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Stephen "tWitch" Boss
Stephen tWitch Boss at Dizzy Feet Gala 2014.jpg
Boss in 2014
Born
Stephen Laurel Boss

(1982-09-29)September 29, 1982
Died December 13, 2022(2022-12-13) (aged 40)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Dancer
  • choreographer
  • actor
  • television producer
  • television personality
Years active 2000–2022
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Television
Spouse(s)
Allison Holker
(m. 2013)
Children 3

Stephen Laurel "tWitch" Boss (September 29, 1982 – December 13, 2022) was an American freestyle hip hop dancer, choreographer, actor, television producer, and television personality. In 2008, he finished in second place on the American version of So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD). From 2014 to May 2022, he was featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show as a repeated guest host and he was also a co-executive producer of the program. He was featured in Ellen's Game of Games as a sidekick to DeGeneres. Between 2018 and 2020, he and his wife, Allison Holker, hosted Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings on Freeform and Disney+.

Early life

Boss was born on September 29, 1982, to Connie Boss Alexander and Sandford Rose in Montgomery, Alabama. He graduated from Lee High School in 2000 and studied dance performance at Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, Alabama, and Chapman University.

Career

In 2003, Boss was a semifinalist on MTV's The Wade Robson Project and a runner-up on the television talent competition Star Search. He choreographed routines for South Korean pop/R&B singer Seven and helped train other YG Entertainment artists including Big Bang. In 2007, he was an uncredited "flamboyant dancer" in Blades of Glory and a Maybelle's Store Dancer in Hairspray.

After competing in So You Think You Can Dance, he taught dancing at South County Classical Ballet with fellow finalist Katee Shean. On April 30, 2013, he and Allison Holker performed a dance routine on Dancing with the Stars. They danced to "Crystallize" which was performed live by Lindsey Stirling.

Beginning on April 1, 2014, Boss was featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show as a guest DJ. In October 2014, he announced that he had been cast in Magic Mike XXL. On August 17, 2020, he became a co-executive producer of Ellen DeGeneres' daytime talk show.

Boss was cast as Marcel X in the superhero movie Perfectus and later he had a feature role in the movie Ushers. He was a member of the dance troupes Breed OCLA and Chill Factor Crew.

So You Think You Can Dance

Boss first auditioned in 2007 for Season 3 of the show and appeared on the program but was not selected to be in the Top 20. He returned to audition again in Season 4 in 2008; he was selected to compete in the Top 20 and finished the competition as runner-up to fellow hip-hop dancer Joshua Allen. During Season 4 he danced with Katee Shean to a contemporary piece choreographed by Mia Michaels. The dance was nominated for an Emmy for choreography in the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards.

In season 5, Boss appeared again on So You Think You Can Dance with fellow season 4 contestant Katee Shean to perform their Emmy-nominated piece "Mercy," choreographed by Mia Michaels. He was one of the eleven "All-Stars" for season 7. He was often an all-star in Seasons 7, 8, and 9 of So You Think You Can Dance, performing memorable routines including the hip hop number "Outta Your Mind" with ballet dancer Alex Wong, which was reprised by comedian Ellen DeGeneres in Season 7's finale. He was the team captain for "Team Street" in Season 12 of So You Think You Can Dance. He was announced as a permanent judge for the seventeenth season in 2022.

Twitch and Allison Holker, his wife, had an apparel line of athleisure named "DSG x tWitch + Allison Collection" which was sold by Dick's Sporting Goods.

Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings

Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings is a documentary television series featuring couples and their Disney-themed weddings, airing on Disney's Freeform network and the Disney+ streaming service. The show is a behind-the-scenes program featuring the weddings and engagements of couples at Disney destinations including Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and at Aulani in Hawaii. On October 17, 2017, Freeform announced the production of a seven-episode series to be released in the summer of 2018; it was hosted by Boss and Allison Holker. In November 2017, Freeform added a December 11, 2017, hour-long special, "Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic" as a part of its "25 Days of Christmas" event. Season 2 premiered on Disney+ on February 14, 2020.

Personal life

Stephen tWitch Boss and Allison Holker at Dizzy Feet Gala 2014
Boss and Allison Holker in 2014

On December 10, 2013, Boss and fellow SYTYCD alum Allison Holker married at Nigel Lythgoe's Villa San Juliette Vineyard and Winery in Paso Robles, California. He also adopted Holker's daughter. Their son was born in March 2016, and their daughter was born in November 2019.

Death

On December 13, 2022, Boss' wife, Allison Holker, informed officials at the Los Angeles Police Department that he had left their home without taking his car, which was unusual behavior. Police received a call about a shooting at the Oak Tree Inn in Encino, Los Angeles, where Boss was found dead after failing to check out of the motel. ..... He was 40 years old. Many prominent figures paid tribute to Boss upon news of his death, including actor Viola Davis, musician Questlove, former-First Lady Michelle Obama, and Magic Mike co-star Channing Tatum.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2007 Blades of Glory Flamboyant Dancer Uncredited
Hairspray Maybelle's Store Dancer
2010 Stomp the Yard: Homecoming Taz
Step Up 3D Jason Hardlerson
2012 Step Up Revolution
2014 Step Up: All In
2015 Magic Mike XXL Malik
2022 The Hip Hop Nutcracker Dad Disney+ release; final role

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2008 So You Think You Can Dance Runner-up
2010 Bones Russell Leonard
2011 So You Think You Can Dance All Star
Touch The Beastmaster
2012 So You Think You Can Dance All Star
Drop Dead Diva Billy Donaldson TV series, Season 6 episode 2: "Soulmates"
2013 So You Think You Can Dance All Star
Dancing with the Stars
2014–2022 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Show DJ/Host
2015 Bound & Babysitting Ethan TV film
So You Think You Can Dance Team Captain-Team Street
2017–2021 Ellen's Game of Games Announcer
2017–2020 Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings
2018 Modern Family Episode: "Wine Weekend"
Young & Hungry Himself
2018 So You Think You Can Dance Judge
2021 Clash of the Cover Bands Host
2022 The Real Dirty Dancing Host
So You Think You Can Dance Judge

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2010 The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers LXD Trainer Season 2, Episode 1
Teacher, Student Season 2, Episode 2
2011 The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers: The Secrets of the Ra Dr. E
2016 Love Doobie Episode 6

Awards

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Stephen Boss para niños

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