The actor who played a young Grinch in the festive favorite How the Grinch Stole Christmas tragically died just two years after it hit screens, but there was an eerie coincidence on the day he passed away.
Josh Ryan Evans died in August 2002, less than two years after the release of the film, where he played the younger version of Jim Carrey’s classic character who eventually comes to love the festive season after previously loathing it.
The actor had a form of dwarfism, called achondroplasia, and was 3ft 2in when he died aged 20.
Evans also had heart problems, which meant he underwent multiple surgeries as a child, but still went on to achieve a remarkable acting career after watching a lot of TV during his recovery and thinking, ‘You know what, I can do this’.
Evans suffered from heart problems (Universal)
He began appearing in TV adverts at 12 before making his debut as a toddler in 1999’s Baby Geniuses, which was then followed by his role in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Evans’ role as the child version of the Grinch saw him spend five and a half hours in the makeup chair each day to transform into the character.
Ron Howard, the film’s director, explained how the role was originally planned as a small walk-on part as a class misfit, but he changed his mind as soon as he met Evans and gave him a more prominent part.
Josh Ryan Evans played the young Grinch (Universal Pictures)
Following that breakthrough role in the Christmas classic, Evans landed the role of Timmy Lenox in the NBC soap opera Passions.
Evans went on to win multiple awards for this, including a YoungStar Award for ‘Best Young Actor in a Daytime TV Series’.
Tragically, as the actor’s career reached new heights, he passed away from complications related to his heart condition during a medical procedure.
And in a rather eerie coincidence, on the day Evans died, NBC aired the episode of Passions where his character also passed away.
Josh Ryan Evans died in 2002 (Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)
“We are deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of Josh Ryan Evans,” NBC said at the time.
“He was a truly unique talent with a remarkable spirit.
“He will be sorely missed by his Passions family and by all of us at NBC.”
The episode had been planned for August 5, 2002, weeks in advance, and Evans’ character was originally due to return later in the series as an angel.
But following the actor’s sudden death, those plans were scrapped, and the episode was ultimately dedicated to Evans’ memory.
