On April 14, former child star Sophie Nyweide was found dead in Vermont. Later, it was confirmed that the actress — best known for her appearances in Noah, Bella, Margot at the Wedding, and Law & Order — was pregnant at the time of her death. She was 24.
Though her exact cause of death has not been determined, police are investigating a possible accidental overdose. Nyweide’s body was discovered in a wooded area in Bennington, Vermont, 25 miles away from home, in the wee hours of the morning. Given the circumstances, the authorities have not ruled out foul play either.
Adding another layer of tragedy, Nyweide’s family believed that she had been using drugs prior to her death.
“She self medicated to deal with all the trauma and shame she held inside, and it resulted in her death,” part of her obituary reads. “She repeatedly said she would ‘handle it’ on her own and was compelled to reject the treatment that might possibly have saved her life.”
Despite the harshness of life, the obituary went on to iterate how much acting meant to her.
“She seemed happiest on a movie set, becoming someone else. It was a safe place for her.”
Nyweide began her acting career at 6 starring in the indie film Bella. She followed it up with a series of roles both in TV and movies, but her career came into a halt when she was placed in treatment facilities beginning from 2015.