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Former child artist Sophie Nyweide passed away at the age of 24, as confirmed by her family in an obituary published April 17. The actress was best known for starring in films such as An Invisible Sign and Mammoth.
According to TMZ, the Bennington Police Department spoke to them about Sophie Nyweide's death being investigated for "a range of possible causes, including foul play." The report further mentioned that the former child actress was found "lifeless on a river bank" on April 14. Nyweide's mother, actress Shelly Gibson, also confirmed that a police investigation is ongoing about her daughter's death.
Nyweide was reportedly also accompanied by a man at the time of her death, who is "cooperating with the cops." The person in question is not considered a "suspect" or "person of interest." An autopsy and a toxicology report are also pending to determine the official cause of death.
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According to her obituary, Sophie Nyweide passed away after she "succumbed to self-medication" to deal with the "trauma and shame" she held inside her. The actress wanted to "handle it on her own" and rejected treatment that could have saved her, per the obituary.
Sophie Nyweide's obituary ended with her family's request for donations to RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), an anti-s*xual violence organization.
Sophie Nyweide's obituary called her "kind and trusting", leading to others taking advantage of her
Sophie Nyweide was born in 2000 to actress Shelly Gibson. Since childhood, she wanted to be an actress even without knowing her mother's profession. In her obituary, her family hinted at others taking "advantage" of her owing to her kindness. It said:
"Sophie. A life ended too soon. May it not be in vain. May we all learn from her brief life on earth and do better. Yes, we must all protect our children and do better. Sophie was a kind and trusting girl. Often this left her open to being taken advantage of by others."
It also hinted at the actress's struggles and added:
"She wrote and drew voraciously, and much of this art depicts the depth she had, and it also represents the pain she suffered. Many of her writings and artwork are roadmaps of her struggles and traumas."
Nyweid made her on-screen debut when she was six years old, playing the titular role in the 2006 romantic drama, Bella. Her co-stars in the film were Eduardo Verástegui, Tammy Blanchard, and Manny Perez.
In her obituary, Nyweide was described as "creative, athletic, and wise beyond her years." It also mentioned that she had multiple interests, such as snowboarding.
"She dreamed (more like demanded!) to be an actor, without ever knowing her mother was an actor, so she did that too with an ease we all marveled about," the obituary read.
After her debut in 2006, Nyweide appeared in several films in the late 2000s, including Margot at the Wedding, And Then Came Love, and New York City Serenade. Her most well-known role came in 2009, where she starred as Jackie Vidales in Mammoth (2009). Nyweide played the daughter of Michelle Williams and Gael Garcia Bernal in the film.
In the 2010 coming-of-age drama film, An Invisible Sign, Sophie Nyweide played the daughter of maths teacher Mona Gray (Jessica Alba). Nyweide's performance is often considered her breakthrough role. However, Nyweide's career slowed down following An Invisible Sign. The actress then appeared in some short films and also starred in the 2014 religious epic film, Noah, directed by Darren Aronofsky.
In her obituary, Sophie Nyweide's family mentioned that she was happiest when on a film set.
"She seemed happiest on a movie set, becoming someone else. It was a safe place for her, and she relished the casts and crews who nourished her talent and her well-being," it said.
It added that Nyweide could make friends easily and loved adventures:
"She was an eager adventurer and picked up the customs and even languages of any place she visited. She made friends easily at her schools and saw the good in everyone," it read.
According to IMDb, Sophie Nyweide's last appearance came in 2015 in the ABC reality show, What Would You Do? She is survived by her mother and brother.
