Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ immediate and extended family paid tribute to the late dancer, who died by suicide in December 2022. He was 40 years old.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us,” Boss’ wife, Allison Holker, said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times one day after Boss was found dead in a hotel room in Encino, California. “Stephen lit up every room he stepped into. 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.”
Holker — who celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary days before his passing — added: “To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt.”
The So You Think You Can Dance: All-Stars alums, who began dating after competing on the dance competition in 2010, shared three children together: Weslie, Maddox and Zaia. (Boss adopted Weslie, whose biological father is an ex of Holker’s.)
“I am certain there won’t be a day that goes by that we won’t honor his memory,” Holker continued. “We ask for privacy during this difficult time for myself and especially for our three children. Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you.”
In addition to his role as the beloved patriarch of his family, Boss was also a celebrated son, brother and grandson. The TV personality frequently honored his family via social media, and they did the same for him.
“The King of this s—t. Effortless,” his brother Cameron wrote via his Instagram Story on December 15, alongside a video of the Step Up: 3D star dancing. “LONG LIVE STEPHEN TWITCH BOSS.”
Boss’ other brother, Deondre Rose, shared an image in September of the two posing together. “This dude @sir_twitch_alot is the definition of a true brother,” Rose captioned the post at the time. “We can be completely honest with each other and allow for a difference of opinion. We build each other up by taking action. It’s amazing to have such a role model. Love you much you lame ass 😂.”
Stephen’s grandfather Eddy Boss spoke about the days leading up to his grandson’s death and revealed the last text message he received from him.
“He was the same happy-go-lucky person that he’s always been,” Eddy told the Daily Mail in the wake of Stephen’s death. “We had no indication that anything was out of the ordinary.”
Eddy continued to praise his grandson, calling him a “very humble, generous person” who “brought light into everybody’s lives.”
“All I can say is he was a beautiful person that contributed so much to this world and to everyone he met in a positive way,” Stephen’s grandfather continued. “We miss him dearly and we’re hurting tremendously.’
He noted: “His last words to me were a simple text that says ‘I love you Dad-Dad.’”
Keep scrolling to learn more about the dancer’s family.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ immediate and extended family paid tribute to the late dancer, who died by suicide in December 2022. He was 40 years old.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us,” Boss’ wife, Allison Holker, said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times one day after Boss was found dead in a hotel room in Encino, California. “Stephen lit up every room he stepped into. 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.”
Holker — who celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary days before his passing — added: “To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt.”
The So You Think You Can Dance: All-Stars alums, who began dating after competing on the dance competition in 2010, shared three children together: Weslie, Maddox and Zaia. (Boss adopted Weslie, whose biological father is an ex of Holker’s.)
“I am certain there won’t be a day that goes by that we won’t honor his memory,” Holker continued. “We ask for privacy during this difficult time for myself and especially for our three children. Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you.”
In addition to his role as the beloved patriarch of his family, Boss was also a celebrated son, brother and grandson. The TV personality frequently honored his family via social media, and they did the same for him.
“The King of this s—t. Effortless,” his brother Cameron wrote via his Instagram Story on December 15, alongside a video of the Step Up: 3D star dancing. “LONG LIVE STEPHEN TWITCH BOSS.”
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Boss’ other brother, Deondre Rose, shared an image in September of the two posing together. “This dude @sir_twitch_alot is the definition of a true brother,” Rose captioned the post at the time. “We can be completely honest with each other and allow for a difference of opinion. We build each other up by taking action. It’s amazing to have such a role model. Love you much you lame ass 😂.”
Stephen’s grandfather Eddy Boss spoke about the days leading up to his grandson’s death and revealed the last text message he received from him.
“He was the same happy-go-lucky person that he’s always been,” Eddy told the Daily Mail in the wake of Stephen’s death. “We had no indication that anything was out of the ordinary.”
Eddy continued to praise his grandson, calling him a “very humble, generous person” who “brought light into everybody’s lives.”
“All I can say is he was a beautiful person that contributed so much to this world and to everyone he met in a positive way,” Stephen’s grandfather continued. “We miss him dearly and we’re hurting tremendously.’
He noted: “His last words to me were a simple text that says ‘I love you Dad-Dad.’”
Keep scrolling to learn more about the dancer’s family.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Credit: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Allison Holker (tWitch’s Wife)
Though tWitch and Holker initially met in 2006, sparks didn’t fly until seeing each other again in 2010 on the So You Think You Can Dance: All-Stars competition. The pair tied the knot three years later and welcomed son Maddox in 2016 and daughter Zaia in 2019. The Stomp the Yard: Homecoming actor also adopted Holker’s daughter, Weslie, from a previous relationship.
Three days before his death, tWitch and Holker — who, in addition to her own career as a professional dancer, appeared as a cheerleader in the first two High School Musical films — celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary. “Happy anniversary my love @allisonholker #9years ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️,” the choreographer wrote via Instagram at the time, alongside a black-and-white photo of the two dancing at their wedding.
