Stephen “tWitch” Boss, a professional dancer who played a DJ on Ellen for nearly eight years, has died at 40.
Boss was found in the bathroom of a room at the Oak Tree Inn in Encino, California on Tuesday. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head (confirming an earlier report by TMZ).
Boss was last photographed in public on Dec. 5 at the Critics Choice Association's 5th Annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television. Earlier this week, both he and wife Allison Holker shared a video on their Instagram accounts showing them doing a "HOLIDAY SUNDAY FUNDAY DANCE" together.
“Stephen lit up every room he stepped into," Holker said, in a statement. "He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him. He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans.
“To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt. I am certain there won't be a day that goes by that we won't honour his memory.
“Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you.”
The couple, who were married on Dec. 10, 2013, have son Maddox, 6, and daughter Zaia, 3. Boss adopted Allison’s daughter Weslie, 14.
Boss was runner-up on So You Think You Can Dance in 2008 and appeared as an “all star” on three seasons and as a “team captain” on one. He also worked on choreography for South Korean artists like Seven and Big Bag.
In 2014, he became Ellen DeGeneres’ sidekick on her daytime talk show. Although referred to as the show’s DJ, Boss was never actually responsible for playing music (the equipment he stood behind was not even connected). In latter seasons, he frequently guest-hosted Ellen.
“Whenever he’s not here for whatever reason, it’s just different," DeGeneres said during a tribute on one of her final shows. "I count on him to look over at and make silly jokes. He’s my pal. He’s my sidekick, because we have this connection."
Boss also appeared as the announcer on four seasons of the prime time show Ellen’s Game of Games.
Boss had uncredited roles as a dancer in the Montreal-shot comedy Blades of Glory and the made-in-Toronto adaptation of Hairspray. His film credits also include three Step Up movies, Drop Dead Diva and Magic Mike XXL.
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