Remembering the Actor’s Legacy, 6 Years After His Death

• Cameron Boyce was an actor, dancer and activist

• The Disney Channel star died on July 6, 2019, when he was 20 years old

• After Boyce’s sudden death, his family created the Cameron Boyce Foundation to honor his legacy

Cameron Boyce was a successful Disney Channel star before his sudden death at 20 years old.

Boyce rose to fame via several Disney Channel TV shows and films. He became known for his roles in the Descendants franchise, the Disney show Jessie and 2010’s Grown Ups, among others.

In addition to acting, Boyce was also a talented dancer and passionate activist. He worked with several organizations, including March for Our Lives and United Way.

Boyce died on July 6, 2019, in his sleep. His death “was due to a seizure as a result of an ongoing medical condition, and that condition was epilepsy,” the Boyce family told PEOPLE in a statement at the time.

Kenny Ortega, who directed Boyce in Descendants, told PEOPLE in June 2024 that Boyce “lit up the room” with his presence.

“He just was always ebullient and full of enthusiasm and energy and was the most generous and delightful, loving, kind person. And so when I think of him, all of that. All of that,” Ortega continued.

From starring alongside Adam Sandler to advocating for change, look back on Boyce’s accomplished life in photos, six years after his death.

Cameron Boyce’s Family

Boyce was born on May 28, 1999, in Los Angeles to Victor and Libby Boyce. He also has a younger sister, Maya, born in 2001.

Acting Debut

At age 9, Boyce made his acting debut in Panic! At The Disco’s music video for “That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)” in 2008. The star portrayed a younger version of the pop rock band’s guitarist Ryan Ross.

First Feature Film

Later that year, Boyce made his feature film debut in the horror film Mirrors, acting opposite Kiefer Sutherland, Paula Patton and Amy Smart. According to his father, the star “never watched” the film.

Grown Ups

The young star proved he could do comedy in the 2010 comedy Grown Ups, in which he played Keithie, the son of Adam Sandler’s Lenny. He reprised his role in the sequel three years later.

Speaking to Crookes Magazine in 2017, Boyce said that working with Sandler, Chris Rock and David Spade taught him “how to listen.”

“As an actor, it’s crucial you keep your ears open, especially when you’re playing opposite comedic legends in almost every scene,” Boyce shared. “I was just a 9-year-old kid waiting for his cue line. That is, until I realized that I might be waiting forever.”

Disney Channel Days

After wading into the Disney Channel world with minor appearances on Good Luck Charlie and Shake It Up, Boyce landed a leading role as Luke Ross in Jessie. For four seasons, Boyce played the mischievous brother of the clan, with Peyton List, Skai Jackson and Karan Brar as his siblings and Debby Ryan as their nanny.

In his last interview before his death, Boyce told Another Man that his stint on Disney Channel changed his perspective on public perception.

“When working with Make-A-Wish, I’ll spend the day with a 9-year-old girl who’s struggling with an autoimmune disease,” the actor explained. “She’s so full of life, she’s super excited to see me and wants to talk about the roles I’ve played on the Disney Channel. Those kids definitely change your view of how important it is to be someone who says the right things and has that passion for making the world a little bit better.”

Descendants

Boyce also joined the Descendants dream team as Cruella De Vil’s son Carlos alongside Dove Cameron, Booboo Stewart and Sofia Carson. He reprised the role for the entire film trilogy, but died a month before the third installment aired. The network canceled the premiere event in the wake of his death, but paid tribute to the late star with a post-film montage.

“We just kept our heads down and had fun doing it, but it was really like, ‘Let’s make this the best that we can possibly make it, and hopefully people like it.’ “ Boyce recalled to Hero in May 2018.

Activist Spirit

In addition to his creative work, Boyce worked closely with many philanthropic and activist causes, including United Way’s initiative to end homelessness, sexual assault awareness movement It’s On Us and the LucStrong Foundation. Collaborating with March for Our Lives co-founder Delaney Tarr, Boyce launched the social media campaign Wielding Peace to fight against gun violence.

He credited his drive to “a long line of difference makers” in his family, he told Haute Living in May 2019. Boyce followed in the footsteps of his mother, who works with teams to find unhoused people permanent housing, and his paternal grandmother, one of “The Clinton 12” who attended the first desegregated public schools.

Dancer at Heart

With his childhood friends, he formed the breakdancing crew X-Mob. As a b-boy, Boyce was known as “Truth,” but he was also trained in other dance styles like ballet and jazz. On top of acting, he took on professional dance gigs like Ice Cube’s “Ya’ll Know How I Am” music video. Three months before his death, Boyce choreographed for and performed in Hozier’s “Almost (Sweet Music)” video with dancer Christine Flores.

“To this day nothing makes me feel as free as when I dance,” Boyce told Vulkan. “Acting can take you away from yourself at times, whereas expressing emotion through free movement is one of the purest ways to discover more about yourself.”

From Costars to Roommates

Shortly before his death, the actor had moved in with Brar and Gamer’s Guide to Everything costar Sophie Reynolds.

In May 2019, Brar celebrated Boyce’s 20th birthday with a sweet Instagram tribute: “I love you. You’re the greatest brother I could’ve ever asked for, and I will forever feel lucky to have you in my life,” Brar’s caption read. “Happy birthday. That’s all. (Think you can tell Cam’s better at sappy posts than I am).”

Four years after his roommate’s death, Brar opened up about how losing Boyce was “destabilizing” and turned his world upside down.

“I think that’s one thing I’m trying to take away losing Cameron is to take care of myself the way that he would want me to take care of myself,” the Diary of a Wimpy Kid actor told Jennette McCurdy on her podcast Empty Inside.

Cameron Boyce Dies at Age 20

After Boyce’s 2019 death, he posthumously led the 2020 teen drama Runt as Cal, a victim of physical bullying after he attempts to ask out the star football player’s girlfriend. He was also in the main cast for the 2019 miniseries Mrs. Fletcher, starring Kathryn Hahn, and the 2021 musical drama Paradise City with Andy Biersack, Bella Thorne and Stewart.

His family opened the nonprofit Cameron Boyce Foundation after his death, which honors his legacy “by aiming to cure epilepsy through funding research, education and awareness campaigns while still supporting causes that were important to Cameron.”

Read the original article on People