Former child actor Sophie Nyweide was pregnant when she died on April 14, according to her death certificate. She was 24 years old.
Nyweide was best known for her role in the 2009 romance drama Mammoth, where she starred alongside Gael García Bernal and Michelle Williams. Her final credited role was in the 2014 film Noah, which featured Russell Crowe and Emma Watson.
According to the Vermont Department of Health, Nyweide died in a wooded area in Bennington, Vermont—about 25 miles south of her home in Manchester Center. The cause of death is still under investigation.
An April 17 online obituary, which has since been removed, stated that “she self medicated to deal with all the trauma and shame she held inside, and it resulted in her death.” It also noted that Nyweide often insisted she could “handle it” on her own and rejected treatment that might have helped her.
The obituary described Nyweide as a deeply creative person who kept journals and drawings that reflected both her artistic spirit and her struggles. These writings were referred to as “roadmaps” of her pain.
“Even with those roadmaps, diagnoses, and her own revelations, those closest to her—along with therapists, law enforcement officers, and others who tried to help—are heartbroken their efforts couldn’t save her,” the obituary read.
Born in Burlington, Vermont, in 2000, Sophie Nyweide spent her time between her home state and New York City. By the age of five, she was already a competitive snowboarder, and soon after, she developed a passion for acting.
“She seemed happiest on a movie set, becoming someone else. It was a safe place for her… surrounded by casts and crews who nurtured her talent and well-being,” the obituary noted.
Nyweide was described as an adventurous spirit who loved to travel and immerse herself in different languages and cultures. She was remembered as a beloved daughter, sister, new aunt, granddaughter, and friend.
In lieu of flowers, the obituary requested that donations be made in her memory to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization.
“Sophie. A life ended too soon,” the obituary read. “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.”
