Stephen “tWitch” Boss is dead by apparent suicide at the age of 40. He was loved and well known as the DJ and a co-executive producer for the “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
Boss checked into a hotel in Encino, California, about a mile from his home, a day before he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Staff at the Oak Tree Inn told TMZ that the man had checked into the hotel on Monday and did not seem distressed when he checked in.
He reportedly only carried a small bag and according to the motel manager, police later confiscated the bag, which could have his suicide note.
He only requested a room for one night at the hotel, and when he missed his checkout on Tuesday, hotel staffers went to check on him in his room. They found him in the bathroom, dead from a gunshot wound.
Hotel staff said they did not hear gunfire at any point during his stay, which is possible because of the hotel’s layout and shape. The outlet also reported that his wife, Allison Holker, had reported Boss missing to the police, claiming that he had left the house, and left his car behind, which was very unusual for him.
Los Angeles Police Department responded to a radio call about an ambulance death investigation at around 11:20 am on Tuesday. Investigators also determined that the “So You Think You Can Dance” alums shot himself, and they found no signs of foul play.
His wife confirmed his death and said that Boss lit up the room everywhere he went and valued his family, friends, and the community around him. He believed in leading with light and love, and he was the backbone of their family.
She continued to say that he left a legacy in this world, and she would honor his memory every day. She asked for privacy as she and the three children Boss left behind mourn his death.
Boss rose to fame in the 2000s as a contestant in “The Wade Robson Project” and then in “Star Search”, where he was a runner-up. In 2008, Boss competed in the popular dance competition show, “So You Think You Can Dance” and finished as a runner-up. He later returned to the show as an All-Star. When the show returned this year, he was a judge.
Boss joined “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2014 as a guest DJ and eventually became a permanent DJ on the talk show. In 2020, he became a co-executive producer for the show.
The star and his wife Allison also cohosted Fairy Tale Weddings on Disney, and he has appeared on numerous TV shows and films, including Modern Family, Magic Mike XXL, and Step Up All In.
Boss’s positive demeanor permeated even outside the screen as he, his wife, and their three kids posted uplifting and fun dance videos on social media, especially TikTok.
In 2017, Boss spoke about how he overcomes problems in his life, saying that it helps him to know that life keeps going no matter what.
Ellen DeGeneres was among the first celebrities to pay tribute to the late DJ. She wrote on Instagram that he was “pure love and light.”
Boss is survived by his wife Allison, 34, and their children, 14-year-old Weslie, 6-year-old Maddox, and 3-year-old Zaia.
