Exclusive

Memorial for Lee Thompson Young to Be Held Friday to Honor Rizzoli & Isles Actor

Exclusive: Private service will be on the Paramount lot in Hollywood at 11 a.m.

By Natalie Finn, Claudia Rosenbaum Aug 22, 2013 11:49 PMTags
Lee Thompson YoungDr. Billy Ingram/Getty Images

Family and friends will start gathering tomorrow to honor the late Lee Thompson Young.

A private memorial is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday on the Paramount lot in Hollywood, where Rizzoli & Isles tapes, E! News has exclusively learned.

The TNT procedural dedicated this week's episode to Young, who died Monday of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 29 and had been suffering from depression.

"He was always happy, energized, good vibe and good smile," a friend of Young's, who says he last saw the actor about three months ago, tells E! News. "He was excited to work on [Rizzoli & Isles], announcing, 'I'm going back to work!'"

Young's death "was a big shock," the pal said, noting that he heard that the actor was struggling with some issues while shooting the movie Friday Night Lights back in 2004, but had seemed to work through them.

TNT

"He hid it well," the friend added of Young, saying that the young man was passionate about friends, family and martial arts.

Young's family is asking that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Young Storytellers Foundation.

Another source told E! that Young, whose big break came when he scored the titular lead on Disney Channel's The Famous Jett Jackson, didn't drink or party was rather "gentle and unassuming."

"Lee loved to travel and was always the first to tell everyone to take a breath and enjoy the beauty of life," the insider said.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).