Nicole's blog pointed me to this site:
Sonafide.com posted this blog on Jonathan Brandis. He killed himself a few weeks ago.
[picture from http://www.sneksoog.demon.nl/jona-e.htm]
I thought he was so dreamy on seaquest - I actually followed along with the series, through Prodigy's BBS pages. During the commerical breaks, they would have updated episode pages on the BBS's - and I would tie up my family's phone line to access this site.
Why did he do it?
He was still making films.
1. 111 Gramercy Park (2003) (TV) .... Will Karnegian
2. Puerto Vallarta Squeeze (2003) .... Weatherford
It seemed like he came from a good family. I suspect he invested his film and television earnings, in a good way. Not like some other child actors who felt they had to run for Governor, to jump start their careers, to pay off the bills.
Why did he do it?
Maybe it was just the acting, but it seemed like he had a pretty decent attitude about life - decent towards other people and positive about the world, in general. From my own personal brushes with suicide and suicide attempts, I find it difficult to imagine Brandis giving in to such self-destructive behaviour. I thought he was stronger than that. I know it seems easier to give-up on life and on yourself, but it doesn't mean it's the right way to do things. Sometimes there are things so painful, that it seems like you would die from experiencing it. But you don't die, you end up surviving and it's how you survive and move on, that matters most.
I thought Brandis had a wonderful sense of adventure - as Bastian in the Neverending Story, Part 2 - he had so much joy in that magical world and he managed to face his fears.
I thought this actor knew about surviving adversity - Barry in Sidekicks, despite his asthma, he found he could do all those cool martial arts moves by training consistently.
Finally, I thought he knew what it meant to believe in himself, like Lucas from Seaquest, DSV.
Why did he do it?
I guess he didn't see all those amazing things he's capable of.
posted at bonvivant.queenkv.org
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Natalie Davis
Very nice piece, thanks for sharing this.
I suspect you're right about Brandis not seeing just how great he was. That's the only thing I can come up with explaining his inexplicable, heartbreaking death.
2 - NICOLE
I MYSELF WONDER WHY HE DID IT, BUT I GUESS WELL NEVER KNOW. BUT ALOT OF THE NEWSPAPERS SAID APPARENT SUICIDE MAYBE HE DIDNT KILL HIMSELF. IT CAME AS A SHOCK TO ME TO AND WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE MOVIES HE WAS IN SOMEONE HAD POSTED THE WORDS "JONATHAN BRANDIS RUINS YET ANOTHER MOVIE" AND IT TUGGED AT MY HEART STRINGS AND I FELT SO DAMN BAD WELL IF YALL WOULD LIKE TO TALK SOMETIME EMAIL ME AT [Deleted. Posting personal contact details is against policy, sorry. Comments Editor] BYE
3 - Eric Olsen
things like this are always very sad and ultimately impossible to fully explain
4 - Jennifer Mitchell
I just read this terribly sad news about Jonathan. I was so in love with him when he first came out, to this day I still have the box of the 169 posters of him that I had plastered on my walls, all his movies, and 14 tapes full of every episode of SeaQuest along with a Lucas Action Figure, and his autograph which I was very fortunate to get. I cried the day I received his autograph and now I cry today. Even in junior high I named my flour baby after him Jonathan Gregory Brandis, and I swore to myself I would name my child after him, which I have. I have a 19 month old son named Jonathan. My heart hurts inside, I never knew him personally yet I have always felt a connection with him. I have been crying and crying over the shock of this news. As I say my prayer for him and his family I want to let people know and his family know how much he was truly loved. I know there are many other fans out there who feel the same. I feel like I have lost a family member. Jonathan the Lord has you now and he will love you eternally and unconditonally ,you now have a new life without pain and sufferring, all your troubles and worries are gone, we love you!!!!!
**He died at the age of 27 not 28****
5 - Jordan
I was skimming over headlines at MSN about a month ago when one of them caught my eye: "Actor Brandis Dies at 27". I thought to myself "No, please, God, don't let it be Jonathan, please, let it be some other actor who coincidentally has the same last name as Jonathan", but, alas, it was him, Jonathan Brandis. I was absolutely devastated. I had watched Stephen King's IT months ago and Jonathan caught my eye with his good looks and acting skills. I fell in love with him. I set my heart on one day meeting him. But now, this dream will never come true. I love you, Jonathan. Rest in peace, my fallen angel.
