Nickelodeon, like the Disney Channel, is responsible for a number of shows that have characterized our childhood experiences from generation to generation. Everyone has a favorite Nickelodeon show, whether it’s “Sponge Bob,” “All That” or “Victorious.” However, not every Nickelodeon star had the same chance to advance beyond their childhood roles and into actual Hollywood stardom. Some went to college, while others found new interests, and a select few even got behind-the-scenes roles on our favourite shows. Then there are the celebrities whose careers were cut short due to their deaths, such as Jonathan Brandis, iCarly’s Jackson Odell, Johnny Lewis e.t.c. These are not the only Nickelodeon celebrities who have passed away, keep reading to see more about the other Nickelodeon stars who have passed away.
In this article, we would be listing a good number of them and how they died.
List of Nickelodeon Stars That Have died Till Date
1. Jack Odell
Jackson Odell is popularly remembered for his minor role as Gumbo the bully, in an episode of “iCarly,” The longest-running live-action series on Nickelodeon. Aside from Nickelodeon, Odell has starred in sitcoms such as ABC’s “Modern Family,” “Arrested Development,” and “The Goldbergs.” According to IMDb, he also portrayed Zeke in the 2011 film “Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer,” which was based on Megan McDonald’s book series. Odell was a singer-songwriter who has credits on the soundtrack of the 2018 film “Forever My Girl,” in addition to his acting abilities. On his YouTube account, the actor frequently posted songs by Rihanna and Daft Punk, among other musicians.
On June 8th 2018, Odell was discovered unconscious at a sober living home where he was undergoing rehabilitation. According to USA Today, he was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was 20 at the time of his demise. Odell died after an accidental cocaine and heroin overdose, according to the coroner’s findings. Odell “had a history of heroin addiction,” according to Ed Winter, the coroner’s office’s associate head of investigations (via USA Today). He said, “Whenever it’s suspected that narcotics were involved in a death of an individual, they’ll do rigorous toxicology testing.”
2) Tara Correa-McMullen
Tara Correa-McMullen had a promising acting career before her death, playing with Martin Lawrence in the 2005 film “Rebound.” According to The Los Angeles Times, she was cast in the part when her mother, who worked as a casting director in the film industry, suggested her despite her lack of experience. In that year, she also played a member of the Ridgeway High School Disc Golf team in a brief role on Nickelodeon’s “Zoey 101.”
The actress is most known for her performance as gang member Graciela Reyes in NBC’s Emmy-nominated primetime drama “Judging Amy.” Correa-cinematic McMullen’s character as a gang member who subsequently dies as a result of gang violence, unfortunately proved all too true in her own life.
3) Kevin Clark
Kevin Clark, who starred in the film School of Rock, died on May 26, 2021, after being hit by a car while cycling in Chicago’s Avondale area. He died at the young age of 32.
A 20-year-old woman driving a Hyundai Sonata struck Clark at 1:20 a.m., according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Not up to an hour later, he gave up the ghost.
4) River Phoenix
River Phoenix was a teen idol in the 1980s, with roles in films including Stand by Me and Explorers. Phoenix crashed outside of The Viper Room, owned by then-owner Johnny Depp, on the Sunset Strip in 1993. Because of the fatal mix of illegal chemicals in Phoenix’s body, emergency officials were finally unable to resuscitate him. He was 23, at the time of the incident.
5) Johnny Lewis
He is most recognized for his role in FX’s “Sons of Anarchy,” but he also appeared in Nickelodeon’s “Drake and Josh.” The actor played Scottie, one of Drake’s bandmates, in four episodes of the comedic show. Lewis also appeared as a guest star in Season 5 of the famous WB sitcom “Smallville” in 2005. According to IMDb, Lewis has been in a variety of films and television shows, including “The O.C.,” “Quintuplets,” and “Alien vs. Predator: Requiem.”
According to CBS, Lewis’ lawyer disclosed that the actor struggled with mental health difficulties before his death.
Lewis died on Sept. 26, 2012, after reportedly violently assaulting his 81-year-old landlord, Catherine Davis, and falling from a building in Los Angeles. Officers responding to a 911 call of a woman screaming were told that Lewis had struggled with two guys and died after a fall, according to People. When officers arrived on location, they discovered Davis’ corpse. Detectives came to the conclusion that the actress was responsible for the woman’s death.
