Descendants 3 Director Kenny Ortega Remembers Late Disney Channel Star Cameron Boyce

Ahead of Descendants 3’s premiere on Disney Channel, director Kenny Ortega, 69, remembers in his own words the movie’s late star Cameron Boyce, who died at age 20 on July 6 from an epileptic seizure.

When I pursued Cameron for the role of Carlos in Descendants, I was told, “He’s really busy with Jessie.” But I didn’t quit.

Then we ran into each other at the Disney Channel offices, and I told him the idea face-to-face. that led Cameron to saying, “I want to do this.” From that minute, he became like one of my own kids. He was a source of inspiration. The light he brought into the room was extraordinary.

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I was traveling [when I learned of his death]. It was unimaginable—that’s how it hit us all.

Everything is about Cameron now. Descendants 3 is dedicated Cameron. The Cameron Boyce Foundation has been set up and has an incredible mission to give young artistic people an outlet and also to help the philanthropic causes Cameron participated in.

He was a young person with not only an electric gift as a performer but a big heart. We had plans to continue forward as creative partners, to find that next project. Now it’s not a movie — it’s supporting his family and the foundation.

That’s how we give importance to who he was.

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Descendants 3 premieres Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on Disney Channel.