Family and friends mourn the 36-year-old dancer after Fort Worth police say he was struck by a train; an investigation is underway.
Joshua Allen, who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of So You Think You Can Dance, has died after being struck by a train, according to family members who spoke with TMZ.
According to TMZ, The Fort Worth Police Department responded to a call Tuesday reporting a person had been hit by a train; Allen was taken to a hospital near his Texas home and later died. Authorities say the incident is under investigation.
Allen, 36, became a household name in 2008 when he captured the top prize on the popular Fox dance competition. His victory came in a season that featured Stephen “tWitch” Boss as a runner-up, and it launched Allen into a professional dance career that included film and television work.
He appeared in the 2010 movie Step Up 3D, had a role in the 2011 Footloose remake, and appeared in an episode of American Horror Story that same year.
In comments relayed to TMZ, family members painted a picture of a devoted son and brother who valued faith and family. They remembered Allen as “a man of integrity” and a family man who loved bringing relatives together for holidays and gatherings.
One of the last things they say he told loved ones was to “keep God first at all times,” and he emphasized honesty in relationships: “You have to be real with yourself before you can be real with anybody else.”
Close friend Emmanuel Hurd described Allen as “a very honest, real person,” echoing the family’s sentiment about his candor and commitment to those he cared about.
Allen’s personal life included public struggles. In 2016 he was charged with domestic violence, a case that led to his serving roughly a year in jail in 2017. The legal issues marked a difficult period in the dancer’s life, contrasting with the high-profile successes of his earlier career.
News of Allen’s death prompted an outpouring of shock and sadness from fans and colleagues who had followed his rise from reality-show hopeful to working performer. For many, memories of his energetic routines and on-screen charisma remain the dominant image of a talent who helped shape late-2000s dance culture on television and in film.
As authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the train incident, Allen’s family has asked for privacy as they grieve.
The dancer is survived by family members who remember him for his faith, his honesty, and his devotion to bringing loved ones together.
