Reese Witherspoon has paid touching tribute to her Election co-star, Jessica Campbell, who died suddenly aged 38. Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Turner.
Actress Jessica Campbell, best known from the 1999 film Election, has died suddenly aged 38.
Reese Witherspoon, who starred in the film, said she was "so heartbroken" over the shock death of her former co-star after it was revealed she died last month in Portland.
The pair starred in the Oscar-nominated film together when Campbell – who played Tammy Metzler – was just 16 years old.
Campbell hadn't appeared in a film since 2002 and later worked as a naturopathic practitioner.
According to a GoFundMe page, Campbell died "suddenly and unexpectedly" on December 29, leaving behind her 10-year-old son, Oliver, her cousin Sarah Wessling confirmed on the crowd-funding site.
"While coping with this unexpected and tragic turn of events and planning for Oliver's future, the family is also faced with unexpected cremation, memorial, and probate expenses. All funds collected will go towards meeting expenses and providing for Oliver," Wessling wrote.
Campbell's cause of death is currently unknown but TMZ reports her family is awaiting results from a medical examiner's office.
Wessling said Campbell went to work on the day of her death, before family members discovered her unresponsive on the bathroom floor of her home later that day.
Campbell's family told TMZ Campbell had been complaining of congestion in the lead-up, though they ruled out Covid-19.
Campbell rose to fame in the critically acclaimed film Election – which also featured Matthew Broderick and Chris Klein – and earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Debut Performance.
She would go on to guest-star on NBC series Freaks and Geeks and 2001 movie The Safety of Objects with Glenn Close, before quitting acting and living a normal life.
The director donned gumboots and a Russell Crowe T-shirt to get the festivities started.