Actor Jonathan Brandis' Apparent Suicide

Louis Cypher · 11-23-2003, 11:21 PM

by Sarah Hall
Nov 21, 2003, 12:50 AM PT

Actor Jonathan Brandis, who began his television and film career as a child star, has died, the victim of an apparent suicide. He was 27.

Brandis was best known for his portrayal of crewmember Lucas Wolenczek on two seasons of Steven Spielberg's underwater sci-fi series, SeaQuest DSV, which catapulted him to teen-idol status.

Police said a friend of Brandis' called 911 from the actor's apartment just before midnight on November 11 to report that Brandis had attempted suicide by hanging. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital but he died the next day.

Paul Peterson, president of A Minor Consideration, an organization that deals with issues affecting child actors, released a statement expressing his sorrow over Brandis' death.

"We are left with a sense of helplessness and perhaps even anger that this thoroughly unexpected death occurred when we have spent years developing resources to deal with any and all crisis situations," Peterson's statement read. "This one hurts. What more can we say?"

The Los Angeles coroner's office performed an autopsy, but won't announce the cause of death until Brandis' blood and toxicology results are returned, which could take up to six weeks. However, according to Peterson, initial reports showed no sign of drugs in Brandis' system.

"Speculations as to the underlying cause of this tragedy are exactly that: speculations. It serves no purpose to leap to conclusions for none of us will really know what led Jonathan to his decision to take his life," Peterson stated.

Born April 13, 1976 in Danbury, Connecticut, Brandis got his start at age six, when he landed a recurring role on the soap One Life to Live and appeared in numerous commercials. He moved to Los Angeles with his family at age nine, and made guest appearances on shows such as Murder She Wrote and Who's the Boss?

Brandis earned his first starring film role in 1990's The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter. He went on to appear in 1992's Ladybugs with Rodney Dangerfield and more recently in the Farrelly brother's Outside Providence in 1999.

Brandis reportedly left no suicide note. He was an only child, who is survived by his parents, Greg and Mary Brandis.

Louis Cypher · 11-23-2003, 11:21 PM

GMON · 11-24-2003, 05:28 AM

The ultimate act of cowardice.

Liam Brady the CFL guy · 11-25-2003, 03:55 AM

GMON, for once you and I agree on something.

big action · 11-25-2003, 04:50 AM

Can't you two idiots come up with an orginal sentiment? Suicide is anything but cowardly.

Liam Brady the CFL guy · 11-25-2003, 05:20 AM

Explain, big action. I feel that suicide is the most cowardly act humanly possible, but I'm an open minded person and willing to change my opinion. Please explain why you feel that way.

big action · 11-25-2003, 06:12 AM

Liam----you can say it is a "selfish act". That makes sense. Suicide is for "cowards" is a stupid cliche. Cowards do not commit suicide. Cowards do not have the bustamantes to commit suicide and therefore are sentenced to live out their pathetic lives.

Liam Brady the CFL guy · 11-25-2003, 02:17 PM

Don't you think that kind of glamorizes it a bit? Kurt Cobain killed himself because he didn't have the balls to break a drug habit. I think that was a cowardly act, what with a wife, new baby daughter, legions of fans and a record contract he was yet to fulfill. Just my opinion.

kris · 11-25-2003, 02:31 PM

Kurt Cobain killed himself because he didn't have the balls to break a drug habit.

Thats not true, supposedly he had terrible stomach ailments which he took drugs to ease. On the other hand, the drugs could have caused his stomach condition. Im not really sure. He didnt kill himself because he couldnt break his drug habit, thats false!!

buck naked · 11-25-2003, 04:34 PM

That's if you believe Cobain killed himself in the first place.
Apparently, this was a very well conceived homocide.
A lot of the evidence points that way.

kiwi steve · 11-25-2003, 04:53 PM

‘To run away from trouble is a form of cowardice and, while it is true that the suicide braves death, he does it not for some noble object but to escape some ill.’ Aristotle

kris · 11-25-2003, 04:55 PM

If thats what you believe buck, I have no problem with that, its your opinion. What do you have to say about that overdose in paris though?? I think it was going to happen, no one really knew when it was going to happen?? And also, there have been conspiracy reports about Courtney having something to do with it. That would be the only way that i would believe that it was homocide.

kiwi steve · 11-25-2003, 05:28 PM

I used to think that suicide was a cowardice act also as that is what my father used to tell me but now I am not so sure.
My best friend who I grew up with used to love life and I remember him once when we were about 6 or 7 saying "I will live longer than you" ( I was about 6 months older than him). When he was 22 he put a shotgun in his mouth and his mother found him in the back yard.
In an other situation a girl I knew from about 3 years old committed suicide just 4 months ago, her father,mother,sister had all died from cancer at young ages and she was diagnosed a year ago. I don't think you could call her a coward for not wanting to face a fate that was going to take its toll on her.
Another girl who worked for me three years ago, at the age of 18 hung herself on Christmas morning and her mother found her hanging from the rafter when she went in to wish her Merry Xmas. I saw her Xmas Eve and there was nothing different in her personality, I often wonder how a good looking and so loved by her family girl could do such a thing.
It could be due to severe depression or mental illness like in the case of Virginia Woolfe or Vincent Van Gogh that people take their lives. On the outside all can appear to be normal but who knows what demons lurk in ones mind.

GMON · 11-25-2003, 07:08 PM

kiwi: If your faced with no way out on a health issue that is not an act of cowardice.

My point was, the people who leave families and loved ones behind to deal with the shit storm they created. At the end of the day, nothing is that bad and all things can be handled.

Liam Brady the CFL guy · 11-25-2003, 11:27 PM

Look at Courtney Love now. You think their daughter isn't going to have severe problems?

I'm the worlds biggest Nirvana fan but Kurt Cobain was a loser junkie who didn't know how to handle life. He even said so himself numerous times. Listen to the words on In Utero and tell me the guy didn't hate life. My life isn't the greatest but I'm not going to go and off myself, I owe it to my family and friends. Especially if I had a daughter, how could someone do that?