AKA Steven Paul Smith

Born: 6-Aug-1969
Birthplace: Omaha, NE
Died: 21-Oct-2003
Location of death: Los Angeles, CA
Cause of death: Suicide
Remains: Cremated

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Guitarist

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Indie guitarist stabbed himself to death

Born Steven Paul Smith in Nebraska, he decided to change his name to Elliott in middle school because he thought the name Steven sounded "too jockish." He began to dabble in music at an early age after he'd moved to Texas with his mother, a professional singer.

He graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, and later joined a Portland-based punk band called Heatmiser. He recorded several albums on his own, though, and eventually film director Gus Van Sant asked to use a few of his songs in the film Good Will Hunting. Smith acquiesced. The film was a big success, after it Smith was a star.

But he had long struggled with alcoholism, depression, and drug abuse, and committed suicide on 21 October, 2003. Smith's girlfriend found him in their apartment with a knife in his chest.

    University: Hampshire College

    Songwriters Hall of Fame
    Stabbed
    Risk Factors: Alcoholism, Depression

    FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
    Southlander: Diary of a Desperate Musician (12-Mar-2001) · Bus Driver

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