Along with his twin brother, William, Henry J. Deutschendorf II played the adorable Baby Oscar in “Ghostbusters II.” Neither twin stuck with acting, and instead, they became martial arts instructors at a California academy. Tragically, Henry became one of many child stars who have passed away when he died by suicide on June 14, 2017. Although Henry’s death was reported by mainstream media outlets, it was William’s blog post for the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation that told the full story.
In it, William wrote that his brother had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, adding that since it was a condition that hadn’t been extensively studied, “treatment is largely an estimation based on schizophrenia and bipolar treatments.” That’s a heartbreaking thing to hear about mental health care, and William went on to say that the medications Henry had been prescribed didn’t help. He wrote, “By the end he had 25 voices, all with different personalities and opinions, but mostly agreeing they did not like Hank.”
William also stressed that his brother hadn’t been defined by his illness, describing him as the best brother, the most fun uncle, the most dedicated martial artist, and the best friend that their family had known. “For Hank, it was quality over quantity,” he wrote, adding, “It is very important to our family to help spread awareness about mental illness, and suicide prevention. If your first reaction is to ask us what you can do, it’s to help us do everything we can to help others suffering from the same illness as Hank.”