The following day, the couple uploaded a joint video of them rocking around the Christmas tree. “HOLIDAY SUNDAY FUNDAY DANCE !!!” the twosome captioned the sweet clip. Holker confirmed her husband’s death one day after his passing, paying tribute to him in her statement at the time.
Credit: Courtesy of Allison Holker/Instagram
Weslie (tWitch’s Eldest Daughter)
tWitch adopted Weslie, Holker’s daughter from a previous relationship. Based on the teen’s Instagram account, which is run by her parents, she plays high school soccer and has done some modeling. While mourning tWitch, Jodie Sweetin told Entertainment Tonight that her daughter Zoie is friends with Weslie as they go to the same school.
Credit: Courtesy of Stephen Boss/Instagram
Maddox (tWitch’s Son)
The dancers welcomed their only son, Maddox, into the world in 2016. Their little boy — who began first grade in August 2022 — was frequently featured on his dad’s Instagram, including a sweet video where he was doing “the running man” dance move while tWitch picked him up.
“Okay this was a good idea until it wasn’t. Hindsight is 20/20…….and a lot less painful in this case,” the former Ellen DeGeneres Show DJ joked at the time. “Can’t front though, Maddox form is amazing. 🤣🤣.”
Credit: Courtesy of Allison Holker/Instagram
Zaia (tWitch’s Youngest Daughter)
Holker and tWitch’s youngest child, Zaia, was born in November 2016. The couple celebrated their little girl’s 3rd birthday in November 2022. “This is 3!! Can’t believe how quickly this time has passed!So proud of our baby Z,” tWitch wrote at the time, alongside a clip of photos of their little one throughout the years. “We love you Zaia and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! 🎁🎈🎊🎉🎂.”
Credit: Courtesy of Stephen Boss/Instagram
Connie Boss Alexander (tWitch’s Mom)
Along with his other family members, tWitch often shared sweet photos and videos with his mom via social media. In October 2022, the ABC alum celebrated his mother’s birthday with a heartfelt post and a carousel of family photos.
“Mom thank you for life and thank you for love,” he wrote at the time. “Love you to the moon and back and back again.”
Earlier that month, Alexander danced with her son and daughter-in-law on the app. “Ayyyye you know it’s a good day when mom is out here grooving with us!!” tWitch captioned the video.
Days after her son’s passing, Alexander took to her Instagram Story to thank everyone for their well-wishes and pay tribute to tWitch. “Stephen Laurel, your mother loves you to eternity and beyond,” she penned.
Credit: Courtesy of d8rknight/Instagram
Deondre (tWitch’s Brother)
In the wake of his brother’s death, Deondre shared multiple posts paying tribute to tWitch.
In September, he gave the Step Up: Revolution star a sweet shout-out. “This dude @sir_twitch_alot is the definition of a true brother,” Deondre captioned the image of him and tWitch smiling at the camera. “We can be completely honest with each other and allow for a difference of opinion. We build each other up by taking action. It’s amazing to have such a role model. Love you much you lame ass 😂.”
Credit: Courtesy of supreme_cam/Instagram
Cameron (tWitch’s Brother)
Stephen’s younger brother honored his late sibling with an Instagram video of the SYTYCD alum busting a move. “The King of this s—t. Effortless,” Cameron wrote days after his brother’s passing. “LONG LIVE STEPHEN TWITCH BOSS.”
tWitch, for his part, paid tribute to his “kid brother” on his 24th birthday in 2017 by sharing a photo of the two as kids via Twitter.
“Even though he is my kid brother, he isn’t really a kid anymore especially that today is his 24th birthday,” tWitch wrote at the time. “I still remember this day in 93. Ganny came to pick me up from school and simply said ‘He’s here’. From bottle feeds, power ranger games, tony hawk, dynasty warriors, living room dance sessions, fights, and deep talks, cheers to 24 and much love to 24 more!! Love you Brother!”
Credit: Courtesy of Stephen Boss/Instagram
Eddy Boss (tWitch’s Grandfather)
Both tWitch and his grandfather shared their love for one another in the days leading up to and after the DJ’s death.
“Shouting the BIGGEST HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY GRANDFATHER (DADA)! I love you! IG fam help me wish him happy birthday @mreb38 ❤️❤️❤️ #OGBoss,” tWitch wrote via Instagram several days before his passing, sharing a recent photo of him and his grandpa, as well as a throwback image from his childhood.
Eddy, for his part, paid tribute to his late grandson in a Wednesday, December 14 interview with the Daily Mail. “All I can say is he was a beautiful person that contributed so much to this world and to everyone he met in a positive way,” Eddy told the outlet. “We miss him dearly and we’re hurting tremendously.’ The supportive grandfather also revealed tWitch’s final text to him. “His last words to me were a simple text that says ‘I love you Dad-Dad.’”
