Justin Pierce
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| Justin Pierce | |
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| Born | Justin Charles Pierce March 21, 1975 London, England[1] |
| Died | July 14, 2000 (aged 25) Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Spouse(s) | Gina Rizzo (1999-2000) |
Justin Charles Pierce (March 21, 1975 – July 10, 2000) was an English-American actor and professional skateboarder.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Born in London, England to a Welsh mother and an American father, Pierce was raised in the Marble Hill section of Manhattan in New York. Pierce's parents divorced when he was 15. After his parent's divorce, he began acting out by stealing cigarettes and food and skipping school in favor of skateboarding. Pierce soon quit school and moved out, staying in a basement of a building with fellow skaters.[1]
[edit] Career
While skateboarding in Washington Square Park, Pierce was discovered by film director Larry Clark. Clark then cast him in his controversial 1995 film Kids.[1] After the success of Kids, Pierce won an Independent Spirit Award for his portrayal of Casper, the foul-mouthed skater punk friend of main character, Telly (Leo Fitzpatrick), and relocated to Los Angeles. Pierce would go on to appear in the 1997 film A Brother's Kiss with John Leguizamo and Rosie Perez. Pierce also appeared in television movies including 1997's First Time Felon, and the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle.[2]
Pierce's last on screen appearance was in the 2002 film Looking for Leonard, which was released after his death. The film was dedicated to his memory.[3]
[edit] Personal life
In 1999, Pierce married stylist Gina Rizzo in Las Vegas.[1]
[edit] Death
On July 10, 2000, Pierce was found hanging in his Las Vegas hotel room at the Bellagio by hotel security.[4] Two suicide notes were found at the scene.[5] Pierce, a Los Angeles resident had apparently been in Las Vegas to do a photo shoot for a fashion company.
July 15, 2000, a Catholic service for Pierce was held at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in Manhattan's Little Italy.[1]
[edit] Filmography
- Kids (1995)
- A Brother's Kiss (1997)
- Wild Horses (1998)
- Myth America (1998)
- Freak Weather (1998)
- Too Pure (1998)
- Out in Fifty (1999)
- Pigeonholed (1999)
- The Big Tease (1999)
- Next Friday (2000)
- King of the Jungle (2000)
- BlackMale (2000)
- Looking for Leonard (2002)
[edit] Television
- First Time Felon (1997)
- This Is How the World Ends (1999)
- Malcolm in the Middle (2 episodes, 2000)
[edit] Awards
- Won: Best Debut Performance, Kids (1996)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Davis, Peter. "Justin Pierce: The Lost Boy", Papermag.com, 2000-11-1. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
- ^ IMDb credits
- ^ Looking for Leonard credits/dedications
- ^ "Justin Pierce, 25; Starred in 'Kids'", The New York Times, 2000-07-13. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
- ^ "Actor Justin Pierce hangs self in Las Vegas hotel", Reuters, 2000-11-1. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
[edit] External links
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Pierce, Justin |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Pierce, Justin Charles |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Actor, professional skateboarder |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 21, 1975 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | London, England |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 10, 2000 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
