Dancer and Television Personality tWitch Dies at 40
Dancer tWitch, first known to audiences from his long run on “So You Think You Can Dance,” died on December 13, 2022. He was 40.
Born Stephen Laurel Boss, tWitch studied dance performance at Southern Union State Community College and Chapman University.
Following appearances on MTV’s “The Wade Robson Project” and “Star Search,” tWitch competed on “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2008. He was a runner-up that year, but he returned in following seasons as a judge.
During the 2010 season, he appeared on “So You Think You Can Dance” as an all-star dancer, and he became involved with another all-star, Allison Holker, who he later married.
tWitch loved dance, and he admired the classic greats: “The greatest of all time had to be Gene Kelly, man. Gene Kelly, because he’s a guy’s guy. I love Fred Astaire, but Fred Astaire was so smooth, and it was great. He was so classy. But Gene Kelly — he could be like somebody’s dad, who just decided to get up off the couch and dance around and clean the kitchen up.”
In 2014, tWitch joined Ellen Degeneres’ talk show as the DJ, and by 2020 he was a coexecutive producer. He remained a part of the show until it ended in 2022.
He performed in dance movies, including the “Step Up” franchise and “Magic Mike XXL.”
Five years ago, tWitch said, “I’m 35 years old, I am a father of two, I’m a husband, so it’s just like I have so many lives other than my own that I have to take account for in my choices, my actions, and all of that.” Two days ago, tWitch and his wife danced in front of a Christmas tree in what would be their final Instagram post as a couple.
tWitch took his own life at a hotel/motel in Encino. He is survived by his wife and their three children, Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia.
Learn more about tWitch in his own words.
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SOURCES
Associated Press. “Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, ‘Ellen’ show’s dancing DJ, has died at 40.” NPR, December 14, 2022, https://www.npr.org/2022/12/14/1142813117/stephen-twitch-boss-ellen-shows-dancing-dj-dies
Dasrath, Diana, et al. “‘Ellen’ show DJ, Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, dies at 40.” NBC News, December 14, 2022, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ellen-show-dj-stephen-twitch-boss-dies-40-rcna61687
France, Lisa Respers. “Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, DJ for ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show,’ dead at 40.” CNN, December 14, 2022, https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/14/entertainment/stephen-boss-twitch-dead/index.html
Reslin, Eileen. “Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss once spoke on overcoming hardships: Life ‘keeps going.’” Page Six, December 14, 2022, https://pagesix.com/2022/12/14/stephen-twitch-boss-once-spoke-on-overcoming-hardships/
TMZ, “Ellen’s DJ Dead at 40 by Suicide … Ellen ‘Heartbroken.’” TMZ, December 14, 2022, https://www.tmz.com/2022/12/14/stephen-twitch-boss-dead-dies-dj-ellen-degeneres-so-you-think-you-can-dance/
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