Evan Ellingson, a 35-year-old actor who starred in CSI: Miami and My Sister’s Keeper, passed away on November 5, 2023, due to an accidental fentanyl overdose. He was found dead in his bedroom at a sober living home in Fontana, California, where he had been staying for some time.
A promising career was cut short by addiction
Ellingson began his acting career as a child, appearing in commercials for brands like Vans. He landed his first regular role in the Fox sitcom Titus in 2000 and then starred in the ABC sitcom Complete Savages in 2004. He also had guest roles in shows like Mad TV, 24, and Bones.
In 2006, he was cast by Clint Eastwood in the war film Letters from Iwo Jima, and 2009, he played the son of Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric in the drama My Sister’s Keeper, based on the novel by Jodi Picoult. He also had a recurring role as Kyle Harmon, the son of Horatio Caine (David Caruso), in CSI: Miami from 2007 to 2010.
Ellingson had not appeared on screen in several years, and according to his Facebook page, he was working for a religious organization called Teen Challenge South California. He also enjoyed surfing, horse riding, and hiking.
However, Ellingson had a long history of struggling with substance abuse disorder and had recently relapsed after taking painkillers for dental work, according to a tribute posted by his girlfriend, Kaysha Dial. His father also confirmed to TMZ that his son had battled with drug addiction in the past and that his death had come as a shock to his family.
A tragic loss for his family and friends
Ellingson is survived by his daughter, his parents, his siblings, and his girlfriend. His family and friends expressed their grief and love for him on social media, remembering him as a caring, funny, and talented person who loved Jesus.
One of his co-stars, Abigail Breslin, who played his sister in My Sister’s Keeper, wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram, saying that Ellingson was “a kind, funny and extremely talented human being” who “cared so much about turning in the best performance, which he accomplished”. She also said that he was “silly, funny, a prankster, a lover of Red Bull” and “the life of the party”.
She added: “Evan, I know heaven will welcome you with open arms. Your time on this earth may have been devastatingly short. Your humor, exuberance, kindness, and bright light will linger forever. Sending you peace on your journey to the great beyond and who knows … maybe one day, I’ll meet you in Montana. Xx, abster.”
A growing epidemic of fentanyl overdoses
Ellingson’s death is the latest in a series of fatal overdoses involving fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, or counterfeit pills, without the users’ knowledge, increasing the risk of overdose.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 93,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States in 2020, a 29.4% increase from 2019. Of these, nearly 75% involved opioids, and more than 60% involved synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl.
The CDC also reported that fentanyl overdose deaths increased by 54.2% from 2019 to 2020 and that 10 states had more than a 100% increase in synthetic opioid overdose deaths. These states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, and Oregon.
The CDC urged people who use drugs to take precautions to prevent overdose, such as carrying naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdose, and never using drugs alone. The CDC also recommended seeking treatment for substance use disorder and accessing harm reduction services, such as syringe service programs and safe consumption sites.
