Jonathan Brandis' death has officially been ruled a suicide, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office confirmed Monday. But why the onetime child star took his own life may remain a mystery.
Brandis, 27, hung himself two weeks ago but didn't leave a note, stymieing friends and fans as to his motive.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
The actor was best known for his portrayal of crewmember Lucas Wolenczek on two seasons of Steven Spielberg's underwater sci-fi series, SeaQuest DSV--a role that launched dozens of teen magazine covers and made Brandis a heartthrob with young female fans.
According to police, 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.
"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," said a statement from Paul Peterson, president of A Minor Consideration, an organization that deals with issues affecting child actors.
Brandis got his show-biz break at the tender age of six when he landed a recurring role on 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 L.A. Law, Who's the Boss? and Murder, She Wrote.
He racked up leading roles in movies such as 1991's The Neverending Story 2: The Next Chapter and Rodney Dangerfield's 1992 comedy Ladybugs but was relegated to secondary roles in more recent projects, including the Farrelly brother's Outside Providence in 1999 and Bruce Willis' WWII action flick Hart's War in 2002.
He was an only child, who is survived by his parents, Greg and Mary Brandis.
Actor Brandis Committed Suicide
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 25, 2003
Teen idol Jonathan Brandis died November 12. (Photo: BOP Magazine)
Brandis also starred as crew member Lucas Wolenczek in the underwater sci-fi series "SeaQuest DSV," a role that garnered him a Young Artists Award in 1993 and helped turn him into a teen idol.
(CBS/AP) The death of 27-year-old actor Jonathan Brandis, who starred in two seasons of Steven Spielberg's "SeaQuest DSV," was a suicide, the county coroner's office said Monday.
Brandis, who died Nov. 12, hung himself, the coroner said.
Police said a friend of Brandis called 911 from the actor's apartment just before midnight on Nov. 11 to report Brandis had attempted suicide. Paramedics transported Brandis to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, but he died the next day, police Detective Gene Parshall said.
Brandis started his career in commercials and on television, landing a recurring role on the soap "One Life to Live" at age 6. He also made guest appearances on "L.A. Law," "Who's the Boss?" and "Murder, She Wrote."
His film credits included the starring role in 1991's "The Neverending Story 2: The Next Chapter," the Rodney Dangerfield comedy "Ladybugs," the martial arts comedy "Sidekicks" with Chuck Norris and a small part in the 2002 film "Hart's War," starring Bruce Willis.
Brandis also starred as crew member Lucas Wolenczek in the underwater sci-fi series "SeaQuest DSV," a role that garnered him a Young Artists Award in 1993 and helped turn him into a teen idol. At one point, he was getting 4,000 fan letters a week -- and he was voted "Number-One Dreamboat" by "Tiger Beat" magazine.
Other film work included Ang Lee's 1999 "Ride with the Devil," and the coming-of-age comedy "Outside Providence," the same year.
Jonathan Brandis, TV actor, favorite of teenage girls; at 27
By Dennis McLellan, Los Angeles Times, 11/22/2003
LOS ANGELES -- Jonathan Brandis, whose role as the young computer whiz on the submarine adventure show "seaQuest DSV" turned him into a top teen heartthrob in the mid-1990s, has died. He was 27.
Mr. Brandis died Nov. 12 after he was found unconscious in his home in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office. A spokesman said the case had been reported as a possible suicide.
From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Brandis played boy genius Lucas Wolenczak on "seaQuest DSV," the Steven Spielberg-produced futuristic underwater fantasy about a deep-submergence vehicle commanded by Roy Scheider.
The boyishly handsome actor with the dark blond hair and blue eyes quickly became a favorite of young female viewers. Readers of the teen fan magazine Tiger Beat voted him the No. 1 dreamboat, and he topped the list of a Seventeen magazine readers' poll of the 10 sexiest guys.
At the peak of his popularity, he received as many as 4,000 letters a week.
"I never perceived myself like this -- a teen magazine kid," Mr. Brandis said in a 1994 interview. "As an actor, you just hope to continue working. Then when you start getting mail! I sure never knew it was coming. It's not something you prepare for."
At the time, Mr. Brandis needed three studio guards to escort him through the mob of female fans at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., where the show was shot.
An only child whose father was a firefighter and mother was a teacher, Mr. Brandis was born in Danbury, Conn. He began his career at age 2 as a model on a sales poster for Buster Brown clothing. By 5, he was doing commercials for Fisher-Price toys, Kix cereal, and other products. And by 6, he was commuting to New York City to play a recurring role in the daytime show "One Life to Live." To further his acting career, his family moved to Los Angeles when Mr. Brandis was 9. He landed spots on series such as "L.A. Law," "Who's the Boss?" "Full House," and "Blossom" and appeared in the miniseries "Poor Little Rich Girl" and Stephen King's "It."
