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Nicky Katt, the actor best known for his performances in Dazed and Confused and Boiler Room, died by suicide, according to his family.
Katt’s sister, Elise Ravenscroft, confirmed the cause of her brother’s death in a statement shared with Deadline. “Today, with the heaviest of hearts, I share the devastating news of my brother’s passing. He died by suicide after battling with depression — one that he fought bravely but quietly.”
She also expressed dismay that details about Katt’s death were “made public without my consent at a time when our family was still trying to process the shock and grief of his loss.”
Ravenscroft went on to say of Katt’s death, and his struggles with mental health: “This is a pain no family should endure, yet far too many do. Mental illness is real, it is powerful, and it is often invisible. We hope that by sharing this, we can help break the silence and stigma that so often surrounds mental health struggles. In this moment of grief, we kindly ask for compassion — not only for our family as we mourn this unimaginable loss — but for every person who is silently struggling. We also ask for privacy to navigate this tragedy and begin the process of healing.”
She closed her note by encouraging people who may be experiencing depression to “reach out” to loved ones or mental health services. “You are not alone, and help is available,” she said. “Let us honor my brother’s memory by approaching one another with greater understanding, kindness, and care.”
Katt was a fixture in movies and TV shows during the Nineties and early 2000s, often playing tough guys or other antagonists. He popped up in films like Gremlins and The ‘Burbs before securing his breakthrough as high school bully Clint Bruno in Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused. In the coming years, he’d appear in films like The Doom Generation, Batman & Robin, and A Time to Kill, as well as TV shows like Boston Public and Friends. He reunited with Linklater for School of Rock, subUrbia, and Waking Life, and also worked with directors like Steven Soderbergh and Christopher Nolan.
Dial 988 in the U.S. to reach theNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Find other international suicide helplines at Befrienders Worldwide (befrienders.org).
