Actor Cameron Boyce, known for playing Carlos in the Disney Channel franchise Descendants and Stone Cates Jr. in the now-defunct soap opera General Hospital: Night Shift, has passed away. The 20-year-old's death, which was confirmed by his family, is reported as being caused by "an ongoing medical condition."
A Los Angeles native, Boyce got his first taste of success in the Panic! at the Disco music video "That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)" followed by the recurring role of Michael "Stone" Cates Jr. on GH's nighttime spinoff series in 2008. As GH fans may know, the young character was the son of Jagger Cates (Antonio Sabato Jr.) and was named after his late uncle Stone Cates, who passed away from an AIDS-related illness in 1995.
Shortly after appearing on General Hospital: Night Shift, Boyce made his feature film debut in the horror film Mirrors, which led to a role opposite Adam Sandler in Grown Ups, and the Disney series Shake It Up, Jessie, and Descendants. He was also set to appear as a series regular in HBO's new show Mrs. Fletcher, starring Kathryn Hahn, and a TV spinoff of the film American Satan about rock stars navigating the music industry.
"It is with a profoundly heavy heart that we report that this morning we lost Cameron," a spokesperson said on behalf of the Boyce family. "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. 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's sudden death prompted an outpouring of grief on social media, including a message from GH's Antonio Sabato, Jr.
"Rest In Peace Cameron Boyce, it was an honor to have worked with you and spend our time together," he wrote. "Man my heart is broken, what an amazing kid with an amazing future. My deepest condolences to his family & friends. We will all miss you. #bokenheart"
Rest In Peace Cameron Boyce, it was an honor to have worked with you and spend our time together. Man my heart is broken, what an amazing kid with an amazing future. My deepest condolences to his family & friends. We will all miss you. #bokenheart @TheCameronBoyce pic.twitter.com/TUdZYuUoaR
- Antonio Sabáto Jr 🇺🇸 (@AntonioSabatoJr) July 7, 2019
Kimberly McCullough, who played Robin Scorpio on both General Hospital and General Hospital: Night Shift, also took to Twitter to express her grief.
"Had the pleasure of working with him on Night Shift where he played 'Stone Jr.'," she shared of the young actor. "Broke out some crazy legs one day in set. That's how I'll remember him. RIP bright soul."
#CameronBoyce Had the pleasure of working with him on Night Shift where he played "Stone Jr." Broke out some crazy legs one day in set.
- Kimberly McCullough (@whitewatercrew) July 7, 2019
#CameronBoyce that's how I'll remember him. RIP bright soul
- Kimberly McCullough (@whitewatercrew) July 7, 2019
A Disney Channel spokesperson also shared a statement about Boyce that reads: "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, cast mates and colleagues and join his many millions of fans in grieving his untimely passing. He will be dearly missed."
Though Boyce spent a lot of time acting, he also dedicated himself to charity work. He introduced former Vice President Joe Biden at his Biden Courage Awards in March, and he was honored with the Pioneering Spirit Award at last year's Thirst Gala, which was sponsored by the Thirst Project, a nonprofit for which Boyce raised $30,000 to help build wells for clean drinking water in Swaziland.
What do you remember most about Boyce's time on General Hospital: Night Shift? Did you watch the daytime alum in any of his movies or Disney shows? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
