Ellen DeGeneres Mourns Her 'Only Boyfriend' Following His Death At 19

Ellen DeGeneres is paying tribute to a young fan who captured her heart, and the hearts of millions, after his death at just 19 years old. Tayt Anderson, who was born with only the right side of his heart, charmed audiences with his heartwarming appearances on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Throughout his childhood, he referred to the host as his “girlfriend,” and Ellen DeGeneres affectionately called him her “only boyfriend,” a running joke that delighted viewers and even caught her wife, Portia de Rossi, off guard.

Doctors predicted Tayt would not live past three months, but he defied the odds time and again. By age nine, he had undergone 12 surgeries, and at 10, he received a heart transplant. That procedure came with complications that included post-transplant lymphoma in his teens, followed by a bladder cancer diagnosis at 18.

According to his family’s GoFundMe, the cancer spread aggressively in 2025, reaching his pelvis, spine, abdomen, chest, and neck. Doctors gave him just four months to live. Despite those devastating challenges, Tayt lived a full life.

He graduated from high school, traveled, and became a beacon of hope for countless families facing similar struggles. On September 26, 2025, his family announced that he had passed away.

“While our souls feel shattered and lost by this unimaginable grief, we are so thankful that Tayt is finally free. No more pain, no more appointments, no more treatments,” his family wrote. “Tayt was loved by so many, and he impacted countless lives with his incredible smile, his quiet strength, his kindness, and his beautiful love.”

Hours after the announcement, DeGeneres remembered Tayt in a heartfelt video shared to social media. “We had a very special guest on the show several times and his name is Tayt,” she said. “And he thought that I was his girlfriend, and so I told him he was my boyfriend, which shocked my wife. But he was a very special little human being, and just brought joy and life and laughter into every room that he was in. And I will miss him.”

In her caption, she added, “I love you Tayt. I love you Chrissy. You touched so many lives.” Tayt’s mother, Chrissy Becker, responded in the comments. “We love you so much thank you for being his girlfriend," she wrote. "You gave him so much strength.”

Tayt’s connection to Ellen began in 2013, when the then seven-year-old, undergoing constant hospital stays, told his mom he wanted his “girlfriend” Ellen to know how much he loved her show. Doctors and nurses quickly learned that they had to schedule appointments around "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," and sometimes Tayt even asked them to leave if they interrupted it.

When Tayt appeared on Ellen’s stage for the first time, his charm and humor lit up the audience. He returned several times, most memorably in 2015 to share that he had finally received a new heart. His mom credited Ellen’s support for lifting his spirits during tough hospital stays. “They have noticed that when Tayt struggles you always seem to come in and give him the boost that he needs,” she once told DeGeneres.

The host’s generosity extended beyond airtime. Ellen and her team gifted the family iPads, vacations, a new car, and even financial assistance. That support, Chrissy said, gave Tayt joy and hope during some of his darkest times.

A lifelong fan of Ellen’s beloved "Finding Nemo" character Dory, Tayt adopted her mantra, “just keep swimming,” as his guiding motto through years of surgeries and treatments. That spirit of perseverance, paired with his smile and kindness, left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.

As Ellen’s tribute made clear, Tayt was more than a guest, but he was family. And even though his life was far too short, his memory will live on in the millions he inspired.