Joshua Allen, the winner of So You Think You Can Dance Season 4, has died at the age of 36, as per a family member confirmation recieved by TMZ. The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, with Allen’s family requesting “privacy and prayers” during this time.
Allen rose to fame in 2008 as the champion of the fourth season of the Fox reality dance competition. Despite having no formal training, the Fort Worth, Texas native captivated audiences with his charisma and talent, ultimately taking home the $250,000 grand prize. Notably, fellow dancer Stephen "tWitch" Boss — who died by suicide in 2022 — was runner-up that season. The two later returned to the show as All-Stars.
After his SYTYCD win, Allen pursued acting and dance professionally. He appeared in projects such as Step Up 3D (2010), the Footloose remake (2011), and an episode of American Horror Story. He also made appearances as a background dancer in various television and film productions.
In his final Instagram post in July, Allen paid tribute to late actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who had recently passed away. “Fly high King 🤴🏾🕊️💔#gonetoosoon,” Allen wrote alongside a photo of them together.
Following news of his death, longtime friend and choreographer Emmanuel Hurd shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, remembering Allen as “the life of the party,” and a “real King.” Hurd added, “You were Batman. Champion. One of the realest people I ever met. Kept it a stack every time.” He also expressed comfort in believing Allen had reunited with Boss, writing, “I know you’re with Stephen now and that brings me comfort.”
Allen faced legal issues in 2016 when he was arrested on domestic violence charges. In 2017, he was sentenced to one year in county jail, five years of probation, and required to complete domestic violence counseling. He was also ordered to stay away from the victim for 10 years.
Allen’s death was reported as occurring on Sept. 30, though some close friends cited Sept. 29 as the date.
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