to the Thirst Project, a philanthropic organization to which Cameron was deeply committed. With permission from the Boyce family, Disney Channel will dedicate the telecast of ‘Descendants 3’ in Cameron Boyce’s memory.”
UPDATE: (7/11/19, 12:33 PM ET) — While the final cause of death is still being determined, the LA coroner tells HollywoodLife, “Preliminary information suggests the death occurred under natural circumstances.”
UPDATE: (7/8/19, 6:30 PM ET) — The Los Angeles County Coroner released a statement that says, “Actor Cameron Boyce died Saturday in his North Hollywood home, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner announced. In the early afternoon of July 6, Cameron Mica Boyce (DOB: 05/28/99) was found unresponsive in his home located in the 5100 block of Cartwright Avenue in North Hollywood. Authorities were called and Boyce was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:35 p.m. An autopsy was performed today and a cause of death was deferred pending further investigation
UPDATE — A Disney Channel spokesperson released the following statement about Cameron Boyce’s sudden death: “From a young age, Cameron Boyce dreamed of sharing his extraordinary artistic talents with the world. As a young man, he was fueled by a strong desire to make a difference in peoples’ lives through his humanitarian work. He was an incredibly talented performer, a remarkably caring and thoughtful person and, above all else, he was a loving and dedicated son, brother, grandson and friend. We offer our deepest condolences to his family, castmates, and colleagues and join his many millions of fans in grieving his untimely passing. He will be dearly missed.”
The world has lost one of its brightest rising stars. Cameron Boyce is dead at just 20 years old. “It is with a profoundly heavy heart that we report that this morning we lost Cameron,” a spokesperson on behalf of the Boyce family said in a statement to HollywoodLife. “He passed away in his sleep due to a seizure which was a result of an ongoing medical condition for which he 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.”
Cameron was best known for his role as Carlos, the son of notorious Disney villain Cruella De Vil, in the Descendants trilogy alongside Sofia Carson, 26, Dove Cameron, 23, and Booboo Stewart, 25. Descendants 3, the third film in the Disney Channel Original Movie trilogy, is currently set for an Aug. 2 debut. Cameron was also set to appear in the upcoming HBO series Mrs. Fletcher and upcoming series Paradise City.
Prior to Descendants fame, Cameron notably played Luke Ross in the Disney Channel series Jessie from 2011 to 2015. He also appeared on other Disney Channel series, including Liv and Maddie, BUNK’D, and Austin & Ally. He made his feature film debut in the 2008 film Mirrors. His other movie roles included Eagle Eye, Grown Ups, Grown Ups 2, and Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.
Cameron was also dedicated to charity work. He introduced former Vice President Joe Biden, 76, at the Biden Courage Awards in March 2019. Cameron was also honored with The Pioneering Spirit Award, the highest honor an individual can receive at the 9th Annual Thirst Gala. Cameron raised more than $30,000 for the Thirst Project to build two wells in Swaziland, saving countless lives by bringing clean drinking water to the region.
Cameron just turned 20 on May 28. He will be so missed. Our thoughts are with Cameron’s family and friends during this difficult time.