Stephen “tWitch” Boss, DJ for “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” Dead at 40 | CNN

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Stephen Boss, the amiable DJ on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and dancer who rose to fame on “So You Think You Can Dance,” has died in a statement to CNN.

He was 40 years old.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I must share my husband Stephen left us,” Holker Boss said in a statement. “Steven lit up every room he entered. He valued family, friends, and community above all else, and leading with love and light was everything to him. He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans.”

She added, “To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt.” “I’m sure there won’t be a day when we don’t honor his memory. We ask for privacy during this difficult time for myself and especially for our three children.”

No other information was provided regarding the cause of his death.

CNN has reached out to the LAPD and the Los Angeles County Physician for comment.

Holker Boss concluded her statement with, “Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always have The Last Dance for you.”

The couple celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary just days ago.

He was mourned on social media on Wednesday by several who shared videos of him dancing and their memories.

“A kind soul and a kind person.. This is how I will remember Twitch.. This was his 40th birthday party.. My heart goes out to his family especially Alison and their beautiful kids.. This is devastating… I love you bro and will miss you so much,” the TV presenter and comedian while day Loni Love tweeted.

Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Boss got his nickname as a child when he couldn’t sit still.

He graduated from Lee High School in Montgomery in 2000 and went on to study dance performance at Southern Union State Community College and Chapman University.

Six years ago he spoke with author and former footballer Louis Howes on his latest podcast and talked about his background, including being raised by a single mother and how his relationship with his absent father helped shape him.

“I was always this ‘don’t tell me what I won’t do’ type of person,” Boss said. “I remember talking to [his father] outside his work in the parking lot and I say to him “Hey, I’m joining the dance team. I’m going to need some performances and some money to get supplies” and he goes in that shade… I was like “Oh, that means I’m really supposed to do this next.” .”

In 2003, Boss was a semi-finalist on MTV’s “The Wade Robson Project” and was also a runner-up in the TV talent competition “Star Search.”

Being a runner-up on “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2008 marked the beginning of his rise to fame and he would later return to serve as a dance competition judge.

Ellen DeGeneres brought him on as the DJ on her popular daytime talk show in 2014, a job he held until the show went off the air this year. Boss was also a concurrent producer on the show.

He kept in touch with fans through his popular social media accounts, often sharing videos of himself dancing with his wife.

The couple were all-star dancers on the seventh season of “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2010 and connected romantically.

“We shared a dance at the wrap party that season’s ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and we’ve been together ever since,” Boss told People magazine in February.

“There was no dialogue, no conversation or a first hangout. Literally, we danced and were just hanging out together the next day,” added Holker Boss. “And we never looked back.”

The couple are the parents of three children. Boss’ latest Instagram post on Monday showed him and Holker Boss dancing in front of a Christmas tree.