Lee Thompson Young | |
|---|---|
 Young in "Heavy Metal" (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles; 2008) | |
| Born | (1984-02-01)February 1, 1984 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | August 19, 2013(2013-08-19) (aged 29) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Lakeview Memorial Gardens,York, South Carolina |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–2013 |
Lee Thompson Young (February 1, 1984 – August 19, 2013) was an American actor who began his career as a teenager, playing the titular character on theDisney Channel television seriesThe Famous Jett Jackson (1998–2001). As an adult, major roles included playing Chris Comer in the movieFriday Night Lights (2004) andBoston police detective Barry Frost on theTNTpolice drama seriesRizzoli & Isles (2010–14).
Young was born inColumbia, South Carolina, the son of Velma Elaine (née Love) and Tommy Scott Young.[1][2] He was in the second grade when his parents' marriage ended, and he went to live with his mother. At age ten, he portrayedMartin Luther King Jr. in a play calledA Night of Stars and Dreams by Dwight Woods at the Phillis Wheatley Repertory Theater ofGreenville, South Carolina.[3] It was then that Young decided he wanted to become an actor.
Young moved toNew York City in June 1996, but it was not until the next year that he auditioned for the part of Jett Jackson inThe Famous Jett Jackson. He filmed the pilot and found out in June 1998 that theDisney Channel had picked up the show; it would go on to become aDisney Channel Original Movie in June 2001. Young also starred inJohnny Tsunami (1999), anotherDisney Channel Original Movie, as Sam Sterling. Although the movie was successful, he did not reprise the role in the sequel,Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board (2007), which was taken over byJonathan McDaniel.
In 2002, one year after the cancellation ofThe Famous Jett Jackson, Young had guest spots in theCBS seriesThe Guardian. He also had a part in the movieFriday Night Lights (2004), portraying Chris Comer. He then portrayed Charles Becnel in theJamie Foxx movieRedemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story (also 2004). Lee appeared onUPN's TV drama seriesSouth Beach, and he portrayed Victor Stone (known inDC Comics asCyborg) in a fifth-season episode of the television seriesSmallville, in 2006; he reprised the character in the Season Six episode "Justice" (airdate January 18, 2007), and in the Season Nine finale "Salvation" (airdate May 14, 2010).
Young appeared in the feature filmAkeelah and the Bee (2006), playing Akeelah's brother Devon. He playedNational Guard rookie Delmar inThe Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007). In 2009, Young played a cocky surgical intern in the hit comedy showScrubs. It is revealed that his character had been overweight during childhood. The character becomes involved in a romance with one of the medical interns.
Young played the role of Al Gough, anFBI agent, in theABC television dramaFlashForward. He was written off the show in episode 7, when his character committed suicide to prevent the death of an innocent civilian.
He made an appearance on theFox dramaThe Good Guys as the brother and business partner of an arms dealer. His last acting role was playing Barry Frost, partner of Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) on theTNT dramaRizzoli & Isles.
Young graduated with honors from theUniversity of Southern California, where he majored in cinematic arts and was a member of theKappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Young enjoyed writing and wrote the screenplay for the 2007 short filmMano.[4]
On August 19, 2013, Young failed to show up to film an episode ofRizzoli & Isles.[5] Police were called to do awellbeing check on him at his Los Angeles apartment, where he was found dead.[1] His manager stated that the 29-year-old actor had died by suicide.[6][7] Police confirmed the cause of death as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.[8] Young had been diagnosed withbipolar disorder, for which he had been taking medication, and had been suffering from depression before his death.[9]
After funeral services atInglewood Park Cemetery, Young was interred at Lakeview Memorial Garden inYork, South Carolina.[10] A memorial service was held on theParamount Studios lot.[11]
Young's family later launched the Lee Thompson Young Foundation in an effort to help remove the stigma surroundingmental illness.[12]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Friday Night Lights | Chris Comer | |
| 2006 | Akeelah and the Bee | Devon Anderson | |
| 2007 | The Hills Have Eyes 2 | Delmar | |
| Mano | Machito | Short film | |
| 2010 | Bastard | Passenger 1 | Short film |
| 2012 | Just an American | Curtiss Jackson | final role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–2001 | The Famous Jett Jackson | Jett Jackson / Silverstone | Lead role (65 episodes) |
| 1999 | Johnny Tsunami | Sam Sterling | TV Movie |
| 2001 | Jett Jackson: The Movie | Jett Jackson / Silverstone | TV Movie |
| 2002 | Philly | Steven Hicks | Episode: "There's No Business Like No Business" |
| The Guardian | Levi Mooney | 5 episodes | |
| 2003 | Jake 2.0 | Prince Malik Namir | Episode: "The Prince and the Revolution" |
| The Jersey | Himself | Episode: "Origins: Part 2" | |
| 2004 | Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story | Charles Becnel | TV Movie |
| The Proud Family | Teen Bebe (voice) | Episode: "Twins to Tweens" | |
| 2004–2005 | Xiaolin Showdown | Jermaine (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Kevin Hill | Levi | Episode: "Homeland Insecurity" |
| 2006 | South Beach | Alex Bauer | 5 episodes |
| 2006–2007; 2010 | Smallville | Victor Stone/Cyborg | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | Five Year Plan | Mutabi | TV Movie |
| Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | Agent Stewart | Episode: "Heavy Metal" | |
| 2009 | Scrubs | Derek | 3 episodes |
| Lincoln Heights | Julian | Episode: "Bully for You" | |
| 2009–2010 | FlashForward | Al Gough | 8 episodes |
| 2010 | The Good Guys | Eric Williams | Episode: "Small Rooms" |
| The Event | Corporal Bell | 2 episodes | |
| 2010–2014 | Rizzoli & Isles | Det. Barry Frost | Main role (56 episodes) |
| 2012 | CSI: NY | Kelvin Moore | Episode: "Unwrapped" |
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Drama or Comedy Series – Leading Young Actor | The Famous Jett Jackson | Nominated |
| 2000 | Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Leading Young Actor | Nominated | ||
| 2001 | Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Leading Young Actor | Nominated | ||
| Gemini Awards | Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series | Nominated |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
