Former child actor Henry “Hank” Deutschendorf sadly died of an apparent suicide earlier this month. His twin brother, William, broke the sad news in a Facebook post. Hank starred as baby Oscar in the 1983 Ghostbusters sequel.
Raising awareness on mental illness
On Tuesday, William Deutschendorf took Facebook to announce his twin brother, Hank, died on June 14.
William found his brother dead, at his Escondido apartment. The former child actor reportedly committed suicide by hanging in his closet.
“It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my twin brother, Hank,” William wrote on Facebook.
In the candid post, William opened up on his brother’s schizoaffective disorder.
He wrote, ” It is a chronic mental health condition which is combination of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. He experienced hallucinations, delusions, depression, and mania. It is a very severe mental illness that usually requires a lifetime of treatment.”
According to the post, Hank was diagnosed in 2008 and William went on describing how was his life with the treatment.
“He felt like a zombie, lost his personality, gained weight quickly, slept for twelve hours a day, and had to use all of his willpower just to lift his hand to drink a cup of water. My brother was left with a band-aid for a gunshot wound,” he wrote.
Sadly, Hank didn’t make any better even when he tried different options and ways. William wrote, “On June 14th, Hank lost his battle to schizophrenia.”
Hank’s family had created a web page titled “Hank’s Hope For A Cure” to raise awareness of his condition and also fundraise for the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.
A memorial service will be held soon.
So long, baby Oscar
In the post, along with raising awareness of the mental illness that took his brother’s life, William goes on remembering her twin brother.
Hank and William both portrayed baby Oscar in the ‘Ghostbuster’ sequel. The two were recently in a documentary about Ghostbusters II, entitled “Cleanin’ Up the Town,” but neither of the twins acted again after that role.
Hank and William ran a martial arts school together near San Diego, California and their uncle was country singer John Denver.
Hank was a loving son, a fun uncle, great friend, and loving boyfriend.
William wrote, “I will remember him as my best friend, my partner, my brother, and the bravest man I have ever known.”
RIP Hank.
Source: Movie Web