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Stephen ‘Twitch’ Boss, the longtime DJ on The Ellen Degeneres Show, has died via suicide at the age of 40 years old, according to a report from TMZ.
Boss served as a virtual cohost of The Ellen DeGeneres Show from 2014 to its conclusion in 2022. In addition to his role on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Boss also featured on Ellen’s Game of Games and hosted the Disney+ series Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings with his wife Alisson Holker, whom he married in 2013.
Law enforcement sources tell us Stephen’s wife Allison Holker ran into an LAPD station Tuesday, and she was frantic because she said Stephen had left home without his car — something that was not like him at all.
We’re told, a short time later police got a call for a shooting at an L.A. hotel and they found Stephen there, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. [via TMZ]
Prior to landing on The Ellen DeGeneres show, Boss studied study Dance Performance at Southern Union State Community College and Chapman University before ultimately embarking on a career as a professional backup dancer and choreographer.
After originally premiering back in 2003, The Ellen DeGeneres Show — which had faced some controversy in recent years as a result of its host’s reported on-set behavior — aired its final episode on May 26, 2022.
In a statement to People, Boss’ wife Alisson confirmed his passing and said he “lit up every room he stepped into.”
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us. Stephen lit up every room he stepped into. He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him. He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans,” her statement reads.
“To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt. I am certain there won’t be a day that goes by that we won’t honor his memory. We ask for privacy during this difficult time for myself and especially for our three children.”
Boss is survived by his wife and three children. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and various loved ones during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.