Evan Ellingson’s cause of death has been revealed.
The former child star, who was best known for starring in “My Sister’s Keeper” and “CSI: Miami,” died at age 35 as a result of an accidental fentanyl overdose, according to a statement made from the coroner’s department to People.
An autopsy from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s coroner also listed Ellingson’s manner of death as an “accident.”
The Post has contacted reps for Ellingson for comment.
“My Sister’s Keeper” director Nick Cassavetes remembered the late actor in a post at the time of his death, writing, “My soul is crushed today. What a kid.”
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Ellingson was found dead in the bedroom of a Fontana sober-living residence in San Bernardino County, Calif., at about 11:30 a.m. on November 5, 2023.
The circumstances were not made public at the time of Ellingson’s death, but according to TMZ, which first reported the news, officials did not suspect foul play.
(L-R) Cameron Diaz, Sofia Vassilieva, Abigail Breslin, Evan Ellingson and Jason Patric pose at the “My Sister’s Keeper” New York premiere. Gregory Pace/BEI/Shutterstock
Ellingson was best known for his role in “My Sister’s Keeper” starring Abigail Breslin and Sofia Vassilieva. ©New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett CollectionHis father, Michael, told TMZ that his passing was a shock to the family. Ellingson struggled with drugs in the past, but he was reportedly doing better at the time of his death.
Ellingson was born on July 1, 1988, to parents Michael Ellingson and Susan Ellingson. He grew up in La Verne, Calif., with his three brothers.
He was reportedly discovered at age 10 at a skate park and invited to shoot a commercial for the Vans shoes company.
In 1995, he landed a guest spot on “Mad TV” and later became a series regular on the 2000 Fox sitcom “Titus.” In 2004, Ellingson portrayed Kyle Savage on ABC’s “Complete Savages” alongside Keith Carradine and Erik von Detten. The show was executive produced by Mel Gibson.
Evan Ellingson as Kyle Harmon extinguishes a fire opposite David Caruso as Horatio Caine in “CSI: Miami.” CBS via Getty Images
Evan Ellingon played “Kyle Savage,” son of single dad Keith Carradine, in the Mel Gibson-produced 2004 ABC sitcom “Complete Savages.” ©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett CollectionHe’s best known for the 2009 movie “My Sister’s Keeper,” starring Cameron Diaz, Alec Baldwin and Abigail Breslin.
Ellingson seemingly retired from acting in 2010 after appearing on “CSI: Miami.”
“I never had the same [childhood] experience with my friends,” Ellingson told People. “I never had more time with them. However, my childhood was a cool one. I was busy doing the things I love.” He added, “I had no regrets because I found my passion for acting early on.”
In 2021, Ellingson sought recovery for substance abuse at the River’s Edge Ranch in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Ellingson struggled with drugs in the past, but he was reportedly doing better at the time of his death. Getty Images“Life before the drugs was kinda just fun,” he said in a five-minute testimonial posted on YouTube. “I would say around 19 is when I got into the heavy drugs. My rock bottom was when I was 19. My older brother Austin, he died from a heroin overdose, and when he died … it sent me over the edge.”
“Once my brother passed away, I just kind of realized that there was much more to life, and how important people were,” he continued. “I would have given everything that I had to be able to get my brother back, and I knew I couldn’t. And so it sent me on this downhill spiral where everything just got really dark and scary and things weren’t fun anymore.”
Ellingson ended his testimonial in good spirits and appeared filled with hope for the future.
“There’s a lot of things that God has shown me since I’ve been here at the ranch,” he explained at the time. “I’m starting to see why things were happening the way they were and what God was doing. … God has restored my mind. I have peace now again, I have hope. … I’m super excited about life.”
