Fans have been moved to tears by Jenna Ortega’s touching recount of her final interaction with Cameron Boyce before his untimely death.
Ortega shared the heartwarming story while promoting her latest film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Boyce’s final act of kindness towards her has left a lasting impression.
The two actors first met when Ortega was just ’11 or 12,’ both gaining initial fame through their roles on the Disney Channel.
Ortega became well-known for her role in Bizaardvark alongside co-star Jake Paul, while Boyce is best remembered for his performances in the Descendants series and Jessie.
In an interview with French TV outlet Canal+, Ortega revealed that one of their last encounters was during an audition.
This event occurred when Ortega was around 15 or 16 years old, making Boyce approximately 18 or 19 at the time.
Ortega described how a casting agent had suggested they kiss for the audition, a request to which Boyce objected.
She said: “The last time I saw my friend Cameron Boyce — I’d known him since I was like 11 or 12, and we were supposed to kiss and he knew me since I was 11 or 12.”
“This is a few years later, 15, 16, [we] came in, we were supposed to be love interests,” she continued.
“But because he obviously felt weird and he was a bit older, he was like — we both just kinda looked at each other and we were like, ‘No, we can’t do this.’”
“And it was so sweet because I was uncomfortable and I was having a hard time… And then, we wished each other well.”
During the interview, Catherine O’Hara, who was present alongside Ortega, described Boyce as a ‘gentleman,’ a sentiment Ortega wholeheartedly agreed with.
Fans have been deeply affected by the story, with many still mourning Boyce’s early passing.
The actor, who has been fondly remembered by his Disney Channel co-stars, tragically passed away at the age of 20 in 2019.
He died in his sleep following a seizure.
One fan tweeted in response to the Ortega interview: “He really was such a gentleman- a very sad loss to the world.”
Another commented on the awkward situation, saying: “That’s a really sweet memory of Cameron. It’s also disappointing that it was up to Jenna and Cameron, the kids in the situation, to acknowledge that something was weird. Where were the adults?”
A third fan expressed ongoing grief: “He was so rare, him being gone hits every single day.”