Jessica Campbell, the actress who had a starring role in the dark cult comedy Election, has died, according to her cousin, Sarah Wessling. She was 38.
Campbell died Dec. 29, 2020. Her cause of death is reportedly under investigation.
Wessling created a GoFundMe in the name of Campbell’s 10-year-old son, Oliver.
“A true adventurer in every sense of the word, Jessica packed a staggering amount of experiences into her tragically short lifetime,” Wessling wrote on the crowdfunding site. “Traveling the world, acting, becoming a doctor, being mom to the coolest kid ever; these bucket list items wove the quotidian fabric of her reality.”
Although Campbell had a number of acting credits to her résumé, she was best known for playing Tammy Metzler in 1999’s Election, opposite Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon.
“So heartbroken to hear this. Working with Jessica on Election was such a pleasure. I’m sending all my love to Jessica‘s family and loved ones,” Witherspoon said via Twitter.
Broderick also shared his condolences. “When I think of Jessica I remember a shy, incredibly sweet, very pink-cheeked teenager who liked to discuss with me what is best to order at Applebee’s,” he said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “She was very dear and an extremely good actor. Heartbreaking news. My deepest sympathy to her son and the rest of her family.”
Campbell also appeared on the TV series Freaks and Geeks.
“Her passion for life and the people in it was astounding,” Wessling wrote. “In addition to the impressive energy she poured into her own life, Jessica, on multiple occasions, dropped everything to travel across state lines and care for her loved ones in need.”
Wessling continued, “She was fun, she was loud, she was compassionate and loyal; no matter what she did, she was always uniquely Jessica.”
10:54 a.m.: Updated with a statement from Matthew Broderick.
10:23 a.m.: Updated with comment from Reese Witherspoon.
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