How Stephen 'tWitch' Boss Really Rose To Fame
The following article includes mentions of suicide.
The world mourned when news broke of Stephen "tWitch" Boss's death at age 40. On December 14, TMZ reported that his wife, Allison Holker, ran into an LAPD station noticeably distressed because Boss had left their house without his car, which was unusual for him. Paramedics later found the dancer in a Los Angeles hotel, dead from apparent suicide.
Holker confirmed Boss's tragic death in a statement: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us. 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" (via People).
The news came as a shock to fans, as Boss had shared a reel of him and Holker dancing on Instagram just days before his death. The television personality was known for his signature moves, which earned him the nickname "tWitch" at an early age. Boss's career was thriving, and while many knew him as the DJ from "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," he worked long and hard to get there.
Stephen 'tWitch' Boss danced his way to stardom
Stephen 'tWitch' Boss grew up in Montgomery, Alabama and studied dance at the Southern Union State Community College and Chapman University, per the Daily Mail. He appeared in "The Way Robson Project" on MTV in 2003, and came in third place. He then competed in the "Star Search" revival, where he was runner-up.
Boss's next foray into the competition world was "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 3. Although he wowed the judges, he didn't make it to the live shows, per TV Line. Undeterred, he came back for Season 4 and came in second place. The infectious dancer was so beloved, he came back as an All-Star and eventually as a judge. "Me and Nigel [Lythgoe] just feel like Mama Bear and Papa Bear. And so proud of Twitch and everything that he was doing. And then it was a big full circle moment for us when he came back and judged on the show. And it was really the best of times," judge Mary Murphy told People.
After "SYTYCD," Boss landed a role in "Step Up 3D," and would later go on to star in other "Step Up" movies. He also starred in the hit movie "Magic Mike XXL," as well as another dance flick, "Stomp the Yard: Homecoming," per HITC. Although it looked as if Boss's movie career was taking off, he settled into a role in television, which he may have been best known for before his death.
Stephen 'tWitch' Boss had a long career with Ellen DeGeneres
In 2014, Stephen "tWitch" Boss landed a gig as a DJ for "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," per the New York Post. While he first started as a guest DJ, the daytime television host liked him so much, he became a permanent fixture on her show. Over the years, Boss performed dances — sometimes with DeGeneres herself — and brought on his wife, Allison Holker, and their children (via Newsweek). Boss also contributed to many hilarious moments on the show, such as the time he let DeGeneres wax his body for his role in "Magic Mike XXL."
DeGeneres eventually made him an executive producer, and he stayed on the show until its end. Even at the end of his long career at "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Boss remained positive. "I'm feeling happy. I'm feeling like celebrating. I'm feeling like looking back on all the years of kindness and giving back and changing lives and dance and all of that encapsulated. Obviously, there's going to be tears for sure, there's going to be happy tears. But we're going to celebrate," he told Entertainment Tonight with a smile. Boss also co-hosted "Ellen's Game of Games," which debuted on NBC in 2017.
Following his death, DeGeneres shared a video montage of her favorite moments with him on Instagram, writing, "Right now what I want to do is remember all the love and laughter I had with tWitch. He brought so much joy to my life. I know he brought joy to yours too."
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.