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Michelle Obama pays tribute to Cameron Boyce as family reveals child star had epilepsy

Former First Lady hailed Disney Channel star as 'incredible talent'

Jacob Stolworthy
Wednesday 10 July 2019 07:55 BST
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Disney star Cameron Boyce dies aged 20

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Michelle Obama has paid touching tribute to Cameron Boyce following the news that the Disney Channel star died aged 20.

The actor’s death was announced on the evening of Saturday 6 July. The cause was said to be due to “an ongoing medical condition” but hs family have now said the child star had epilepsy.

“It is with a profoundly heavy heart that we report that this morning we lost Cameron,” a spokesperson said on behalf of the Boyce family.

“He passed away in his sleep due to a seizure which was a result of an ongoing medical condition for which he was being treated. The world is now undoubtedly without one of its brightest lights, but his spirit will live on through the kindness and compassion of all who knew and loved him.”

Obama hailed Boyce as an “incredible talent” on Instagram, writing: “I was lucky enough to share a few moments with Cameron Boyce — on set, at the White House, and on a service project — enough time to recognise that not only did he have incredible talent, but also an incredible heart.”

The former First Lady continued: “Sending out a lot of love and hugs to his family, friends, and his many, many fans.”

Following the news, a Disney Channel spokesperson said: “From a young age, Cameron Boyce dreamed of sharing his extraordinary artistic talents with the world. As a young man, he was fuelled by a strong desire to make a difference in peoples’ lives through his humanitarian work.

“He was an incredibly talented performer, a remarkably caring and thoughtful person and, above all else, he was a loving and dedicated son, brother, grandson and friend. We offer our deepest condolences to his family, cast mates and colleagues and join his many millions of fans in grieving his untimely passing. He will be dearly missed.”

Boyce was set to appear as a series regular in HBO’s new show Mrs Fletcher, as well as a TV spinoff of the film American Satan – called Paradise City – about rock stars trying to navigate the music business.

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