Hollywood's heart hangs a bit heavier today, as it has been announced that actor and former child star Lee Thompson Young took his own life on Monday. Young rocketed to fame after his role as Jett Jackson in the highly popular tween show "The Famous Jett Jackson." He was 29 years old.

"It is with great sadness that I announce that Lee Thompson Young tragically took his own life this morning," said Young's manager, Jonathan Baruch. "Lee was more than just a brilliant young actor, he was a wonderful and gentle soul who will be truly missed. We ask that you please respect the privacy of his family and friends at this very difficult time."

The suicide appears to come as quite the surprise to those who knew Young best. So far everyone who has commented on the situation seems shocked that he would do something like that. There has not been any mention of a history of depression or of the star indicating that he was going through tough times.

Young had been an actor from an early age. In 1994, at age 10, he played Martin Luther King in a play called A Night of Stars and Dreams by Dwight Woods and the Phillis Wheatley Repertory Theater. From there he decided he would become an actor, and in 1996 he got an agent and moved out to New York City.

It would not take long for Young to land a big gig. A year after moving out to NYC he would impress the folks at Disney so much that he was granted the lead role on a new pilot of their's, "The Famous Jett Jackson." That would turn into a highly successful show for the network, producing new episodes from 1998 to 2001.

"It's always a really great feeling when I talk to people who watched Jett Jackson because we were the same age. We were all kids. I was 13 when I started working on that show and that was part of my childhood. And It's kind of like we have that in common," Young once told Entertainment Weekly.

Young was still working in Hollywood at the time of his death. He had a recurring role as Det. Barry Frost on TNT's "Rizzoli and Isles," which had just been renewed for a fifth season a few days ago. Young's body was found by his landlord, who was alerted by the folks at Rizzoli and Isles after Young did not show up for work.