Politics
Former Child Star Passes Away At Just 24
Sophie Nyweide, a former child actress, has tragically passed away at just 24 years old. According to an obituary posted online, Nyweide died on April 14.
While an official cause of death has not yet been confirmed, the Bennington Police Department said they are investigating it as a “possible unintentional overdose,” according to People. The department revealed in a statement that officers responded to a 911 call from a man who was with Nyweide in a “wooded area along the banks of the Roaring Branch River.”
Despite efforts by first responders, she was pronounced dead at the scene around 5 a.m. Authorities say the man is cooperating with investigators and that the department is committed to conducting “a thorough and comprehensive investigation” into the events leading up to her death.
The department added that the man was “cooperating with investigators.” The obituary offered a candid reflection on Nyweide’s life and struggles.
Sophie Nyweide 2009
“Sophie was a kind and trusting girl,” it read per The New York Post. “Often this left her open to being taken advantage of by others. She wrote and drew voraciously and much of this art depicts the depth she had and it also represents the pain she suffered. Many of her writings and artwork are roadmaps of her struggles and traumas.”
Those close to her said she resisted efforts to accept help. “Even with those roadmaps, diagnoses, and her own revelations, those closest to her, plus therapists, law enforcement officers and others who tried to help her are heartbroken their efforts couldn’t save her from her fate,” the obituary read.
“She self medicated to deal with all the trauma and shame she held inside, and it resulted in her death. She repeatedly said she would ‘handle it’ on her own and was compelled to reject the treatment that might possibly have saved her life.”
Nyweide’s passion for acting began at an early age. “She dreamed (more like demanded!) to be an actor, without ever knowing her mother was an actor, so she did that too with an ease we all marveled about,” the obituary added. “She seemed happiest on a movie set, becoming someone else. It was a safe place for her and she relish from the casts and crews who nourished her talent and her well being.”
The tribute closed with a powerful message: “Sophie. A life ended too soon. May it not be in vain. May we all learn from her brief life on earth and do better. Yes, we must all protect our children and do better.”
via IMBD
Shelly, Sophie’s mother told TMZ, “We are very distraught and mourning. All I can say is her time acting was brief but very happy. She wasn’t a child star in the least and wasn’t subjected to anything hurtful on those films. She was always safe on those sets. Please let her rest in peace now.”
Shelly finished, “My knowledge is she was using drugs and was a tiny young woman. She was with other people when she died. I didn’t know them. There is an investigation ongoing. The autopsy results are not in. They said it would take 6-8 weeks. So I can’t say definitively.”
Nyweide is remembered not only for her screen presence but also for her creative spirit, artistic depth, and the emotional challenges she bravely faced. Her family’s heartbreaking tribute paints a picture of a young woman whose life touched many, even as she struggled to find peace.
Sophie Nyweide is known for her role in Bella and other films in the late 2000s.
