Sophie Nyweide, who made her film debut at 6, passes away at 24

Sophie Nyweide died on April 14, 2025, at age 24. Her family announced her passing in an obituary published online on April 17, without disclosing the cause of death. She was born on July 8, 2000, in Burlington, Vermont.

The obituary said she spent most of her brief life in Vermont and New York City. Her family described her as a beloved daughter, sister, friend, and new aunt.

Sophie Nyweide’s last screen role was a 2015 episode of the reality series What Would You Do? Her death was reported by major entertainment publications.

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Sophie Nyweide discovered her love for acting as a very young child

Sophie Nyweide first showed interest in performance as a young child. She discovered acting after watching the 2003 film Something’s Gotta Give at the Village Picture Shows Cinema, which her mother, Shelly Gibson, once owned.

“She grew up in this movie theater and slept in the movie theater and had a little bed in the projection booth and watched many movies,” her mother recalled in a 2010 interview.

“I really, really wanted to be an actress and I kept begging my mom,” Nyweide said in the same interview.

At the age of six, Sophie Nyweide bagged the title role in the 2006 drama Bella, marking her screen debut.

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She took on key roles in several notable films

Over the next decade, Sophie Nyweide appeared in nine more films and several television episodes. In 2009, she played the on-screen daughter of Michelle Williams and Gael García Bernal in the drama Mammoth. She later acted opposite Russell Crowe in the 2014 biblical film Noah.

Film critic Jeannette Cotsoulis wrote that the young actress “should have a glowing future.” Her other credits included Margot at the Wedding, An Invisible Sign opposite Jessica Alba, and a 2007 episode of Law & Order. Friends and co-workers said she seemed happiest on set, where she could become someone else.

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Sophie Nyweide faced personal struggles

Sophie Nyweide’s family’s obituary noted that she:

“Was a kind and trusting girl. Often this left her open to being taken advantage of by others,” they wrote.

They also said:

“She self medicated to deal with all the trauma and shame she held inside, and it resulted in her death.”

The obituary added:

“Many of her writings and artwork are roadmaps of her struggles and traumas.”

Despite offers of support, she insisted she would “handle it on her own” and declined further help. Instead of flowers, her family asked that donations be made to RAINN in her memory.

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Friends and family recall a young woman who found comfort and identity in acting, and her mother said she had:

“infectious passion and zest – without those amazing blue eyes that could look directly into one’s soul.”

Colleagues highlighted how she brought focus and warmth to each set.

Although her career lasted less than a decade, her performances remain an integral part of her legacy. Her family hopes that donations to RAINN and the memories shared by those who knew her will encourage greater awareness of mental health challenges and the importance of support for those in need.

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