Brad Everett Young, 46, died after a crash on the 134 Freeway in Los Angeles when his vehicle was struck by a car traveling the wrong way, his representative confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other motorist was hospitalized. Young’s death was mourned by colleagues across the acting and entertainment photography communities, including stars from General Hospital and Grey’s Anatomy who worked with him or were photographed by him.
Young began acting in the 1990s, taking small roles on television shows such as Boy Meets World, Felicity, Grey’s Anatomy and Numb3rs, and appeared on the big screen in Love & Basketball and Jurassic Park III. In later years, he became widely known as a red-carpet photographer, shooting for outlets and magazines such as The Hollywood Reporter, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, People and Variety. His portfolio included portraits of major film and TV stars as well as members of soap operas including General Hospital and Days of Our Lives.
Young also founded Dream Loud Official, a grassroots organization dedicated to restoring and preserving music and art programs in schools across the United States. His representative said he lived to fuse art with education, and his legacy, they added, will continue through the nonprofit he helped create.
General Hospital co-star Parry Shen, who plays Brad on the long-running ABC series, led tributes on social media, posting four photographs Young had taken. Shen wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that Young was “one of the kindest & generous people I have ever met” and praised his “indomitable positivity,” calling the loss a huge one for the industry. Chris L. McKenna, another GH cast member who portrays Jack, also shared on social media that he was in shock after recently shooting with Young and that the photographer was “talented, funny, warm, caring,” adding that he had donated his time to support artists and education.
Lilly Melgar, known for playing Lily on General Hospital, remembered Young as a friend and described the news as “incredibly tragic,” posting that he was “my favorite photographer in L.A.” Her remarks were echoed by other colleagues and fans who posted photos Young had taken, including images of GH stars and members of the Days of Our Lives family. A social-media post from a fan account for the Sprina couple (Spencer Cassadine and Trina Robinson) thanked Young for providing official shoots and remarked that he kept that fandom fed with his work.
Several friends and colleagues shared reflections on Young’s generosity and his work ethic. Actor Brian Gaskill reposted images taken by Young with messages of grief, while others posted their thanks for the chance to work with him and for the memories captured through his lens. In addition to his photography career, several speakers highlighted Young’s commitment to giving back, noting his willingness to donate time and resources to underserved schools and arts programs.
The accident occurred when a vehicle traveling the wrong way collided with Young’s car on the 134 Freeway, according to his representative. Young died at the scene; the other driver was transported to a hospital for treatment. The crash investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not released further details about causation.
Friends and colleagues described Young as a bridge between the acting and visual arts communities. “Brad’s passion for both the arts and the people behind them was unmatched,” Paul Christensen, Young’s representative, told The Hollywood Reporter. “He lived his mission of keeping creativity alive, and his legacy will continue through Dream Loud Official.” The nonprofit, founded to support music and art education in schools, has been central to Young’s public narrative in recent years, reflecting a career that spanned acting, photography and advocacy.
Virginia-born Young moved to Los Angeles with ambitions in medicine but ultimately chose the arts. He recalled in a 2015 interview that LA offered the opportunities that allowed him to explore acting, join the Screen Actors Guild, and begin a journey that blended performance with photography and philanthropy. His death is being mourned by the many people who worked with him across film, television and press photography, as well as by students who benefited from the programs Dream Loud Official supports.
The entertainment community continues to reflect on Young’s contributions, including the lasting impact of the images he captured and the charitable work he championed. While his camera captured stars on the red carpet, his broader work aimed to ensure that art and creativity could thrive in schools for future generations. The family and colleagues have requested privacy as they process the loss, and investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding the crash.