Chris Trousdale, a former member of the short-lived pop boyband DreamStreet, died Tuesday, June 2. He was 34. While no official cause of death has been announced, his former bandmate Jesse McCartney said he died from Covid-19.
Entertainment portal TMZ first broke the news about Chris Trousdale's passing Wednesday, June 3, reporting that the former pop star died at a hospital in Burbank, California. The cause of death, reportedly from a family member, was complications from Covid-19.
Trousdale joined DreamStreet during its inception back in 1999. The teen pop group included McCartney and Trousdale, together with Greg Raposo, Matt Ballinger, and Frankie Galasso. Chris was 14 years old when the group started performing together. Like most members, he was also scouted from the Broadway scene. Before singing and dancing in the five-person group, Trousdale was already a theater actor. He began acting eight years old, going on tour for a "Les Miserables" production with Disney star Ashley Tisdale. He later performed a Broadway prod of Les Mis alongside "Glee" actress Lea Michele. Although Trousdale's tenure with DreamStreet lasted only three years, the group was able to release hit songs such as "It Happens Every Time" and build a fanbase. In 2002, the parents' of the five boys filed a lawsuit against music producers Louis Baldonieri and Brian Lukow, who formed the band. The lawsuit alleged that the then-underaged members were "exposed to booze, women, and pornography." Later that year, the group was dissolved, and the members released from their contracts. He later made several TV and movie appearances, including a movie with Kaila Amariah titled "Seducing Spirits." Chris Trousdale also parodied Justin Bieber in an episode of Disney series "Shake It Up." As a trained dancer, he was working at a dance studio until his passing. On Wednesday, Jesse McCartney posted a picture of Chris Trousdale on Instagram with a heartfelt message. "It pains me to say that an old friend, Chris Trousdale, from my early days in the music industry, has passed away due to complications from COVID-19." The "Beautiful Soul" artist described Chris' "explosively charming personality with boundless amounts of talent." RELATED: 'Stacy's Mom' Songwriter Adam Schlesinger Dies, 52, from Covid-19 "Chris, in my opinion, was the most popular among us, who had a way of drawing every eye to what he was doing on stage," McCartney's tribute continued, further praising the late performer's ability to pick up an entire dance number quickly. He also noted that while their group only lasted for three years, "it felt like a lifetime, and we built a real brotherhood." Greg Raposo, now a rock singer, posted a saddening clip of their hit single in his IG story. The "It Happens Every Time" snippet came with the caption "Still processing..no words" and a broken heart at the bottom. Frankie Galasso also posted their DreamStreet picture, with all five members, on his Instagram account. He also noted how they shared "an incredible moment in time" as bandmates, although their "friendship drifted after the group." Galasso credited Trousdale for "some of the fondest memories in my life." "His passing weighs heavy on my heart, but I will always have the memories of those years with him, to look back on fondly," Galasso wrote.
Matt Ballinger also shared a few of the many group pictures they had on IG. Like McCartney, he also noted that Chris Trousdale was the best dancer, adding that he also "obviously had the most iconic hair." Ballinger shared how Chris' energy inspired him to elevate his own. He described the day as a tough one, saying, "It really doesn't feel real."
Theater, DreamStreet, and Later Solo Career
"We Built A Real Brotherhood"
A snapshot of Matt Ballinger's tribute to his former group mate Chris Trousdale, who passed away due to COVID-19
