The late Disney Channel star Cameron Boyce died from epilepsy in an “unexpected death,” the coroner’s office has officially ruled.
He was found unresponsive by his roommate and when paramedics arrived, they couldn’t revive him.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed on Tuesday, July 30, that he died from epilepsy.
“On July 8, an autopsy was performed, and the cause and manner of death were deferred,” the statement read. “After additional testing, the cause of death was determined to be sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.”
The coroner added that Boyce’s “manner of death was certified as natural.”
On July 22, Boyce’s mother, Libby Boyce, shared a personal photo of her with her son, who played the mischievous Luke Ross on Disney’s “Jessie” television series.
“He is my compass,” Libby wrote on Instagram.
Epilepsy Already Suspected
On July 7, the day after Boyce’s death, TMZ reported that sources said Boyce died in his sleep and suffered from epilepsy. The celebrity news outlet also reported that the Disney star had been suffering from seizures triggered by epilepsy.“It is with a profoundly heavy heart that we report that this morning we lost Cameron,” the family spokesperson said, adding that the young star “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,” the spokesperson added. “We are utterly heartbroken and ask for privacy during this immensely difficult time as we grieve the loss of our precious son and brother.”
Boyce began his acting career in the horror film “Mirrors” when he was nine years old. He got his star break as the character Luke on Disney Channel hit “Jessie.”
He is perhaps best-known for playing Keithie Feder, the son of Adam Sandler’s character Leonard Feder, in the comedy films “Grown Ups” and “Grown Ups 2.”
Adam Sandler, who appeared in “Grown Ups” and “Grown Ups 2” alongside Boyce, issued a statement on Twitter earlier this month.
Humanitarian Project
Boyce’s commitment to philanthropy was acknowledged by an award from the Thirst Project in 2018, after he helped to raise funds to build wells for clean water in Swaziland.
“When I learned more about how the global water crisis is something that can be completely demolished in our lifetime, it just makes you that much more crazy about it,“ Boyce said in the interview. ”I feel like a lot of young people need to understand that they can do the same thing–they aren’t powerless, that they can actually make a change.”
Shortly after Boyce’s death, a Disney Channel representative shared the network’s condolences and noted the young actor’s talent and civic engagement.
“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,” the representative told ABC News in a statement.
“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,” the representative added.
Epoch Times reporters Jack Phillips and Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.
