Former child actor Sophie Nyweide, best known for her roles in Bella, Mammoth, and Noah, has died at the age of 24. Her death certificate confirms she was pregnant at the time of her passing.
Nyweide rose to fame in 2006 and went on to build a promising film career throughout her youth.
On April 14, emergency responders were called to a wooded area near a high school in Bennington, Vermont, following reports of an unresponsive woman. Despite efforts to administer life-saving measures, Nyweide was pronounced dead at the scene.
An online obituary confirmed the date of her death but did not specify a cause. According to the official death certificate, Nyweide was pregnant when she died.
Local authorities responded to reports of an unresponsive woman (Scott Wintrow/Getty Images for NYILFF)
An obituary for Sophie Nyweide paints a heartbreaking portrait of a deeply sensitive and creative young woman.
“Sophie was a kind and trusting girl,” it reads. “Often, this left her vulnerable to being taken advantage of by others. She wrote and drew voraciously—her art revealing not just the depth of her spirit, but also the pain she carried. Much of her work serves as a roadmap through her struggles and traumas.”
Despite receiving multiple diagnoses and sharing personal insights through her art and words, those closest to her—including therapists, law enforcement officers, and loved ones—are devastated that their efforts were not enough. “She repeatedly said she would ‘handle it’ on her own and felt compelled to reject the treatment that might have saved her life,” the obituary continues.
It concludes with a powerful plea: “Sophie. A life ended too soon. 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.”
In the wake of her daughter’s passing, Sophie’s mother, Shelly Nyweide, spoke to TMZ, revealing that she had been aware of Sophie’s struggle with drug use.
Sophie Nyweide was just 24 (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Bennington Chief of Police Paul J. Doucette has confirmed that authorities are investigating Sophie Nyweide’s death as a “possible unintentional overdose.”
Her mother, Shelly Nyweide, spoke candidly about the tragic circumstances, telling TMZ: “My knowledge is she was using drugs and was a tiny young woman. She was with other people when she died. I didn’t know them. There is an investigation ongoing. The autopsy results are not in. They said it would take 6–8 weeks. So I can’t say definitively.”
LADbible Group has reached out to the Vermont Department of Health for further comment regarding the case.
If you’ve experienced a bereavement and need support, you can speak with someone in confidence by contacting Cruse Bereavement Care on their national helpline at 0808 808 1677.
