A SELF-TAUGHT star performer who rocketed to fame after winning So You Think You Can Dance has died at just 36 years old.
Joshua Allen's family begged for "privacy and prayers" after he died on Tuesday.
The family confirmed his death to TMZ, but did not provide any details on the cause.
Emmanuel Hurd, who was friends with Allen for years, said he was stunned by the news and remembered the dancer as a "very honest, real person" who was open about his struggles.
"He didn't always do things the way that everybody thought he should, but that's why he was a winner," Hurd told TMZ.
Allen won the show's fourth season in 2008, earning a $250,000 prize and starting his budding career out with a bang.
He competed against rising star Stephen "tWitch" Boss, who came in second, and the two went on to become close friends.
Boss died by suicide in 2022 at 40 years old.
Allen grew up playing sports, but stepped away from the field when he fell in love with dancing as a teenager.
After winning the reality show, he revealed that he never took a formal class in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
As part of his winning package, Allen starred as a featured dancer in the movie Step Up 3D in 2010.
That same year, Allen appeared in the second season of Oxygen's reality show Dance Your A** Off as one of the pros paired with contestants.
In 2011, Allen was cast as a dancer for the remake of the movie musical Footloose.
He racked up many bookings for TV shows, including spots on NBC's Community and FX's American Horror Story.
Allen had several run-ins with cops throughout his life.
He was hit with several misdemeanor violence charges before he was jailed for domestic violence in 2016 for one year, Deadline reported at the time.
'FLY HIGH'
Allen experienced several tragedies in his final years as he was forced to say goodbye to multiple friends.
In July, he shared a now-tragic final post on Instagram sharing his condolences for Cosby Show star Malcolm Jamal-Warner.
The 54-year-old actor tragically died after he was dragged into the ocean by a rip current as he swam in Costa Rica.
Allen shared a picture of the two of them hanging out with the caption, "Fly high King."
In 2022, the dancer penned a lengthy tribute to Boss as he described his close friend as a "brother."
"This isn't goodbye more so I'll see you later," Allen wrote in the now-devastating caption.
Fans have now flooded the comments of Allen's posts with well-wishes and condolences, saying goodbye to both stars.
"You both are gone too soon! Rest in peace Josh," wrote one follower.
Another person said, "I can't believe this."
"I'm so hurt over this! I will miss you so much," wrote a different fan.
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