Gone but never forgotten. Celebrities have shared heartfelt tributes about their time with Disney Channel star Cameron Boyce following his death on July 6, 2019. The Descendants alum died at age 20 after suffering from a seizure in his sleep due to an ongoing medical condition called epilepsy.
In April 2021, the actor’s best friend and roommate prior to his passing, Karan Brar, explained how Cameron’s death changed him. “I think losing Cameron shifted everything in my life on it’s axis, and that was incredibly destabilizing,” the BUNK’D star said during an appearance on the “Empty Inside” podcast. “In certain areas of my life, it was … things were shifted into a better situation or into a situation where I could see it a bit more clearly and I could make better eye contact with it.”
He explained, “In certain situations, it made it more uncomfortable and more painful, but I think what it made me is someone who is getting better at taking care of himself … I think that’s one thing I’m trying to take away losing Cameron, is to take care of myself the way that he would want me to take care of myself.”
Months prior, one eagle-eyed social media users noticed that Disney’s new Cruella movie would be released on the late actor’s birthday — May 28. “A Cruella de Vil movie dropping on Cameron Boyce’s birthday, who plays her son in Descendants,” an Instagram comment from February 2021 read.
Adam Sandler — who starred alongside Cameron in the Grown Ups films — also paid tribute to the late star at the end of his Netflix movie Hubie Halloween, which hit the streaming service in October 2020. Mid-way through the credits, fans noticed a photo of Cameron come onto the screen alongside a message honoring the actor. “In loving memory of CAMERON BOYCE,” the tribute read. “Gone way too soon and one of the kindest, coolest, funniest, and most talented kids we knew. You live on forever in our hearts and are truly missed every day.”
During an interview on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Adam also revealed that Cameron was supposed to have a role in the Netflix film, but died “just a few days before filming.”
“That kid was a great kid,” Adam told the host. “His family’s amazing. I know him from Grown Ups … I watched him grow up and become a superstar. My kids worshipped him, he came to my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah.””
Adam’s tribute came just after Cameron’s former Jessie costar Skai Jackson dedicated an emotional Dancing With the Stars performance to her friendship with the late star that same month. The actress broke down in tears as she remembered “a really close friend” who “was in my life for half of my life” before taking the dance floor and performing a Foxtrot to the song “Ordinary People” by John Legend, which earned her a score of 28, praise from the judges and the first 10 of the season.
“We just really built this bond for years and years and years and he was kind of like a big brother figure to me, you know, and always looked out for me through everything. He really molded me into the person I am now. Of course, I miss him every day,” Skai told partner Alan Bersten. “It just makes me a little bit sad, of course. He’s not here, but I know that he would be really proud of me … I’m just really glad that he’s here to watch over us.”
Since Cameron’s death, his friends, family and Descendants costars have spoken out about his death. Scroll through our gallery to see all the celebrity tributes.
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