There were also early roles in films, including two released in 1992: "Sidekicks," costarring Beau Bridges, and the Rodney Dangerfield comedy "Ladybugs." In the latter, Mr. Brandis played his role in drag -- as a boy disguised as a girl soccer player -- and the audience response gave him a taste of what was to come.
"I thought it was going to be a funny movie, but I never realized that so many young girls would fall in love with it," he told the Dallas Morning News in 1994.
Among his most recent film credits is "The Year That Trembled" (2002), independent filmmaker Jay Craven's adaptation of the Scott Lax coming-of-age novel set in Ohio after the shootings at Kent State University.
"Many will remember Brandis from his days as a boy genius on `seaQuest DSV,' but here he displays that he has the talent to be an actor of substance," George M. Thomas wrote in the Akron Beacon Journal. "As Casey, he's torn -- conflicted about almost everything in his life -- and he brings those feelings out convincingly."
The film's producer, Tyler Davidson, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer this week, speaking of Mr. Brandis's death: "It's a terrific tragedy, and our hearts go out to the family."
Jonathan Brandis Suicide
Posted on November 26, 2003 01:46 AM
CNN.com - Death of Jonathan Brandis ruled suicide - Nov. 25, 2003 - There are many folks who compare Star Trek's Wesley with the character Jonathan played on SeaQuest (Lucas). Even Wil Wheaton himself has on his own weblog. Although, I didn't really like how each character came across in each series, I still felt I had a connection with them.
Perhaps, it's just the geek in me (both characters were geeks in the shows. In real life, I have no idea if Jonathan was a geek. Wil on the other hand is a self proclaimed geek, which makes it really cool to go read his weblog and see what he's up to.
Obviously, the characters in the shows haven't died. I guess it's that geek in me that feels sad that the real life guy who made the geeky character come alive has died. It's hard to explain.
Interestingly, Wil has an entry about Jonathan's death also and a comparison between himself and Jonathan.
The county coroner's office is investigating the Nov. 12 death, which was reported by the Los Angeles Police Department as a possible suicide, Lt. Ed Winter of the coroner's Investigations Bureau said Thursday.
The coroner performed an autopsy but the cause of death will not be announced until the results of blood and toxicology tests are returned. The investigation could take as long as four to six weeks.
Police said a friend of Brandis called 911 from the actor's apartment just before midnight on Nov. 11 to report Brandis had attempted suicide. Paramedics transported Brandis to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, but he died the next day, police Detective Gene Parshall said.
The office of Brandis' agent at Innovative Artists refused to comment.
Brandis started his career in commercials and on television, landing a recurring role on the soap "One Life to Live" at age six. After moving with his family to Los Angeles at age nine, he made guest appearances on such shows as "L.A. Law," "Who's the Boss?" and "Murder, She Wrote."
Other film credits included the Rodney Dangerfield comedy "Ladybugs," and the martial arts comedy "Sidekicks" with Chuck Norris, and a small part in the 2002 film "Hart's War," starring Bruce Willis.
Brandis also starred as crew member Lucas Wolenczek in the underwater sci-fi series "SeaQuest DSV," a role that garnered him a Young Artists Award in 1993 and helped turn him into a teen idol.
November 21, 2003
Jonathan Brandis, 27; Teen Fans Loved 'seaQuest' Star
I remember this guy. Now he has apparently whacked himself. Not cool.
Jonathan Brandis, whose role as the young computer whiz on the submarine adventure show "seaQuest DSV" turned him into a top teen heartthrob in the mid-1990s, has died. He was 27.
Brandis died Nov. 12 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after he was found unconscious in his home in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office. A spokesman said the case had been reported as a possible suicide. An autopsy has been completed, but a determination of the manner and cause of death are awaiting the results of tests.
From 1993 to 1995, Brandis played boy genius Lucas Wolenczak on "seaQuest DSV," the Steven Spielberg-produced futuristic underwater fantasy about a deep-submergence vehicle commanded by Roy Scheider.
I remember this guy. Now he has apparently whacked himself. Not cool.
Jonathan Brandis, whose role as the young computer whiz on the submarine adventure show "seaQuest DSV" turned him into a top teen heartthrob in the mid-1990s, has died. He was 27.
Brandis died Nov. 12 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after he was found unconscious in his home in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office. A spokesman said the case had been reported as a possible suicide. An autopsy has been completed, but a determination of the manner and cause of death are awaiting the results of tests.
From 1993 to 1995, Brandis played boy genius Lucas Wolenczak on "seaQuest DSV," the Steven Spielberg-produced futuristic underwater fantasy about a deep-submergence vehicle commanded by Roy Scheider.
JONATHAN BRANDIS DIES: Jonathan Brandis, star of the 1993-95 NBC series "seaQuest DSV," was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment Nov. 12. He was 27. Coroners identified his death as a possible suicide, but more tests are planned before a final ruling. Mr. Brandis starred in the recent film "The Year That Trembled."
I remember this guy. Now he has apparently whacked himself. Not cool.