Former child actress Sophie Nyweide, who starred in films like “Mammoth” and “An Invisible Sign,” has passed away. She was 24 years old.
In a paid online obituary, her family said she died on April 14 and that she “self medicated to death all the trauma and shame she held inside, and it resulted in her death.”
“She repeatedly said she would ‘handle it’ on her own and was compelled to reject the treatment that might possibly have saved her life,” the obituary stated.
Born in Burlington, Vermont, Nyweide spent her life between Vermont and New York.
As just a youngster, her family said she “dreamed (more like demanded!) to be an actor, without ever knowing her mother was an actor, so she did that too with an ease we all marveled about.”
Her first film credit is for 2006’s “Bella,” according to IMDB. In 2009, she played Michelle Williams and Gael García Bernal’s daughter in the romantic drama “Mammoth.” In 2010 she starred alongside Jessica Alba in “An Invisible Sign.” In 2014 she starred in “Noah,” and her last credit was being in ABC’s “What Would You Do?” as herself.
Nyweide’s mother is Shelly Gibson who starred in “All My Children,” “Dust to Malibu” and “St. Elsewhere.”
“Sophie. A life ended too soon. May it not be in vain. May we all learn from her brief life on earth and do better. Yes, we must all protect our children and do better,” the obituary continued.
In lieu of flowers, her family asks that a donation be made to the nonprofit anti-sexual assault organization, RAINN, in Sophie’s name instead.
