Abigail Breslin pays tribute to 'My Sister's Keeper' co-star Evan Ellingson: 'Sending you peace'

Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read
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Former child star Evan Ellingson has died at the age of 35.

According to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department records, Ellingson was found in his bedroom in Fontana, California, on Sunday. A cause of death has not been determined, pending an autopsy.

The Fontana Police Department is the primary agency investigating Ellingson's death. "There were no obvious signs of foul play," Christian Surgent, a representative from the department, told USA TODAY in a statement Tuesday.

Ellingson starred in the 2009 film "My Sister's Keeper" as Jesse Fitzgerald, the old brother of Abigail Breslin, whose character has acute promyelocytic leukemia, and teenage son of Cameron Diaz. The film also stars Alec Baldwin and Emily Deschanel.

Former child star Evan Ellingson has died. He played Jesse Fitzgerald in the Cameron Diaz film "My Sister's Keeper."
Former child star Evan Ellingson has died. He played Jesse Fitzgerald in the Cameron Diaz film "My Sister's Keeper."

Abigail Breslin pays tribute to 'wonderful and sweet soul' Evan Ellingson

Breslin paid tribute to Ellingson on Instagram Monday and asked fans not to speculate about his death. "Evan Ellingson was a kind, funny and extremely talented human being. He played my big brother in a film I did called 'My Sister's Keeper.' Evan was a genuinely thoughtful person who cared so much about turning in the best performance, which he accomplished," she wrote in part. "Some of his scenes in MSK still give me chills."

"He was also silly, funny, a prankster, a lover of Red Bull (I hated the smell of Red Bull 😂) and he was energetic and the life of the party. I didn’t keep in touch a lot with him after the film, but he always stayed in my mind as a wonderful and sweet soul, one I am grateful to have crossed paths with," Breslin added. "Your time on this earth may have been, devastatingly, short. Your humor, exuberance, kindness and bright light will linger forever. Sending you peace on your journey to the great beyond and who knows … maybe one day, I’ll meet you in Montana."

Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva and Evan Ellingson in the movie "My Sister's Keeper."
Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva and Evan Ellingson in the movie "My Sister's Keeper."

"Side note: the details of Evan’s passing have not yet been released. I ask you to kindly not speculate on the details out of respect for his family including his daughter," Breslin concluded.

Ellingson also starred in the short-lived ABC sitcom "Complete Savages" from 2004 to 2005, and had appearances in the Kiefer Sutherland-led series "24," the Oscar-winning war film "Letters from Iwo Jima" directed by Clint Eastwood, "CSI: Miami," "Mad TV" and "Bones."

His first credited role is in the 2001 drama film "Living in Fear" starring Marcia Cross and William R. Moses.

Ellingson has not had any film or TV credits since 2010.

Contributing: Naledi Ushe

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abigail Breslin honors Evan Ellingson, 'My Sister's Keeper' co-star