Star Trek: Next Generation actor Jon Paul Steur has died at the age of 33. He passed away on Monday, but the cause of death has not been confirmed, according to reports in Oregon newspaper Willamette Week.
The child star starred in the hit sci-fi series as Alexander Rozhenko, the son of Worf and Federation Ambassador K'Ehleyr. The role was portrayed by three actors throughout the duration of the show, but he was the first to do so.
Born in California in 1984, his acting career was launched at the age of three, before he went on to play Rozhenko in 1990. Apparently he got the job because he was the only child at the audition who was willing to sit through the exhausting three hours it took to apply the character's makeup and prosthetics.
Credit: Paramount
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Other major acting credits include his turn as Quentin Kelly in the ABC TV series Grace Under Fire - a role that won him many fans - as well as playing Johnny 'Viper' Vennaro in 1994 children's comedy Little Giants.
He also had a guest spot in an episode of TV show The Wonder Years and had performed in 1993 made-for-TV movie When Love Kills: The Seduction Of John Hearn.
He eventually quit Grace Under Fire - and acting altogether - when the show became compromised by off-screen drama with lead actress Brett Butler, who was reportedly was struggling with substance abuse.
In a 2015 interview, Steuer said that the whole experience had damaged his love for acting, saying: "I wanted to forge on with acting after quitting the show, and I went out on a few interviews.
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"But even then they'd turn into question-and-answer sessions with casting agents about Grace Under Fire. I was kind of blown away by how unprofessional people inside the industry were. It really soured me. I didn't want that kind of attention."
However, Steuer later moved away from acting and forged a career as a musician and restaurateur - and more recently went by the moniker of Jonny P Jewels.
His band His band P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S, shared a message on Facebook that said: "It is with heavy hearts and saddened minds that we announce the passing of our dear friend and singer Jonny Jewels, AKA Jon Paul Steuer.
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"The addition of Jonny to our dysfunctional band family was one of the best choices that we have ever made, and he brought a much needed sense of fun and lightheartedness to everything we did.
"He was only with us for a little more than a year, but we managed to cram a lifetime of great experiences into his tenure as our singer.
"Dozens shows at home in Portland and across several states, an amazing European tour, and our best full-length release yet.
"We've lost our singer, but far, far more than that we've lost a friend. Rest in peace, Jonny...we love you. Jon Paul Steuer March 27, 1984 - January 1, 2018."
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Featured Image Credit: Facebook / Paramount
Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film, US Entertainment, TV