6) Anton Yelchin
Anton Yelchin, 27, died at his Los Angeles home in June 2016 after being hit by his automobile. When his SUV went backwards down the steep driveway, pinning him to his brick mailbox and security gate, he was standing behind it.
Yelchin is most recognized for his portrayal of Pavel Chekov in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek reboot. In addition to Alpha Dog, Fright Night, and Charlie Bartlett, he appeared in the films Alpha Dog, Fright Night, and Charlie Bartlett.
7) Stephen Hillenburg
Stephen Hillenburg is without a doubt a household name in Hollywood as a result of his work on Nickelodeon. Hillenburg served as a director and writer for Nickelodeon’s “Rocko’s Modern Life” from 1993 until 1996. Hillenburg is best recognized for creating “SpongeBob SquarePants,” the network’s longest-running animated series. According to Variety, the beloved cartoon’s debut episode aired on the network on May 1, 1999, and its full run began on July 17 of the same year. According to IMDb, the 10x Emmy-nominated sitcom has broadcast over 279 episodes and has garnered several honours throughout the years.
What makes “SpongeBob SquarePants” so unique is that it appeals to people of all ages: For those who have watched sponge Bob, we all have that one favourite episode or scene, whether we’re in elementary school or college. Many clips and photographs from “SpongeBob SquarePants” have become viral memes on social media, proving that the program is still a cultural phenomenon.
Hillenburg died on Nov. 26, 2018, at his home in Southern California, following complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was 57 as of the time of his death.
8) Les Lye
Les Lye worked as a radio host and in-demand emcee at CFRA radio station in Ottawa, Ontario, before becoming a Nickelodeon celebrity. Lye was a renowned radio personality until 1958 when he moved to television as a freelance writer and performer. According to The New York Times, it was there that Lye teamed up with fellow actor Bill Luxton to form the popular comic duo Uncle Willy and Floyd, which aired on Canadian television for more than 20 years. Lye continued to work in television, particularly in animation, on a number of projects. On “The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin,” the actor was cast as Queller.
“The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings” and “The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine” are the first two television specials in the Care Bears franchise that Les Lye also worked on.
After starring on Nickelodeon’s once-popular kids’ show “You Can’t Do That On Television,” Lye garnered international notoriety. According to IMDb, the comedy sketch program was so popular that it ran for ten seasons from 1979 until 1990. Senator Prevert and Ross Ewich, the program’s producer, were among the several masculine personas Lye played in the show.
Lye died on July 21, 2009, at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital in Ottawa. He was 84 at the time, of his demise. His wife (Jonni Marshall Lye), his three children Brett, Daralyn, and Emily were left to mourn him.
9) Cameroon Boyce
Cameroon Boyce, a Nickelodeon star born in 1999, is a Nickelodeon star. He has been in several Disney films since his debut appearance in “Panic.” Before he died, he was a part of the “Descendants” film series. Jake’s voice was provided by him in “Jake and the Neverland Pirates.” He died of epileptic complications at the age of 20 in 2019. He will be sorely missed.
10) Sawyer Storm Sweeten
He was one of the twins that starred in the “Everybody Loves Raymond” film series. He was a kid actor from the United States. He was born in 1995 and died in 2015 when he was 20 years old. He died as a consequence of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head that resulted in suicide.
11) Jonathan Brandis
Jonathan Brandis had a busy early 1990s, appearing in The Never-Ending Story II: The Next Chapter and acting opposite Rodney Dangerfield and Chuck Norris in the still-popular Ladybugs and Sidekicks, respectively. He was a popular teenage television actor who appeared in guest parts on series such as Murder, She Wrote and The Wonder Years before landing the role of Lucas on the TV show sea Quest DSV. He was also considered for the role of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, according to reports. His cinematic career began to fade, and he lamented his inability to resurrect it. As a result, Brandis committed suicide at the age of 27 at his home in 2003.
Being an actor or an actress is considered very profitable but as an entertainer, this is regarded as one of the most difficult jobs out there. A lot of these young and not so young entertainers brought joy and entertained generations upon generations, and a lot of them suffered the hazards that precede fame and money. It is only fair that as we switch on our televisions to keep ourselves and our children happy, that we also remember these late nickelodeon actors who put in hours of hard work to ensure that we derive pleasure from the nickelodeon tv shows, that we have enjoyed for years.
