r.i.p. andrew wei lin, the new twenty

I recently heard about The New Twenty, an indie relationship drama that's making some waves on the film festival circuit. The film's cast includes Nicole Bilderback and Andrew Wei Lin, playing twenty-something siblings.

Here's the sad part... according to The New Twenty blog, Andrew Wei Lin took his own life a couple of weeks ago, on June 12. He was described as "a brilliant, charismatic, intelligent, humorous and hugely talented young man." He was 28. (Thanks, Charles.)

I wasn't familiar with his career, and according to IMDb, he didn't have a lot of credits to his name. It looks like his part as Tony Kim in The New Twenty was his most significant film role to date. Tragically, for most of us, it's what we're left with. Rest in peace, Andrew Wei Lin.

UPDATE: I heard from Chris Mason Johnson, the writer/director of The New Twenty. About Andrew Wei Lin, he writes:

He was a great actor and is terrific in The New Twenty. All of us who worked with him were heartbroken by his passing. He was a volatile guy, in a lot of pain.

"Tony" in The New Twenty, who Andrew plays, is a gay character. Andrew was not gay. I cast him because he was the FURTHEST thing from the offensive gaysian stereotype. He was over 6ft tall, deep booming voice, really volatile intense humorous out-there personality. it's worth seeing his work and it's a shame there will be no more of it.

The New Twenty can currently be viewed on iTunes, and On Demand on Comcast or Time Warner. At later this month, it will be available on DVD on July 21.