Skye McCole Bartusiak, 1992-2014
Well, this one hurts.
Former child actress Skye McCole Bartusiak was found dead in her Houston home on July 19, 2014. She was only 21. She still had so much life yet to live.
The cause of death has not yet been released, but Skye's mother Helen Bartusiak said in a statement to CNN that her daughter suffered epileptic seizures in early childhood, and that they had recently returned. Skye was found dead by her boyfriend, in the bedroom of her garage apartment, attached to her parents' house. Her mother and paramedics both tried to revive her, but she was unresponsive. As so often happens when a former child star dies, rumors began circulating that her death was overdose, but her mother told CNN that Skye did not drink or do drugs.
Born in 1992 in Houston, Skye began modeling at age 2. A few years later, after watching her mom, an acting coach, work with students, she decided that she wanted to trying acting, too. She was soon cast in her first role, in the 1999 TV miniseries Storm of the Century. On the set, Skye met Spencer Breslin, who was also just starting an acting career; Skye would remain good friends with Spencer and his little sister Abigail for the rest of her life. After a blink-and-miss-it part in The Cider House Rules, Skye played Mel Gibson's daughter in the 2000 blockbuster The Patriot, which is probably her best-known role. As the grieving, recently-motherless little Susan, her emotional scenes brought her a lot of attention, and its success led to another substantial part, as Michael Douglas's adorable kidnapped daughter in the 2001 thriller Don't Say a Word.
Skye playing video games with Heath Ledger (who played her brother) on the set of The Patriot. Ledger died in 2008.
Skye's friend and fellow young actress Mika Boorem, who played her sister in The Patriot, costarred with her again a year later in Riding in Cars with Boys, where Mika played the younger version of Drew Barrymore's lead character. Coincidentally, in 2002, Skye reprised Drew's role as young pyrokinesis Charlie McGee in Firestarter 2: Rekindled, a sequel to Firestarter. Although Skye never again had the level of success that she did with The Patriot, she kept busy throughout the early- and mid-00's, doing several TV movies and TV guest appearances. Her 2003 indie short film The Vest, while not a commercial hit, was a hit with critics, and Skye won awards for it at film festivals across the country. She was also nominated for a Young Artist Award for Riding in Cars with Boys, but she lost to Dakota Fanning for I Am Sam.
Skye goofing off with her friends Abigail & Spencer Breslin, October 2004.
2003 was a big year for Skye. In addition to The Vest, she made a crossover into theater, playing Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker," opposite with Hilary Swank as Annie Sullivan. The show ran for two weeks at the Charlotte Repertory Theater in Charlotte, NC, and it was initially slated to appear on Broadway, but was postponed. (Coincidentally, her friend Abigail Breslin played Helen Keller on Broadway in 2010.) Like many child stars, Skye's acting career slowed down a bit post-puberty, but she continued working steadily. At the time of her death, her most recent projects were Sick Boy, a low-key thriller released in 2012, and two short films.
By all accounts, Skye was a bright, talented, kind-spirited young woman who worked hard at her career and enjoyed it. For her to have died at such a young age is beyond tragic, and she will be missed by many.
Links: Skye Online, a fansite; Skye's page at ChildStarlets; photo album of Skye & Abigail; icons of Skye in Firestarter 2.
Former child actress Skye McCole Bartusiak was found dead in her Houston home on July 19, 2014. She was only 21. She still had so much life yet to live.
The cause of death has not yet been released, but Skye's mother Helen Bartusiak said in a statement to CNN that her daughter suffered epileptic seizures in early childhood, and that they had recently returned. Skye was found dead by her boyfriend, in the bedroom of her garage apartment, attached to her parents' house. Her mother and paramedics both tried to revive her, but she was unresponsive. As so often happens when a former child star dies, rumors began circulating that her death was overdose, but her mother told CNN that Skye did not drink or do drugs.
Born in 1992 in Houston, Skye began modeling at age 2. A few years later, after watching her mom, an acting coach, work with students, she decided that she wanted to trying acting, too. She was soon cast in her first role, in the 1999 TV miniseries Storm of the Century. On the set, Skye met Spencer Breslin, who was also just starting an acting career; Skye would remain good friends with Spencer and his little sister Abigail for the rest of her life. After a blink-and-miss-it part in The Cider House Rules, Skye played Mel Gibson's daughter in the 2000 blockbuster The Patriot, which is probably her best-known role. As the grieving, recently-motherless little Susan, her emotional scenes brought her a lot of attention, and its success led to another substantial part, as Michael Douglas's adorable kidnapped daughter in the 2001 thriller Don't Say a Word.
Skye playing video games with Heath Ledger (who played her brother) on the set of The Patriot. Ledger died in 2008.
Skye's friend and fellow young actress Mika Boorem, who played her sister in The Patriot, costarred with her again a year later in Riding in Cars with Boys, where Mika played the younger version of Drew Barrymore's lead character. Coincidentally, in 2002, Skye reprised Drew's role as young pyrokinesis Charlie McGee in Firestarter 2: Rekindled, a sequel to Firestarter. Although Skye never again had the level of success that she did with The Patriot, she kept busy throughout the early- and mid-00's, doing several TV movies and TV guest appearances. Her 2003 indie short film The Vest, while not a commercial hit, was a hit with critics, and Skye won awards for it at film festivals across the country. She was also nominated for a Young Artist Award for Riding in Cars with Boys, but she lost to Dakota Fanning for I Am Sam.
Skye goofing off with her friends Abigail & Spencer Breslin, October 2004.
2003 was a big year for Skye. In addition to The Vest, she made a crossover into theater, playing Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker," opposite with Hilary Swank as Annie Sullivan. The show ran for two weeks at the Charlotte Repertory Theater in Charlotte, NC, and it was initially slated to appear on Broadway, but was postponed. (Coincidentally, her friend Abigail Breslin played Helen Keller on Broadway in 2010.) Like many child stars, Skye's acting career slowed down a bit post-puberty, but she continued working steadily. At the time of her death, her most recent projects were Sick Boy, a low-key thriller released in 2012, and two short films.
By all accounts, Skye was a bright, talented, kind-spirited young woman who worked hard at her career and enjoyed it. For her to have died at such a young age is beyond tragic, and she will be missed by many.
Links: Skye Online, a fansite; Skye's page at ChildStarlets; photo album of Skye & Abigail; icons of Skye in Firestarter 2.