Medical Examiner Officially Rules Joshua Allen's Death as Suicide
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office in Texas has officially determined that Joshua Allen, the winner of So You Think You Can Dance, died by suicide. According to records obtained by TMZ, the professional dancer deliberately took his own life when he was struck and killed by a train last year.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Allen, who was 36 years old at the time of his death, succumbed to blunt force injuries on September 30. He passed away at a hospital near his home in Fort Worth, Texas, as confirmed by a family member speaking to TMZ. The Fort Worth Police Department responded to a call about a person struck by a train and immediately launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Remembering Joshua Allen
Following his tragic passing, friends and family reflected on Allen's character and values. "One of the last things he said was to keep God first at all times. You have to be real with yourself before you can be real with anybody else," a source revealed to TMZ. A family member requested privacy and prayers from fans, remembering Allen as a man of integrity who always sought to bring his family together.
Emmanuel Hurd, a close friend of the late dancer, described him as "a very honest, real person." Hurd continued, "He didn’t always do things the way that everybody thought he should, but that’s why he was a winner."
Career Highlights and Personal Connections
Joshua Allen rose to fame after winning the fourth season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2008, defeating runner-up Stephen 'tWitch' Boss. The two competitors developed a strong friendship, with Allen commenting at the time, "We were really happy for each other. We were two of the closest people there." Tragically, Boss also died by suicide in December 2022 at age 40.
After his reality show victory, Allen transitioned to film and television work:
- Featured dancer in Step Up 3D (2010)
- Appeared in the Footloose remake (2011)
- Participated as dancer and choreographer on Oxygen's Dance Your Ass Off (2010)
- Acting roles on Community and American Horror Story
Early Career and Training Background
Allen originally auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance in Dallas, Texas alongside his friend and fellow contestant Comfort Fedoke. He was ultimately crowned champion on August 7, 2008, earning a $250,000 cash prize. Remarkably, Allen revealed he had no formal technical dance training as a child, only taking a few modern and ballet classes before his audition to expand his horizons.
"I took a few modern dance classes, ballet classes, because I felt that to be a better dancer I would have to take different classes, and expand my horizons in the art of dance," Allen told Entertainment Weekly. "I didn’t want to audition for the show not knowing anything."
Personal Challenges and Final Tribute
In 2016, Allen made headlines for a domestic violence arrest involving an ex-girlfriend. He ultimately pleaded no contest to the charges, receiving a sentence of one year in jail, five years probation, and one year of domestic violence counseling.
Allen's final Instagram post was a tribute to The Cosby Show star Malcolm Jamal Warner, who died from accidental drowning in July at age 54.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
