My sister’s keeper Actor Evan Ellingson’s cause of death has been revealed.
Ellingson died of an accidental fentanyl overdose, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino Coroner’s Office told multiple media outlets on Tuesday, November 28. The late child star was found dead in his bedroom at his Fontana, California, home on Sunday, November 5, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department documents. He was 35.
One day after his death, Evan’s father, Michael EllingsontoldTMZ that his son lived in a sober living home after previously struggling with addiction problems.
Evan had previously touched on his drug use in a five-minute testimony outside a substance abuse rehab center called River’s Edge Ranch.
“Life before drugs was just kind of fun,” he explained in 2021 Youtube videonoting that he started doing “heavy drugs” at the age of 19. ‘My lowest point was when I was 19. My brother Austin died of a heroin overdose, and when he died, I went over the edge.”
Evan went on to say that after his brother passed away, he “realized there was a lot more to life.” However, his absence caused Evan to reach a “really dark” place.
“I would have given everything I had to get my brother back, but I knew I couldn’t,” he continued. “And so it sent me into a downward spiral where everything got really dark and scary and things weren’t fun anymore.”
Evan’s My sister’s keeper Co-star, Abigail Breslin, paid tribute to the late actor after his death. (Evan played Breslin’s older brother Jesse in the 2009 film.)
“Evan Ellingson was a kind, funny and extremely talented person,” she wrote via Instagram on November 6. “Evan was a genuinely thoughtful person who cared so much about putting on the best performance whatever he achieved. Some of his scenes in MSK still give me chills. He was also silly, funny, a joker, a Red Bull lover (I hated the smell of Red Bull 😂) and he was energetic and the life of the party.)”
Although Breslin, 27, noted that the pair “didn’t keep in touch much” after filming, she still thought about him often.
“He has always remained in my thoughts as an amazing and kind soul, someone I am grateful to have crossed paths with,” she wrote. “My prayers and condolences are with his family at this time. Evan, I know heaven will welcome you with open arms. Your time on this earth may have been devastatingly short. Your humor, exuberance, kindness and bright light will last forever. Sending you peace on your journey to the great beyond and who knows… maybe one day I will meet you in Montana.”
In addition to his role in MSKEvan – born in La Verne, California in July 1998 – was also known for his role as Kyle Harmon in CSI: Miami from 2007 to 2010, which marked his last TV appearance.
The actor is survived by a daughter Brooklynn, his parents and two brothers.