- By Emma Saunders
- Entertainment journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Evan Ellingson pictured in 2009 at the premiere of My Sister’s Keeper
Evan Ellingson, best known for starring in CSI: Miami and the Cameron Diaz film My Sister’s Keeper, has died at the age of 35.
Ellingson was found dead Sunday in the bedroom of a Fontana residence, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
The cause of death has not yet been established. An autopsy was to take place on Monday.
TMZ first reported the news and spoke to Ellingson’s father, who said his son struggled with substance abuse disorders and died in a sober living home where he resided.
He said Ellington was doing well and his death was a shock to his family.
Paying tribute, his former co-star Abigail Breslin said: “Evan Ellingson was a kind, funny and extremely talented human being. He played my big brother in a movie I did called My Sisters Keeper.
“Evan was a truly thoughtful person who cared about putting in the best performance, which he accomplished. Some of his scenes in MSK still give me chills.
“He was also silly, funny, a prankster, a Red Bull lover (I hated the smell of Red Bull) and he was energetic and a party person.”
Image source, Getty Images
My Sister’s Keeper star Abigail Breslin said Ellingson was a “kind, funny and extremely talented human being.”
Ellingson first found work in commercials as a child, including a commercial for the clothing and shoe company Vans.
He landed a regular role on the Fox sitcom Titus in 2000, and in 2004 starred in the ABC sitcom Complete Savages as Kyle Savage alongside Erik von Detten and Keith Carradine.
In 2007, he landed the role of Josh Bauer in 24 alongside Kiefer Sutherland then spent three years in the role of Kyle Harmon in CSI: Miami from 2007 to 2010.
Ellingson has also worked in films and in 2006 he was cast by Clint Eastwood in Letters from Iwo Jima.
Her most famous film role came in the 2009 drama My Sister’s Keeper alongside Diaz, Breslin and Alec Baldwin.
He played the son of Diaz and Jason Patric’s characters.
Religious work
Ellingson had not appeared on screen for several years.
According to his Facebook pageEllingson worked for a religious organization called Teen Challenge South California and his hobbies included surfing, horseback riding and hiking.
“Our family is heartbroken by the sudden passing of our beloved son, brother, uncle and friend, Evan,” Victoria Haines-Perez’s message read.
“Evan was one of the most caring people who loved Jesus with all his heart. He had a gentle, child-like spirit with a smile that could light up a room. He was always thinking of others and wanted to use his own struggles with addiction to help people to find hope again.
“Evan was three years sober and often shared his recovery journey through speaking engagements and ministry. He was passionate about directing individuals to help resources and only recently relapsed after being prescribed opioids following dental procedures.”
