Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, ‘Ellen’ DJ, Reportedly Dead at 40

Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the DJ best known for his years on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, has reportedly died at the age of 40. Law enforcement sources told reporters from TMZ that Boss had been found dead in a hotel in Los Angeles, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Fans everywhere are mourning the iconic DJ and dancer.

Police said that Boss’ wife, Allison Holker, came to an LAPD station on Tuesday out of concern for her husband. Holker reportedly told them that Boss had left home without his car, which was unusual, and that she was worried about him. Later in the same day, police responded to a reported shooting at a hotel in town. Boss had already passed away when he was discovered. So far, there are no further details on his passing.

Most fans will know Boss from his time on the air with Ellen DeGeneres. He joined the comedian’s long-running talk show in 2014 as her full-time DJ, playing along with DeGeneres’ love of dancing between segments and getting the audience moving during games or interludes. Boss became indispensable to the show on screen, even filling in as host a few times. Behind the scenes, DeGeneres made Boss an executive producer in 2020, and he stayed on until the show ended earlier this year.

Boss acquired a die-hard following of his own in those years as well. Many fans followed the DJ on social media and became invested in his personal life when he and his wife hosted a Disney+ series together called Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings. Boss and Holker married in 2013 and had three children together. They were a fan-favorite celebrity couple. Saturday was their ninth wedding anniversary.

Boss’ TV tenure goes back a few years further. His real break into the entertainment industry came in 2008 when he was the runner-up on So You Think You Can Dance. That appearance earned him a few other acting roles, including a spot on Magic Mike XXL.

So far, Boss’ family has not spoken out publicly about his reported passing. DeGeneres has become inactive online, but she has not given a comment either. Fans are posting their tributes to him on social media as the news spreads.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available.