Movies

Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, DJ for ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show’, dead at 40

December 14, 2022

CNN
—

Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the lovable “Ellen DeGeneres Show” DJ and dancer who rose to fame on “So You Think You Can Dance,” has died, his wife, fellow dancer Allison Holker Boss, confirmed in a statement to CNN. .

He was 40 years old.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I must share that my husband, Stephen, has left us,” Holker Boss said in a statement. “Stephen lit up every room he walked in. He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him. He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans.

“To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt,” she added. “I’m sure not a day will go by that we don’t honor his memory. We ask for privacy during this difficult time for me and especially for our three children.

No further information was provided regarding the cause of his death.

CNN has contacted the LAPD and LA County Coroner for comment.

Holker Boss concluded his statement by saying “Stephen, we love you, we miss you and I will always save the last dance for you.”

The couple celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary a few days ago.

He was mourned on social media on Wednesday by many people who shared videos of him dancing and their memories.

“A kind soul and a gentle person…this is how I will remember Twitch…It was his 40th birthday party…my heart goes out to his family, especially Allison and their beautiful children…this is devastating…I love you brother and you will be sorely missed,” TV host and daytime comedian Loni Love tweeted.

Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Boss earned his childhood nickname when he couldn’t sit still.

He graduated from Lee High School in Montgomery in 2000 and went on to study dance at Southern Union State Community College and Chapman University.

Six years ago, he sat down with author and former football player Lewis Howes for the latter’s podcast and spoke about his journey, including being raised by a single mother and how his relationship with his absent father helped shape him.

“I’ve always been like, ‘Don’t tell me what I won’t do,'” Boss said. “I remember talking to [his father] outside of her job in the parking lot and telling her “Hey, I’m joining the dance team”. I’m going to need a few shows and some money to stock up on’ and he went on that tangent…I was like ‘Oh, that means I’m really supposed to do this then.’

In 2003, Boss was a semi-finalist on MTV’s “The Wade Robson Project” and was also a finalist in the “Star Search” TV talent contest.

Becoming a finalist on “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2008 marked the start of his rise to fame and he would later return to serve as a judge for the dance competition.

Ellen DeGeneres hired him to DJ her popular daytime talk show in 2014, a job he held until the show went off the air this year. Boss was also the show’s co-executive producer.

He stayed in touch with his fans through his popular social media accounts, often sharing videos of him dancing with his wife.

The couple were featured dancers on season 7 of “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2010 and became romantically linked.

“We shared a dance on this season’s wrap party of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and we’ve been together ever since,” Boss told People in February.

“There was no dialogue, there was no conversation or first date. Literally, we were dancing and holding hands the next day,” Holker Boss added. “And we never looked back.”

The couple are parents of three children. Boss’ latest Instagram post on Monday showed him and Holker Boss dancing in front of a Christmas tree.