Stephen Boss (OG).Stephen Boss
Stephen Laurel Boss, widely known as "tWitch," was an accomplished American dancer, actor, and television personality born in 1982 in Montgomery, Alabama. His early interest in dance led him to pursue formal education in the art at Southern Union State Community College and Chapman University. Boss gained fame through various television competitions, notably as a semifinalist on MTV's The Wade Robson Project, and later as a runner-up on "So You Think You Can Dance," where he became a celebrated all-star dancer. He also made appearances in films such as "Hairspray" and "Magic Mike XXL," and contributed to television as a DJ and co-executive producer on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
Beyond his entertainment career, Boss was known for his advocacy, particularly in mental health awareness, which gained significant attention following his tragic death by suicide in December 2022. His passing prompted an outpouring of tributes highlighting his impact on the dance community and his role as a mentor and friend to many young performers. Boss's family life included his marriage to fellow dancer Allison Hokler, with whom he shared three children. His legacy continues to inspire conversations about mental health, joy, and community support in the arts.
On this Page
Stephen Boss
- Born: September 29, 1982
- Died: December 13, 2022
Background
Stephen Laurel Boss was born in 1982 in Montgomery, Alabama, to Sanford Rose and Connie Boss Alexander. As a child, he was nicknamed “tWitch” because he could not sit still. A comic book fan, he named his childhood dog Krypto as a nod to the Superman comic series. Boss graduated from Lee High School in Montgomery, Alabama, in 2000. He then studied dance at Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, Alabama, and Chapman University in Orange, California.
Life’s Work
In 2003, Boss was a semifinalist on MTV’s The Wade Robson Project and runner-up on the television talent competition Star Search. Two years later, he competed in season three of So You Think You Can Dance. Although Boss did not make it to the top twenty, he returned in the following season and was runner-up in the finals, going on to tour with the top ten finalists and performing the Emmy-nominated piece “Mercy,” which was choreographed by Mia Michaels. In 2005, Boss played a dancer in the short film Gotan Mora. The following year, he played a dancer in the comedy Blades of Glory. In 2007, Boss portrayed a Maybelle’s Store dancer in Hairspray. He debuted on the comedy collective TheKommune.com in 2009, appearing in several sketch-series videos.
In 2010, Boss was chosen as one of the ten all-star dancers for the seventh season of So You Think You Can Dance. He appeared again as an all-star in seasons eight and nine. In 2014, Boss joined The Ellen DeGeneres Show as a guest DJ, eventually becoming a permanent cast member on the show and, in 2020, a co-executive producer. Boss had also joined DeGeneres in 2017 as an announcer and sidekick on her show Ellen’s Game of Games. From 2017 to 2020, Boss cohosted Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings with his wife, fellow dancer and So You Think You Can Dance alum Allison Hokler.
Boss served as a judge for So You Think You Can Dance in 2022. He also appeared as an actor in a number of other television shows and movies, including Magic Mike XXL, Modern Family, Ghostbusters, Adventures in Love and Babysitting, and Step Up All In. He was a member of the Breed OCLA and Chill Factor Crew dance troupes, teaching dance classes and holding workshops across the globe. Boss also choreographed for the South Korean pop singer Se7en.
Boss died by suicide on December 13, 2022, at the Oak Tree Inn in Encino, California.
Impact
Boss’s death drew attention to mental health and suicide prevention. After the announcement of his suicide, social media tributes poured in from celebrities such as Viola Davis, Channing Tatum, and Michelle Obama. Many people were shocked that it was possible for someone like Boss, who seemed to exude joy in his work, to die by suicide.
Singer Justin Timberlake, who had known Boss for more than twenty years, called it heartbreaking to hear that someone who brought so much joy was significantly hurting behind closed doors. Actor and dancer Jade Chynoweth said Boss worked to uplift other young performers. She added that he was her idol and a friend and inspired many dancers with his charisma, talent, kindness, and intelligence. Shaun King, author and activist, said Boss was a supporter of the movement for racial justice, speaking out against police violence. King added that after the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, Boss had sought advice on how to speak to Ellen DeGeneres about using her show as a platform to discuss the issue. Boss was also credited with helping many of his social media followers make it through the COVID-19 pandemic with his quarantine dance videos.
Personal Life
Boss married Hokler in 2013, adopting her daughter, Weslie. The couple had two more children, Maddox (b. 2016) and Zaia (b. 2019). The couple also signed on with Dick’s Sporting Goods as ambassadors to DSG, a family athletic clothing brand. Boss had owned an apparel line called tWitch Boss Clothing that included T-shirts featuring his image.
Bibliography
Altatis, Conan. “Stephen Boss Biography: 13 Things About Dancer Born in Montgomery, Alabama.” Conan Daily, 15 Dec. 2022, conandaily.com/2022/12/15/stephen-boss-biography-13-things-about-dancer-born-in-montgomery-alabama/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2024.
Jacobs, Julia. "Stephen Boss, Dancer and Reality TV Star Known as tWitch, Dies at 40." The New York Times, 14 Dec. 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/12/14/arts/television/twitch-stephen-boss-dead.html. Accessed 30 Aug. 2024.
Jones, Alexis, and Chiu, Melody. “Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss Honored at Celebration of Life Service.” People, 11 Feb. 2023, people.com/tv/stephen-twitch-boss-celebration-of-life/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2024.
Ngomsi, Vinciane. “Remembering the Legacy of Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss.” Boardroom, 2023, boardroom.tv/remembering-the-legacy-of-stephen-twitch-boss/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2024.
Respers France, Lisa. “tWitch’s Legacy of Kindness Makes His Loss All the More Tragic.” CNN, 16 Dec. 2022, www.cnn.com/2022/12/15/entertainment/twitch-legacy-kindness-death/index.html. Accessed 30 Aug. 2024.
“Stephen 'tWitch' Boss.” US Weekly, 2023, www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/stephen-twitch-boss/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2024.
Pham, Jason. “How Did tWitch Die? His ‘Wisdom, Joy & Intuition’ Live on in His Kids.” StyleCaster, Penske Media Corporation, SheMedia, 4 May 2023, stylecaster.com/how-twitch-die/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2024.