Cameron Boyce—who starred in Jessie and the Descendants
movies on the Disney Channel—died on July 6 at the age of
20 of an epileptic seizure. Ahead of the Aug. 2 premiere
of Descendants 3, director Kenny Ortega, 69, pays tribute
to the late actor in his own words.
When I started to pursue Cameron for the role of
Carlos in Descendants, I was told,
“He’s busy with Jessie.” But I
didn’t quit. Then we ran into each
other at the Disney Channel
offices, and I told him the idea
face-to-face. That led to Cameron
saying, “I want to do this.” From
that minute, he became like one of
my own kids. He was a source of inspiration. The light
he brought into the room was extraordinary. I was
traveling [when I learned of his death]. It was
unimaginable—that’s how it hit us all. Everything is
about Cameron now. Descendants 3 is dedicated to
Cameron. The Cameron Boyce Foundation has been
set up and has an incredible mission to give young
artistic people an outlet and also to help the
Descendants Director
Kenny Ortega
Remembering
Cameron Boyce
The house
comes with five
bedrooms and
four and a half
Wentz bought the bathrooms.
4,091-sq.-ft. house in
The backyard
boasts a pool and
dining patio.
OPEN
HOUSE
on sale
for
$ 2. 395
MILLION
Boyce and his
costars “had their
own friendships, and
they spent a lot of
time together,” says
Ortega (pictured
with them, inset,
from left: Booboo
Stewart, Dove
Cameron and Sofia
Carson).
philanthropic causes Cameron participated in. He was
a young person with not only an electric gift as a
performer but a big heart. We had plans to continue
forward as creative partners, to find that next project.
Now it’s not a movie—it’s supporting his family and
the foundation. That’s how we give importance to who
he was. —As told to DANA ROSE FALCONE
‘HE WAS A
SOURCE OF
INSPIRATION.
THE LIGHT HE
BROUGHT INTO
THE ROOM WAS
EXTRAORDINARY’
The house was built in the
1950s but remodeled a
decade ago.
PEOPLE August 5, 2019 27
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