Joshua Allen, the 36-year-old winner of “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 4, died early Tuesday morning, September 30, after being struck by a train near his home in Fort Worth, Texas. The Fort Worth Police Department responded to the railroad tracks near the intersection of Millbrook Lane and Nuffield Lane around 1 a.m., where officers found Allen after he had been hit by the train.
Allen was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 1:30 a.m. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s database confirmed Allen’s death, though the official cause and manner of death remain pending investigation. Police have not released details about why Allen was on the train tracks at the time of the incident.
The dancer’s representative, Christina Price, confirmed his death and shared that Allen was “a truly gifted dancer and actor, but more than that, he had an enormous heart.” Price noted that Allen had a natural gift for movement despite having no formal training, explaining that he could watch something once and his body would know how to replicate it. She emphasized that beyond his talent, Allen gave back to his community by teaching children in Texas through dance workshops.
Allen rose to fame in 2008 when he won the fourth season of Fox’s dance competition series at just 18 years old. Competing as a hip-hop dancer, he impressed judges and audiences with his fluid movements, controlled popping and locking, and springy leaps. Throughout the season, he demonstrated versatility by successfully performing various dance styles ranging from contemporary to Bollywood.
The season’s runner-up was Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who later became widely known as the DJ and co-executive producer of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” The two dancers developed a close friendship during their time on the show and remained connected afterward. Boss died by suicide in December 2022 at age 40, a loss that deeply affected Allen.
Following Boss’s death, Allen wrote a tribute on Instagram expressing his devastation and noting that no words could adequately express his love for his former competitor. Allen wrote that the loss was not goodbye but rather that he would see Boss later, reflecting the deep bond between the two dancers.
After his victory on “So You Think You Can Dance,” Allen expanded his career into film and television. His acting credits included roles in “Step Up 3D” in 2010, the 2011 remake of “Footloose,” and an appearance in the first season of “American Horror Story” in 2011. He also appeared in commercials, including one for McDonald’s, and served as an instructor for several dance competitions.
Allen faced legal troubles in 2016 when he was charged with domestic violence for attacking his girlfriend at a coffee shop. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office charged him with two felony counts of willfully injuring his girlfriend, one felony assault with a deadly weapon, and four misdemeanors related to battery, vandalism, and violating a protective order. He was initially set to be a mentor on Season 13 of “So You Think You Can Dance,” but longtime host Cat Deeley announced his departure from the series amid the domestic violence case.
In August 2016, Allen pleaded no contest to the charges and was sentenced to one year in county jail in 2017, followed by five years of formal probation and 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling. Prosecutors ordered him to stay away from the victim for a decade.
Emmanuel Hurd, a choreographer and friend of Allen, paid tribute to the dancer on Instagram, describing him as the life of the party and one of the realest people he had ever met. Hurd indicated that Allen was an honest person who didn’t always do things the way others thought he should, but that authenticity was what made him a winner. Hurd expressed comfort in believing that Allen was now reunited with Boss.
Allen’s family confirmed his death to TMZ and requested privacy and prayers during this difficult time. Family members described Allen as a man of integrity who was family-focused and wanted to bring everyone together under one roof for the holidays. They shared that one of his final conversations included advice to keep God first at all times and to be real with yourself before being real with anyone else.
Allen’s last social media post in July was a tribute to the late Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who died at age 54 after drowning during a family vacation in Costa Rica. Allen captioned the post with Warner’s photo, writing about another life gone too soon.
Price, who also represented Boss, noted that Boss’s death weighed heavily on Allen and expressed heartbreak at now grieving both dancers. The entertainment industry has lost two talented performers from the same season of the popular dance competition series within three years.