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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Maya Oppenheim

Jackson Odell dead: The Goldbergs actor found dead, aged 20

The Goldbergs actor Jackson Odell has been found dead at his home in California, at the age of 20.

Odell, best known for playing popular student Ari Caldwell on the ABC sitcom, was found unresponsive at a sober living facility in Tarzana on Friday, according to the Los Angeles coroner.

Sober living facilities serve as interim housing - between rehab and wider society - for those who are suffering from substance abuse.

The cause of Odell’s death is being investigated, but officials say no foul play is suspected.

While he was best known for his roles in the family comedies iCarly and The Goldbergs, he also appeared in guest roles on Modern Family and Arrested Development.

His family described him as "a shining light and a brilliant, loving and talented soul" in a statement on his Twitter account.

“The Odell family has lost our beloved song and brother, Jackson Odell, on Friday,” the post read. 

“He had so much more to share. Our family will always carry that truth forward. Our wish is that the rest of the world who knew and loved him does as well. We are now going to try and make sense of our immeasurable loss privately."

The actor, who starred in the 2011 feature film Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, was also a songwriter and contributed to the soundtrack for the romantic drama Forever My Girl which was released earlier this year.

Tributes have poured in for Odell on social media.

Fellow The Goldbergs actor Charlie DePew paid tribute to "a true talent" on Twitter.

“RIP Jackson Odell. I’m so happy that I got to know you. You were a true talent and an even truer person,” he said.

Ariel Winter, who plays Alex Dunphy in Modern Family, said: "Very hard for me to hear about anyone passing away, but someone so young really saddens me."

Amanda Joy "AJ" Michalka, who appeared alongside Odell in The Goldbergs, paid tribute to her co-star. 

"Jackson Odell was way too young to pass," she wrote. "My heart goes out to his family during this time of grieving. Our Goldbergs family will miss him. RIP sweet Jackson. This is heartbreaking."

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