6 - Dominick Brascia
I met JONATHAN BRANDIS in Hollywood when he was doing Seaquest. The last time I talked to him was about 6 years ago. He told me he wanted to get into directing. I was an actor to doing shows like Knightrider and films like Friday the 13th part 5 and I was starting to direct. Every time I would run into him at a party or an event he was always so nice to me. Everyone liked him. I left Hollywood to work in talk radio. I do a show in Denver Dominick and Bill Live on KNRC. I was back in LA for a film fest. a year or so ago. I hoped to see Jon, I didn't. We went off in different directions. If I had any idea he felt like hurting himself I would have found him again. I really loved hanging with him. He was such a good guy... I guess I never told him how much I liked him... Guys don't do stuff like that... I wish we would have become better friends. It was just great to hang with him when he was around... My heart goes out to his family...
JONATHAN BRANDIS, Dominick will miss seeing you become the great director I know you wanted to be.
Dominick Brascia
7 - Carl Hurst
I'm a lot older then Jonathan but that did'nt effect the fact that he was a truly great actor who was gifted at his trade. Being a kid growing up in the sixties watching all those great kid stars back in those days makes me have a great respect for many of the child stars of today. There are those that I can do with out but that's not so with Jonathan Brandis, he was completely different. From the very first time I saw him I knew that he was going to do well, and you know, he did. It was through the news paper that I found out about his death. I was completely shocked. I felt a great loss, as if I actually knew him and he me. it was like a personal act against me, like he did this to me, it hurt. I wonder if celebrities really know how much of an effect they have on their fans? Is it strange that I or anyone should feel this kind of loss or the sense of personal pain from the death of people we don't even know? But on the other hand why not, they spend a lot of their efforts and money to get us to look at them, so when their no longer around it matters. It matters to me because, he - Jonathan Brandis - made it matter. He drew me into his world and he in mine thus makeing him a part of my life, so to see he gone truly hurts, the loss is real. I am truly going to miss him not being around. For the way he left, I hurt for him. What was he going through that he felt that life was not worth living? I think I understand, and its ok, now he's no longer hurting, he had his own good reason. By friend your fan Carl
8 - jessie
i just found out about this... and i'm completely devistated. i loved jonathan, i saw him in a few movies and he was a wonderful actor. i have friends that have attempted suicide, as well... this is just a really big impact on me. rest in peast jonathan.. we love you
9 - Annemiek
Hi,
Im from Holland and only found out today about Jon's dead, I was so shocked and didnt believe it, i looked on the net and found out it was real, im sooo upset by this.
just wanted to leave a message. Jon, rest in peace.
10 - Emily
The Tragedy of Jonathan Brandis's death.
May his family and friends be comforted through this terrible happening and may he never be forgotten.
Rest Peacefully Jonathan.
Love,
Emily
11 - Jennifer Moesa
Dear sweet Jonathan...I just heard about his death and I wouldn't, i could not believe it was him who died..I loved him when I was eleven and I had a beautifull picture of him in my buspas and the driver asked me if he was my boyfriend. I laughed and said no..and ofcourse wished he was..I loved him so such and i didn't even know him. I'm from Holland so he was not all that famous here, but he catched my eye and I watched IT over and over again. My condolence to his family and friends. Sweet Jonathan you will be missed, but I guess you're in a better place now where people can't hurt you anymore.
12 - Pratish
I've always felt a personal connection to Jonathan. You see, Jonathan and I were born on exactly the same day. Since I found this, I had been reading about him ever since.
This is truly very sad... and I feel for his parents. Jonathan, wherever you are, may you be in peace.
Pratish Sharma (UK)
13 - Eric Olsen
This IS quite terrible. Perhaps most of us are jaded to such things, but I find the tributes here very touching.
14 - Miri
I was just browsing websites to find out what some of the actors I liked when I was young were up to and I was very sad to discover that Jonathan brandis had committed suicide.
I hope that he is well, wherever he is now.
15 - Marivel
Just like the last comment I was looking up actors that I liked when I was younger and I too was shocked at the news that Jonathan died. I cannot believe that someone so talented can be gone. Just recently I was going through some old boxes and found some posters and magazines I bought when Jonathan started his role in seaQuest. I can't describe the way I feel about such a terrible lost. The last time I saw him acting was in a tv movie but I can't recall the name of it. If anyone remembers a tv movie he starred in some years ago please post the title of the movie. Thanks.
16 - Cole
I grew up watching Jonathan and every time I go back to read about him I almost cry. I watched IT a couple of nights ago, I can't get him out of my head. This is something that we will never understand
17 - Brandon
ok enough with jonathan brandis, if a guy like him who i like so much in movies and pity somtimes because of his asthma, has to to take his ownlife, well have no respect for him anymore and hope he burns in hell.
