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Actor and photographer Brad Everett Young, known for his work both in front and behind the camera, died in a car crash in Los Angeles on Sept. 14. He was 46.
Young’s publicist, Paul Christensen, told The Hollywood Reporter that the Virginia native was killed after another driver traveling the wrong way struck his vehicle on the 134 Freeway. Young had been driving alone after attending a movie screening. He was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other driver was hospitalized.
“Brad’s passion for both the arts and the people behind them was unmatched,” Christensen said in a statement. “He lived his mission of keeping creativity alive, and his legacy will continue through Dream Loud Official,” his nonprofit organization.
Born on July 24, 1979, in Danville, Virginia, Young originally moved to Los Angeles with plans to pursue medicine, but quickly turned to acting after booking his first audition. Over the course of nearly two decades, he appeared in numerous television series, including “Boy Meets World,” “Felicity,” “Charmed,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Numb3rs,” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” where he played an appendectomy patient in 2008.
His film credits included 2000’s “Love & Basketball” and “Charlie’s Angels,” 2001’s “Jurassic Park III,” 2009’s “I Love You, Man,” 2011’s “The Artist,” and 2017’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” his final screen role.
Beyond acting, Young established himself as a sought-after celebrity photographer. His portfolio featured portraits and red-carpet coverage of actors such as David Harbour, Seth Green, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Gavin Casalegno.
His photography, which often blended glamour with a candid sensibility, drew a large audience on Instagram, where he had more than 2 million followers.
In 2014, Young founded Dream Loud Official, an initiative aimed at restoring and supporting arts and music programs in schools across the United States. He often credited his own upbringing with showing him the importance of creative education, describing it as life-changing.
Tributes from colleagues and friends were posted on social media following the news of his death.
Actor Chris McKenna, who had worked with Young on a recent photo shoot, wrote on X that he was in “complete shock,” describing him as a “talented, funny, warm, caring guy” who gave generously of his time and talent.
Actress Jen Lilley called him “so much more than everyone’s fave celebrity photographer,” highlighting his dedication to others.
“He always made me laugh, was the only photographer I ever fully trusted and was completely natural in front of,” she captioned an Instagram post dedicated to the late photographer.
Young is survived by his brother, Chris. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Haika Mrema is a freelance entertainment reporter for The Epoch Times. She is an experienced writer and has covered entertainment and higher-education content for platforms such as Campus Reform and Media Research Center. She holds a B.B.A. from Baylor University where she majored in marketing.
