Smallville Star Lee Thompson Young Dies At 29

Lee Thompson Young

(February 1, 1984 – August 19, 2013)

The American actor most famous for playing the main character on Disney’s The Famous Jett Jackson is dead after what is reported to be a suicide at the age of just 29 years old.

Reports in US media are this morning were that Young’s body was discovered with a gunshot wound that appeared to be self-inflicted.

Young currently appears in the TNT show “Rizzoli & Isles” in the US — and its reported that when he didn’t show up to work this morning, staffers called the landlord of Young’s L.A. home to check up on the actor.

The landlord is said to have opened the door and discovered Young’s body.

Los Angeles police officer Sally Madera told the Associated Press that police were sent to the home to check on Young after he failed to show up for filming.

Lee in Smallville

Later in the day the actor's manager, Jonathan Baruch, confirmed that Young took his own life.

Young was a rising star in Hollywood. After he made it big as a Disney star, he went on to play running back Chris Comer in the 2004 movie “Friday Night Lights.”

Lee with the cast of  South Beach

South Africans will remember him for his role on Smallville which aired on both SABC and Mnet. 

SABC 1 viewers will also remember him from the prime time show South Beach on which he played Vanessa Williams' son. 

He also played  Devon in Tyler Perry's 2006 family film, Akeelah and the Bee.

Lee Thompson Young’s suicide was also confirmed in a statement issued by his publicist;

“It is with great sadness that I announce that Lee Thompson Young tragically took his own life this morning,” the statement read. “Lee was more than just a brilliant young actor, he was a wonderful and gentle soul who will be truly missed.”

Tributes and messages of support for his friends and family continues to pour in via social media platforms.

Another young talent gone too soon.