Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the DJ for The Ellen DeGeneres Show and dancer who rose to fame on So You Think You Can Dance, has died, TMZ reports.
Boss, who was better known by his stage name, tWitch, regularly hosted The Ellen DeGeneres Show in DeGeneres’s absence, became a producer for the show, and appeared in several dance movies and TV series over the years. He reportedly died by suicide. Allison Holker, Boss’s wife, confirmed his death in a statement to People. He was 40.
“Stephen lit up every room he stepped into,” her statement said. “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.”
Boss first auditioned for the third season of So You Think You Can Dance, which aired in 2007, and while popular among judges and other dancers, he did not make it into the show’s top 20. He auditioned for the show’s fourth season and came in second place. Although he was a hip-hop dancer, a contemporary dance he did that season with fellow contestant Katee Shean, choreographed by Mia Michaels, was nominated for Outstanding Choreography at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards.
On social media, celebrities, dancers, and fans paid tribute to Boss, many sharing videos of him dancing. Holker ended her statement to People saying, “Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you.”