‘Sandlot’ actor Marty York says it’s been ‘difficult’ to process his mother’s murder: ‘I’m hanging in there as much as I can’

Actor Marty York, who is known for his role as Alan “Yeah-Yeah” McClennan in 1993’s “The Sandlot,” says that his mother’s murder has been “difficult” to process.

“I’m hanging in there as much as I can,” York, 43, told “Access Hollywood” during a two-part interview on Saturday. “If it wasn’t for my mom, I wouldn’t be in the position that I am in.”

The actor’s mom, Deanna Esmaeel, served as the main driving force behind York’s rise to Hollywood stardom.

“It’s been hard,” the actor said solemnly.

“Just everything. Trying to come back in this business. Trying to deal with my mom’s death and how it happened,” York continued. “It’s been difficult.”

Esmaeel was “a very inspirational person” after she became a sheriff at the age of 64 in memory of her daughter, who passed away due to a drug overdose in 2017.

When asked by the outlet how York would carry on his mother’s legacy, the actor said he would do so by “never giving up.”

“She was someone who never gave up,” York explained. “[She] never let anyone tell her because of your age, because of your height, because of anything.”

“I really hope that people are inspired,” York went on. “I hope that when people feel like giving up through any obstacle, I hope that they can remember my story and be like, ‘Marty didn’t give up when his sister died, he didn’t give up when his mom died. He kept going. He found the strength in himself to do that.’

“So I hope people find that in themself,” the actor said, tearing up. “And just never give up.”

Esmaeel was found dead in her California home after failing to show up for work in October 2023.

Police immediately suspected Esmaeel’s boyfriend, Edward Patrick Davies, of the crime but were forced to organize a nationwide manhunt for him.

Sheriff Garrett Scott told the Wild Rivers Outpost that Esmaeel’s body was discovered shortly after 10 a.m.

“We are all deeply heartbroken with the loss of Deputy Esmaeel,” Scott said in a statement at the time. “Our hearts and prayers go out to her family, friends, and co-workers.”

York took to Instagram to mourn his mom after the news broke.

“This is the hardest post I’ll ever have to write but I found out from the sheriff department last night that my mother was murdered by a man she was seeing,” he wrote. “The emotions I have are horrible right now between rage, vengance, crying.”

“There is a nationwide manhunt underway, please if you’ve seen this man contact the authorities immediately,” he concluded.

Davies, 54, was later apprehended in Curry County, Oregon, and was taken into custody mere hours after the manhunt had been initiated, according to a Facebook post by the Del Norte sheriff’s department.

According to “Access Hollywood,” Davies’ criminal trial is scheduled to take place later this year.