As reported by CNN, former child actor Austin Majors (who also went by Austin Setmajer-Raglin), best known for his role as Theo Sipowicz on the hit police procedural show, NYPD Blue, passed away this past Saturday, February 11, 2023. He was only twenty-seven years old.
The news of Majors’ death was confirmed by his younger sister and fellow former child star, Kali Majors-Raglin, as well as the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s office. So far, a cause of death has yet to be confirmed and according to the Los Angeles Times, the case has been “deferred” pending medical examination.
In a statement from his family, Majors was called “an artistic, brilliant, and kind human being.” The statement further added, “Austin took great joy and pride in his acting career. From the time he was little, he never knew a stranger and his goal in life was to make people happy.”
Majors is best known for his 1999 breakout role in NYPD Blue as Theo Sipowicz, son of the titular Det. Andy Sipwicz, played by Dennis Franz (Hill Street Blues, Die Hard 2), a role which landed him a Young Artist Award in 2002. According to IMDB, Majors appeared in forty-episodes of NYPD Blue from 1999-2004. Majors has various television appearances throughout his youth, including performances in Treasure Planet, ER, The Ant Bully, Dead Silence, NCIS, According to Jim, and Desperate Housewives.
Major’s last professional credit was in 2009 as a guest-starring role in How I Met Your Mother. Majors’ sister also said that he was active on YouTube.
In the same statement from his family, Majors was described as “a graduate from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and had a passion for directing and music producing. Austin was the kind of son, brother, grandson, and nephew that made us proud and we will miss him deeply forever.”