Saturday, April 21, 2007

What ever happened to Jonathan Brandis?




November 18, 2003
Yes, the reports you’ve been hearing are sadly true. Last Wednesday, November 12th, the 27 year-old television star, Jonathan Brandis committed suicide by hanging himself, and friends discovered him. There was no suicide note.
Preliminary toxilogical reports reveal that there was NO trace of drugs of any kind found in Jonathon’s body. None.
Our hearts go out to this fine young actor’s parents, Greg and Mary, who are understandably devastated by this death.
Speculations as to the underlying causes of this tragedy are exactly that; speculations. It serves no purpose to leap to conclusions for none of us will really know what led Jonathan to his decision to take his life.
We are left with a sense of helplessness and perhaps even anger that this thoroughly unexpected death occurred when we have spent years developing resources to deal with any and all crisis situations.
This one hurts. What more can we say?
Paul Petersen,AMC
Source

Jonathan Brandis' Apparent Suicide.
Actor Jonathan Brandis, who began his television and film career as a child star, has died, the victim of an apparent suicide. He was 27.
Brandis was best known for his portrayal of crewmember Lucas Wolenczek on two seasons of Steven Spielberg's underwater sci-fi series, SeaQuest DSV, which catapulted him to teen-idol status.

Police said a friend of Brandis' called 911 from the actor's apartment just before midnight on November 11 to report that Brandis had attempted suicide by hanging. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital but he died the next day.
Paul Peterson, president of A Minor Consideration, an organization that deals with issues affecting child actors, released a statement expressing his sorrow over Brandis' death.
"We are left with a sense of helplessness and perhaps even anger that this thoroughly unexpected death occurred when we have spent years developing resources to deal with any and all crisis situations," Peterson's statement read. "This one hurts. What more can we say?"
The Los Angeles coroner's office performed an autopsy, but won't announce the cause of death until Brandis' blood and toxicology results are returned, which could take up to six weeks. However, according to Peterson, initial reports showed no sign of drugs in Brandis' system.
"Speculations as to the underlying cause of this tragedy are exactly that: speculations. It serves no purpose to leap to conclusions for none of us will really know what led Jonathan to his decision to take his life," Peterson stated.
Born April 13, 1976 in Danbury, Connecticut, Brandis got his start at age six, when he landed a recurring role on the soap One Life to Live and appeared in numerous commercials. He moved to Los Angeles with his family at age nine, and made guest appearances on shows such as Murder She Wrote and Who's the Boss?
Brandis earned his first starring film role in 1990's The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter. He went on to appear in 1992's Ladybugs with Rodney Dangerfield and more recently in the Farrelly brother's Outside Providence in 1999.
Brandis reportedly left no suicide note. He was an only child, who is survived by his parents, Greg and Mary Brandis.
Source

9 comments:

Robert said...

A fine young man, seemingly happy with an accomplished acting career. We can never know what demons haunt each of us and many of us try to handle them on our own, as I suspect young Jonathan did. Often, the problems are overwhelming and lead to tragic consequences.
We were fortunate to have young Jonathan among us for as long as we did. I am happy for him that his torment is ended. Rest Well young sir.

Anonymous said...

I love you Jonathan. I wish you had held on but I didn't know your pain. No one did. Thinking of you today.

Anonymous said...

Dear Jonathan,
You may be gone, but you will Never be forgotten! I hope and pray you are in a better place, where there is no more pain! May you be in the Loving arms of our Lord and Savior! Rest in Peace Dear Jonathan! <3 Much Love <3

sarah said...

I read the reason was cause he was extremely depressed because his career rapidly declined, obviously this sometimes happens to child stars. Then he got that part in bruce willlis's film, that was his plan to make a come back, but then they cut his part down to just 2 minutes.

Anonymous said...

Rest in peace!

angliase said...

Just saw you in IT - you were an amazing actor. Thankyou for all you did & sorry you had to leave us..

Anonymous said...

He could definitely have got more acting work.

Anonymous said...

Such a fine Actor. Definitely missed by me and many other folk out here. Great talent that was so short lived. Hollywood can be tough and we know that all too well. I shared the same pain of Hollywood with its ups and downs and yes it's so very hard to keep the chin up high. So many challenges with some being tough and others being easy. As the way things go only the good die young. Although we will never know why you decided to end your life but definitely know one thing that you was adored by many friends family and co workers in the limelight. Rest in peace Jonathan, just wish you would have asked for help instead of fighting those demons.

Unknown said...

I believe that's the magazine rumors Mrs Sarah. We can't be entirely too sure.