Jonathan Brandis joined the 27 club on November 12, 2003. The cause of death is recorded as: Suicide by hanging
Jonathan Gregory Brandis (April 13, 1976 – November 12, 2003) was an American actor who started his career as a child model and went on to act in commercials before making his acting debut on the soap opera "One Life to Live" at the age of six. He moved to Los Angeles with his family at nine and made guest appearances on various television shows, including "Blossom," "L.A. Law," "Who's the Boss?", "Murder, She Wrote," "The Wonder Years," "Full House," and "Webster." At age 13, Brandis landed his first starring role as Bastian Bux in "The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter."
Brandis gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of young "Stuttering Bill" Denbrough in the television miniseries "Stephen King's It," which was based on the epic horror novel of the same name. His performance received critical acclaim, and he went on to star in two films back-to-back: first as Barry Gabrewski in "Sidekicks" and then as Matthew/Martha in "Ladybugs." Around age 17, Brandis landed one of his most famous roles, as scientific prodigy Lucas Wolenczak in Steven Spielberg's futuristic science fiction series "seaQuest DSV." The role catapulted him into teen idol status, and he received approximately 4,000 fan letters a week. Brandis also voiced Mozenrath, an evil young sorcerer, in Disney's animated series "Aladdin."
After the cancellation of "seaQuest DSV" in 1996, Brandis appeared in various television films and supporting roles in "Her Last Chance," "Born Free: A New Adventure," "Outside Providence," and "Ride with the Devil." In 2000, he costarred in "Bad Girls from Valley High," which was not released until 2005, two years after his death. Brandis had a small role in Hart's War (2002). In 2003, he was cast in the pilot "111 Gramercy Park," but it was not picked up by the network. His final onscreen appearance was in action drama "Puerto Vallarta Squeeze," which was also released posthumously.
Brandis was born in Danbury, Connecticut, to Mary, a teacher and personal manager, and Gregory Brandis, a food distributor and firefighter. At age two, he began his career as a child model for Buster Brown shoes. He attended San Fernando Valley Professional School and graduated in 1993. From 1995 to 1998, Brandis dated actress and singer Tatyana Ali. The couple appeared in an article in People magazine in July 1996.
Tragically, on November 11, 2003, Brandis was found hanged in the hallway of his Los Angeles apartment. He died the following day at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of injuries sustained from the hanging. Brandis did not leave a suicide note. After his death, friends reported that he had been struggling with depression due to his extended career lull and was disappointed when his appearance in Hart's War was significantly reduced in the final cut. Brandis began drinking heavily and expressed his intention to kill himself. In 2021, his father, Greg Brandis, noted that Jonathan was probably suicidal at the time of his death.
Jonathan Brandis left behind a legacy as a talented actor who started his career as a child model and went on to appear in various television shows and films. He gained widespread recognition for his role as young "Stuttering Bill" Denbrough in Stephen King's It, which became a cultural icon. Despite the unfortunate circumstances of his death, Brandis' contributions to the entertainment industry continue to be celebrated.