Sophie Nyweide dies at 24; child actor co-starred in the films ‘Mammoth’ and ‘Noah’

By Lisa Respers France CNN Sophie Nyweide who as a child appeared in films alongside Michelle Williams and Russell Crowe has died according to an online obituary shared by her family She was The Burlington Vermont native who spent largest part of her brief life in Vermont and New York City died April according to her obituary No cause of death was shared Sophie was a beloved daughter granddaughter sister friend and new aunt the family wrote Creative athletic and wise beyond her years Sophie accomplished so much in the time she danced upon earth literally she danced as she moved The family noted that Nyweide seemed happiest on a movie set becoming someone else It was a safe place for her and she relish from the casts and crews who nourished her talent and her well being the family wrote She was an eager adventurer and picked up the customs and even languages of any place she visited Born in July to former actor Shelly Gibson Nyweide was just when she starred in the title role of her first major film Bella She dreamed more like demanded to be an actor without ever knowing her mother was an actor so she did that too with an ease we all marveled about her obit reads TV roles in shows like Law Order and films such as And Then Came Love and Margot at the Wedding followed Nyweide starred as the daughter of characters played by Michelle Williams and Gael Garc a Bernal in the film Mammoth and opposite Russell Crowe in s Noah Her obit states that she was a kind and trusting girl She wrote and drew voraciously and much of this art depicts the depth she had and it also represents the pain she suffered Numerous of her writings and artwork are roadmaps of her struggles and traumas according to the obit Even with those roadmaps diagnoses and her own revelations those closest to her plus therapists law enforcement officers and others who tried to help her are heartbroken their efforts couldn t save her from her fate In lieu of flowers or gifts the family requested that donations be made to RAINN which bills itself as the nation s largest anti-sexual violence organization in Nyweide s name A memorial function is planned for a date to be determined