Ellen DeGeneres honors Tayt Anderson, fan who died at 19 after heart condition and cancer

Ellen DeGeneres is mourning Tayt Anderson, a longtime fan who appeared on her show as a child and has died at 19 after a lifelong battle with a rare heart condition and cancer. Anderson was born with only the right side of his heart and underwent 12 surgeries by the time he was nine. He received a heart transplant at age 10, and later faced post-transplant lymphoma before a bladder cancer diagnosis at 18. His family announced his death on Friday, and hours later DeGeneres posted a video tribute in which she recalled the boy who had become a beacon of resilience for viewers.

A GoFundMe page set up by his family described a cancer that by summer 2025 had spread to his pelvis, spine, abdomen, chest and neck, leaving doctors with a four-month prognosis. Three months after that assessment, his family confirmed Tayt’s death on September 26, at 19.

"We had a very special guest on the show several times and his name is Tayt. And he thought that I was his girlfriend, and so I told him he was my boyfriend, which shocked my wife," DeGeneres said in the tribute video. "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 the same post, she added, "I love you Tayt. I love you Chrissy. You touched so many lives." Chrissy Becker, Tayt’s mother, commented, "We love you so much thank you for being his girlfriend you gave him so much strength," accompanied by a heart emoji.

Tayt first appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2013, at age seven, after DeGeneres learned he loved the program and began referring to her as his girlfriend. Ellen later told him he was her "only boyfriend," a sentiment that amused Tayt’s mother, Chrissy Becker, who noted that he would schedule doctors’ visits around the show’s air time and even tell nurses and doctors to step out so he could watch.

He returned to the program multiple times, most notably in 2015 when he announced that he had received a new heart. Chrissy Becker said the show and its staff lifted her son’s spirits during rough hospital stays, and doctors observed how the support helped him endure treatment. Tayt also embraced Ellen’s Dory character and adopted her mantra, "just keep swimming," as a source of encouragement through his struggles. During their years of collaboration, Ellen and her team provided ongoing support to Tayt’s family, including money, gifts, vacations, iPads and even a car, highlighting the show’s long-running public aid for families facing serious illness.

Despite the obstacles, Tayt lived a full life. He traveled, graduated high school and became a touchstone for families facing similar health challenges, as his story spread beyond the studio and into viewers’ homes.

The Anderson family’s tribute reflected a life defined by perseverance and community. In their statement about Tayt’s passing, they said their souls felt "shattered and lost by this unimaginable grief," yet expressed gratitude that he was now free from pain and ongoing medical appointments. The family emphasized that Tayt’s life touched countless people and that his bravery will continue to inspire others facing difficult diagnoses.