18 - Tasha
The comment above is so wrong. I used to be in love with Jonathan Brandis when I was about 8 or 9, when seaquest had just come out, and I just found out today that he commited suicide last year, from my Twist magazine. I was so shocked, that I came on the internet to see if it was true. Sadly, yes it is. To the person who left the comment above, people who have commited suicide don't deserve to not have any respect, they are people who didnt get the help they needed in time. Its a great loss....I send my condolences out to his family, and I hope that you are happy wherever you are Jonathan.
Tasha.
19 - Maria
Hey Brandon, I cannot believe someone could have so much hatred inside. You my friend need therapy.
My condolences to The Brandis Family. Jonathan is resting now. God Bless him.
20 - Kamea
True, this is sad, but you guys need to leave Brandon alone. This is his opinion, you all have yours, too. When i first heard i also lost all respect for Jonathan. It has always been my belief that if you commit suicide, you dont go to heaven. Thats that.
However, my heart has softend a bit and i relized how cold that was of me. He was a great person. We should all thank God for him and i am sure Jonathan is with Him now. While we should mourn his loss, we should also celebrate his LIFE.
21 - Caitlin
While I don't share Brandon's point of view in hoping he burns in Hell, I am extremely pissed off.
Today I was looking up some web pages about him, because he was an "obsession" of mine since I was young. I hadn't looked him up on the internet in several months and wanted to see what he was up to. My heart caught in my throat when I read that he had died of suicide. He was so talented and I'm just not sure what to do with this anger and sadness I feel. His death is such a waste of a beautiful thing and that is one thing i despise...waste. I did not know him, yet some part of me feels as though I did; especially considering the fact that I bought every known magazine that contained any information on him. As infuriated as I am at his selfish act, I also feel a great pity for him. He knew a hurtful sadness and I wish he could have found help in time. There is a part of me that wishes maybe I as a fan could have done something. My condolences to his devastated family, friends, and fans. We will all truly miss him.
22 - haley
i don't agree with kamea or brandon in that jonathan should burn in hell, and that someone could lose respect of a person for taking their own life, i don't personally know anyone whose taken their own life but i'm sure that he would have had a reason for doing it. his life must have seem too hard for living in so he took the only way out that he could think of. i once heard that it takes more courage to live in the world than to leave it, i don't know if that's true or not but i don't think jonathan was a coward at all. may he be happy wherever he is, and i hope he's looking down upon all those who care for him. :(
23 - yolanda
i am deeply saddened by this tragedy, and i just can't seem to believe that it really happened. i was in love with jon when i was 11 yrs old, and i had my room wallpapered with his pictures. i remember when i wrote him a fan letter and i got an autographed picture back. i felt like the most special girl in the world. now i am 21 yrs old, and i look back fondly at my childhood. jon was my first big movie star crush and he will always hold a special place in my heart. **REST IN PEACE JONATHAN BRANDIS (1976-2003), MAY GOD BE WITH YOU**
24 - Oksana
When I was 12 years old, I watched SeaQuest every day after school. It was my favorite show of all time. Jonathan was my favorite actor, not because of his charming looks but also because of his talent. Although, when I moved to USA in 2000 and the show wasn't on any channels, I never forgot SeaQuest. Then, 4 years later, which would be today, I went online to one of my friend's site and her layout was featured Jonathan Brandis. The first thing that came to my mind was "OMG, I remember him" and as I look down the layout I see the big printed letters saying "In Loving Memory" I understood what the words meant, but I could not and still cannot understand why? I went to research about his death. Just about in 3 seconds, I found out that he commited a suicide...*pause* It is the kind of feeling that you get when you see a picture of a person that you haven't seen in years and it makes you smile, until a minture later you realize that person is no longer alive. I am completly shocked and upset about the whole satuation. So many people die every damn day and almost evertime, it's not fair. We might never know the truth behind his death, but the only thing that we will all know, that no matter how many years will go by, he will always be in our hearts. (He must have had a reason to kill himself, but why there was no one to stop him? what if he was killed by somebody else..? we will never know)
25 - Lola
Jonathan was the first guy I ever had a crush on--I was a real dork about him for years and years, totally obsessed. I've kept following his film career, and have great respect for him as an actor. Then, news of his suicide hits me. The first guy I was infatuated with died in the same way as my brother. Ironic and Freudian, I'm sure, but that does not make his death any less of a tragedy, or any easier to deal with. Jonathan Brandis will be greatly missed by all his fans, but I personally will be sure to remember him forever.
Why do people throw their lives away?