Lee Thompson Young

• Name — Lee Thompson Young • Born — 1 February 1984 • Birthplace — Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. • Died — 19 August 2013 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Resting Place — Lakeview Memorial Gardens, York, South Carolina • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1998–2013 • Education — University of Southern California

Young, who was of African American heritage, was born in Columbia, South Carolina, the son of Velma Elaine (née Love) and Tommy Scott Young. He was in the second grade when his parents' marriage ended, and he went to live with his mother. At age ten, he portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in a play called A Night of Stars and Dreams by Dwight Woods at the Phillis Wheatley Repertory Theater of Greenville, South Carolina. It was then that Young decided he wanted to become an actor.

Young moved to New York City in June 1996, but it was not until the next year that he auditioned for the part of Jett Jackson in The Famous Jett Jackson. He filmed the pilot and found out in June 1998 that the Disney Channel had picked up the show; it would go on to become a Disney Channel Original Movie in June 2001. Young also starred in Johnny Tsunami (1999), another Disney Channel Original Movie, as Sam Sterling. Although the movie was successful, he did not reprise the role in the sequel, Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board (2007), which was taken over by Jonathan McDaniel. In 2002, one year after the cancellation of The Famous Jett Jackson, Young had guest spots in the CBS series The Guardian. He also had a part in the movie Friday Night Lights (2004), portraying Chris Comer. He then portrayed Charles Becnel in the Jamie Foxx movie Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story (also 2004). Lee appeared on UPN's TV drama series South Beach, and he portrayed Victor Stone (known in DC Comics as Cyborg) in a fifth-season episode of the television series Smallville, in 2006; he reprised the character in the Season Six episode "Justice" (airdate January 18, 2007), and in the Season Nine finale "Salvation" (airdate May 14, 2010). Young appeared in the feature film Akeelah and the Bee (2006), playing Akeelah's brother Devon. He played National Guard rookie Delmar in The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007). In 2009, Young played a cocky surgical intern in the hit comedy show Scrubs. It is revealed that his character had been overweight during childhood. The character becomes involved in a romance with one of the medical interns. Young played the role of Al Gough, an FBI agent, in the ABC television drama FlashForward. He was written off the show in episode 7, when his character committed suicide to prevent the death of an innocent civilian. He made an appearance on the Fox drama The Good Guys as the brother and business partner of an arms dealer. His last acting role was playing Barry Frost, partner of Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) on the TNT drama Rizzoli & Isles.

On August 19, 2013, Young did not show up to film an episode of Rizzoli & Isles. Police were called to do a wellbeing check on him at his Los Angeles apartment, where he was found dead. His manager stated that the 29-year-old actor had died by suicide. Police confirmed the cause of death as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Young had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, for which he had been taking medication, and had been suffering from depression before his death. After funeral services at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Young was interred at Lakeview Memory Gardens in York, South Carolina. A memorial service was held on the Paramount Studios lot. Young's family later launched the Lee Thompson Young Foundation in an effort to help remove the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Film • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2004 — Friday Night Lights — Chris Comer • 2006 — Akeelah and the Bee — Devon Anderson • 2007 — The — Delmar • Mano — Machito — Short film • 2010 — Bastard — Passenger 1 — Short film • 2012 — Just an American — Curtiss Jackson Television • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1998–2001 — The — Jett Jackson / Silverstone — Lead role (65 episodes) • 1999 — Johnny Tsunami — Sam Sterling — TV Movie • 2001 — Jett Jackson: The Movie — Jett Jackson / Silverstone — TV Movie • 2002 — Philly — Steven Hicks — Episode: "There's No Business Like No Business" • The — Levi Mooney — 5 episodes • 2003 — Jake 2.0 — Prince Malik Namir — Episode: "The Prince and the Revolution" • The Jersey — Himself — Episode: "Origins: Part 2" • 2004 — Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story — Charles Becnel — TV Movie • The — Teen Bebe (voice) — Episode: "Twins to Tweens" • 2004–2005 — Xiaolin Showdown — Jermaine (voice) — 2 episodes • 2005 — Kevin Hill — Levi — Episode: "Homeland Insecurity" • 2006 — South Beach — Alex Bauer — 5 episodes • 2006–2007; 2010 — Smallville — Victor Stone/Cyborg — 3 episodes • 2008 — Five Year Plan — Mutabi — TV Movie • Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles — Agent Stewart — Episode: "Heavy Metal" • 2009 — Scrubs — Dr. Derek Hill — 3 episodes • Lincoln Heights — Julian — Episode: "Bully for You" • 2009–2010 — FlashForward — Al Gough — 8 episodes • 2010 — The — Eric Williams — Episode: "Small Rooms" • The — Corporal Bell — 2 episodes • 2010–2014 — Rizzoli & Isles — Det. Barry Frost — Main role (56 episodes) • 2012 — CSI: NY — Kelvin Moore — Episode: "Unwrapped"

• Year — Association — Category — Nominated work — Result • 1999 — Young Artist Awards — Best Performance in a TV Drama or Comedy Series – Leading Young Actor — The Famous Jett Jackson • 2000 — Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Leading Young Actor • 2001 — Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Leading Young Actor • Gemini Awards — Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series